Essential #4

Choice 2: Where do we see the seduction and lust start to destroy Gawain, our young hero? What is the author trying to tell us?

Gawain's major weakness as a hero is falling into the temptation of seduction and lust. As a knight, it is Gawain's responsibility to uphold a certain chivalric code. This honorable code entails following the very important five knightly virtues: friendship, generosity, courtesy, chastity, and piety. Giving in to lust causes Gawain to break each one of these virtues while he is staying with his host. Gawain and his host's wife "Were accorded so closely in company there"(1011). While taking advantage of his host's generosity by accepting large amounts of food, clothing, and women, he also breaks the remaining virtues when he commits adultery with his host's wife. When Gawain "prays with all his might"(737), he finds a castle to take shelter in. Gawain accepting a challenge from the Green Knight symbolizes his temptation for lust, as in medieval times green symbolized lust. As Gawain continues to break the chivalric code and grow away from God, bad things will come about in his future.
Similar to Beowulf, the author is trying to instill proper values in the readers. Gawain is being made an example of so that readers will not indulge in the sin of lust, and remain chaste, virtuous, and honest.