I feel that Sir Gawain is honorable because his actions reflect his words; to put it another way, he is "...true to his word", as the Green Knight had said. Because he still went to the green castle though he knew that death awaited him, I was convinced of his his honesty and loyalty to his word. Also, even when he knew he was about to die and be free from his moral boundaries, Sir Gawain still resisted the queen's seduction, only proving all the more that he is indeed a chivalrous and honorable man.
Clifford
10/29/2014 11:38:12 pm
I agree with Joshua, but i think that Gawain actually fell into the queen's seduction or temptation, but it is because of this that shows he is a honorable person because he admitted his mistake and upheld the consequences without deferring it or giving other excuses. Admitting to mistakes and not running away from the results further proves that he is a brave enough to uphold his own actions and this is exactly what a honorable person should do.
Jeyson
10/31/2014 12:46:34 pm
I agree with Joshua. The fact that he could run away from the challenge that the Green Knight gave him made Gawain more honorable. There isn't any rule that binds him from going to the green chapel, but Gawain went there anyway because of his honor.
Kim Steve
11/2/2014 12:58:12 am
I agree. Sir Gawain put his life at risk and was ready to die like a knight when he first entered the Green castle. Looking at his bravery and courage, Gawain is a honorable knight.
Clifford
10/29/2014 11:33:38 pm
I think that Sir Gawain is honorable because he holds true to his code of chivalry and loyalty to the king. After taking up the challenge by the Green Knight and going to take the hit from the Green knight, Gawain didn't back off even though it was shown that he is indeed afraid of dying as he flinched the first time the green knight rose the ax. He is also brave enough to confess his mistakes. After realizing his mistake, he immediately confessed and was guilty about it even after being forgiven by the green knight. A person who is able to admit mistake and take up the consequences is someone who is truly honorable.
Joshua
10/29/2014 11:42:07 pm
I agree with Clifford that Sir Gawain's confession of his mistake only served to prove him more honorable. In my opinion, I feel that a man who knows when he is wrong and apologizes for it is stronger and more honorable than a man who is almost perfect yet does not acknowledge his mistakes, but rather boasts about his goodness.
Jeyson
10/31/2014 12:53:18 pm
I agree. Gawain's confession made him even more honorable. It is inevitable for people to make mistakes and fail at some things. However, Gawain was not going to keep failing but he would learn from his mistakes and move on. He would let his past go and live in a better world with his king and queen.
Steve Kim
11/2/2014 12:56:58 am
I agree. However, I think you cannot neglect the fact that he was noncommittal when the lady lured him to accept the sash.
Jeyson
10/31/2014 12:44:49 pm
I believe that the Gawain is honorable although he has his setbacks. In the beginning, he did not volunteer for the Green Knight's challenge, but it is understandable because it was a ridiculous challenge anyway. The fact that he went ahead and did the challenge made him honorable and brave. At last, he realized his own mistakes. His confession made him more honorable.
Ariel
10/31/2014 09:03:48 pm
Gawain is honorable. The fact that he is able to follow his own morals and rules makes him a true knight. Although he lied, it is because he wants to live. (no one wants to die right?) After he realizes that the green knight put a trick on him, he blames it on himself. He ties the green sacks onto him to remind him the mistake he has did. A man who is willing to accept condemnation and change to improve is a truly honorable person.
Alex Lee
11/1/2014 05:40:58 pm
I agree with Ariel. I think people who can admit their faults and reveal their own shameful mistakes are the truly honorable people.
Kim Steve
11/2/2014 12:58:55 am
I agree also. A knight is also a person, and are susceptible to temptations. Him not being able to thrash off the lady’s presents does not make him a dishonorable knight.
Han Joo Kim
10/31/2014 10:28:48 pm
Gawain is portrayed as honorable from the beginning to the end. At the beginning, he is the only one of all the knights at the hall to stand up for King Arthur and slay the green knight's head, showing his bravery (which was considered honorable during the medieval times). Then, he once again showed his bravery when he decided to take on green knight's challenge and go on a trip to find his castle. During the adventure, he showed honorable character, withstanding the temptation of wife. And at last, although he flinched the first time, he didnt flinch the second and third time, proving his bravery.
alex lee
11/1/2014 12:30:20 am
I don't think that we can say that Gawain "withstand[s] the temptation of wife" (Kim), because he actually accepted the sash from the wife.
