Against the five virtues: A study of Sir Gawain’s discordant behaviour in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Abstract

El poema medieval Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ofrece a los lectores una versión nueva del personaje de Sir Gawain, que se aleja en ciertos aspectos de sus representaciones en otras obras de la época. Este Sir Gawain es descrito por el poeta como la encarnación del “Pentalfa” que lleva grabado en el escudo; una estrella de cinco puntas que representa cinco valores clave: “fraunchyse”, “fela3schyp”, “clannes”, “cortaysye” y “pité”. Estos cinco ideales se acercan al concepto de perfección que debe alcanzar un caballero como él; sin embargo, es posible ver cómo las decisiones que toma el protagonista durante la obra le alejan de ellos en cierta medida. En este trabajo se estudiarán las implicaciones de este comportamiento irregular y sus consecuencias con respecto al personaje de Sir Gawain.

The medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight presents its audience a new version of this popular character, Sir Gawain. This representation strays away in certain aspects from its other representations in other coetaneous works. Sir Gawain is described by the poet as the embodiment of the “pentalpha” that decorates his shield; a five-pointed star that represents five key values: “fraunchyse”, “fela3schyp”, “clannes”, “cortaysye” y “pité”. These five ideals are close to the concept of perfection that a knight like him should attain. However, the readers are able to see how certain decisions made during his journey distance him from them. This thesis will strive to study the implications of his discordant behaviour and its consequences regarding Sir Gawain’s character.