Kim Steve
11/2/2014 01:01:34 am
That is true. The knight did accept the sash from the wife, and he did succumbed to the wife’s offers that he is not supposed to receive. However, he did try, with all his might, to refuse with appropriate manners, but the lady’s strong assertion that he should receive the sash left him no choice.
YuJin Yang
10/31/2014 11:36:28 pm
I believe that Sir Gawain is honorable because he is loyal to King Arthur, brave and keeps his own words. He accepted the Green Knight's challenge to protect King Arthur, thus this proves that he is loyal to his King. Gawain's acceptance also shows his bravery because no one else (other soldiers) wanted to play this "game" with the Green Knight. In addition, he keeps his own words by arriving at the Green Chapel because he does not run away and he is ready to die.
Jeyson
11/1/2014 12:07:52 am
I agree that loyalty is an evidence of honor. In order to be honorable, one has to be loyal to his or her king or ruler. In Gawain's case, he satisfies the condition. He wants to protect his king and his fellow knights. In playing the game with the Green Knight, Gawain proves himself to be honorable
Alex Lee
11/1/2014 11:52:21 pm
I agree with Jeyson. No matter how brave and loyal a person is, it is still very hard to risk his or her life for master. Showing both loyalty and courage by volunteering to fight the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is certainly a honorable character.
alex lee
11/1/2014 12:26:36 am
I think Gawain is relatively honorable compared to people in the contemporary world. Although he failed to completely reject the lady's offer, he seemed to be truly penitent in the end when he realized his mistake. This remorseful behavior is certainly different from that of the modern people who would be more shameless.
YuJin Yang
11/1/2014 06:51:32 pm
I agree with Alex. Sir Gawain felt ashamed and guilty when the Green Knight mentioned the sash that Gawain accepted. Unlike other heroes, Gawain admitted his mistake.
Steve Kim
11/2/2014 01:02:34 am
I certainly agree. Although his penitent expression towards his mistake does not void his wrongdoings, it does makes him more honorable. As a true knight, he realized and repented for his mistake.
Ian Jang
11/1/2014 07:00:45 pm
In the story, the definition of honorable may be interpreted as trustworthy and loyal. However, Gawain neither shows trust nor loyalty to his king. Throughout the story, he hid from the king the fact that he has received a gift from the lady. He also states that " I might without bad manners move down from my place (Though I couldn't, of course, if my legs lady disliked it)." This indicates that Gawain, rather than being honest and loyal, was deceiving and disloyal
Guillaume
11/2/2014 12:33:37 am
I disagree with Ian. Although Gawain did in fact show disloyalty towards the Green Knight, he still later confesses his mistake, which made him a truly loyal character. I believe that if Gawain bears no loyalty or respect to the King, he probably will not risk his life just to disclose the truth to the Green Knight. Furthermore, Gawain is only disloyal on the third day of his stay in the Green Chapel, and was loyal and truthful for the first two days of his visit, which shows that he is not a deceiving and disloyal person.
Guillaume
11/2/2014 12:29:38 am
I personally believe that Gawain is still honorable despite his occasionally treacherous actions. Although Gawain did betray the Green Knight's trust once, he still decides to admit his disloyalty to the Green Knight, showing that Gawain is truly an honorable person. Gawain's honorable characteristics can also be shown when the Green Knight openly admits that he was only testing Gawain's chivalry. Gawain is indeed shocked, but later he becomes frustrated at himself for being treacherous. Gawain's shamefulness and his openness to admit his mistakes make him a truly honorable knight.
Kim Steve
11/2/2014 12:53:01 am
Although Sir Gawain failed the test and received the sash from the lady, he is still a honorable knight. In the beginning of the story, he resisted his temptation to accept the presents offered to him. Plus, he showed his willingness to serve the king, valued the king’s life over his, and volunteered to put his life at risk to be an honorable knight. At last, Sir Gawain also confessed he was noncommittal to the code of knights, and admitted that he did something wrong.
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Discussion Board
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