Sir Gawain and the Green Kinght

 

I would like to preface my blog post with this:

 

 

www.greengiant.com

 

Am I the only one who thought of the giant green vegetable man while Armitage was describing the Green Knight? The exact line that caught my eye was, "a knight of such a kind-/entirely emerald green" (149-151). From that moment on, I pictured the Green Knight as the giant green vegetable man. I sincerely hope all of you know who I am talking about when I say "giant green vegetable man". Especially since he doesn't seem as daunting when you picture him as a smiling giant on a can of corn.

 

I don't understand why the people didn't run away as soon as the Green Knight showed up. I would have run away as fast as I could...which wouldn't have been that fast, but still, I'd be gone. I think they were so struck by his appearance that they couldn't bring themselves to move. Line 232 says that the guests "gaped" and "gawked" at the Green Knight. I thought it was interesting that their reactions were not described until a lot of detail was put into the description of the Green Knight. I think this adds to the amazement the guests feel and it helps the reader visualize exactly why the guests are gaping and gawking.

 

I pity Sir Gawain. No one else was willing to step up to protect King Arthur, so Gawain takes the challenge. Of course, he thinks it will be a simple task, but lo and behold! The Green Knight just keeps on living even without his head. And no one even cares that in a year Sir Gawain will probably be dead! On lines 474-475, King Arthur says, "And at least I'm allowed to eat at last,/having witnessed such a wonder". Poor Gawain.

 

www.freedomsphoenix.com

Behind the magic

 Bare with me on this blog; not only is this my first blog I have ever wrote, this topic is out of my comfort zone. You may ask why magic is out of my comfort zone, well for starters it is hard to believe in magic when Kieckhefer mention through out his book that there is no factual evidence to prove magic caused certain events. We also cant replicate the studies and obtain the same results. It is hard to believe these magical events when scientist cant validate the events. 

Kors and Peters mentions how some religions forbid the practice of magic, yet Kieckhefer references multiple instances were religious leaders healed the sick with magical elements. It almost seems as if some religions only acknowledged magic when referring to the Devil. Kors and Peter even notes that religious beliefs helped contribute to the idea of Satan (P. 7, Kors and Peters). Christians and other influential groups helped spread the conspiracies about witchcraft and diabolical elves. Once enough people believed these conspiracies, religious groups claimed they could heal you and help you get rid of demons. Even though I am probably wrong, it just seems suspicious that witchcraft became prominent after Augustine "heightened the Christians awareness of the Devil's powers (P. 7, Kors and Peters)". I believe organized groups like Christians took advantage of the arrogant community to gain more followers. 

It is understandable why so many people would believe that there is a Devil. People during the time of the famine and plague needed someone to blame for their misfortune and they also needed something to turn to. Religion gave people hope and when God did not answer their prayers, practitioners of magic were there as a backup. For instance, some might believe that Jesus was able to cure Peters toothache with his religious powers, for others they might have seen Jesus' powers as magic (P. 72, Kieckhefer). In a sense, religion started magic but there was no line drawn between magical powers and religious powers. 

One Man's Musings on Magic in this Medieval Poem: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

This probably my fourth or fifth time reading this passage of Gawain and the Green Knight and I always get a kick out of it. 

There were a few moments that really captured my attention. For example, the Green Knight was surprised that no one took up his challenge (on lines 301-315). A giant green man on a giant green horse burst into the great hall with no warning, issued his challenge (which involves taking turns being hit with a huge sharp ax), and he was surprised that the crowd hesitated? I would not be surprised if a few knights suspected something.

<http://cdn.instanttrap.com/trap.jpg>

 At least from my perspective, if some guy bursts into my dining area and asks casually if I want to do something that should kill him, and then afterwards he will get to do that thing to me, I’m going to think some shenanigans are involved.

Although, I don't know.... This guy looks trustworthy.

<http://api.ning.com/files/YT1pzXfaiucsJdwdca-ZO5Qv8ISow1CjJD2vT8pnUCDPXtRnl86QUgEehhbpEVP8hCQ0CLuNueI*KnuRabEfGpwdu-aNwxZq/knightimage.jpg>

On an even odder note, after Gawain decapitates the Green Knight, and the Knight rides off carrying his own still speaking head, King Arthur and Gawain just start laughing. On lines 462-464 it reads "What thenne? / The Kyng and Gawen thare / at that grene thay laghe and grene" or, in the translated version, it reads "and then? / Well with the green man gone / they laughed and grinned again." This part of the story just fascinates me. A giant green man came out of nowhere, survived being beheaded thus spelling doom for Sir Gawain, and everyone including Gawain just shrugs it off. Granted Arthur was a little surprised, but that's it. According to the translation "Arthur was awestruck at heart" (line 467). He is not worried or concerned for Gawain, Arthur was just surprised. This must be the ultimate testament to the weird stuff that the Knights of the Round Table deal with on a regular basis, because everyone’s repose to this whole situation was essentially "Well... that just happened. On with the feast!"

The Green Knight probably seemed pretty strait forward when compared to this anyway.

< https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/24/Rabbitattack.jpg>

            Overall I think this passage, and the entire text in general, tends to reflect the idea that in the late 14^th century magic was not yet viewed as inherently evil. When the knight first arrived, as unworldly as he appeared and armed with a huge ax, Arthur’s first reaction (on lines 250-255) was to offer him a kind greeting and hospitality. One does not usually respond this way to a person one suspects could be an agent of evil. Even after the knight was decapitated, thus demonstrating supernatural powers of some kind, no one shouts “sorcery!” and goes to burn him. Instead, everyone had a good laugh at this remarkable occurrence and got on with the feast. 

Magic in this story seemed to be treated as either a neutral force (neither inherently good nor evil), or at the very worst magic was viewed as mischievous in nature. I believe this because despite the fact that the Green Knight was clearly magical, he was not treated as a force of evil. The Green Knight was actually treated very well until he started to mock the honor of Arthur’s court. The Green Knight was extended hospitality, allowed to issue his unusual challenge, and then leave once the challenge was done without anyone trying to tie him to a stake and set him on fire.

The magical powers are one thing, but there is no excuse for poor table manners.

<http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Admin/BkFill/Default_image_group/2011/2/18/1298031677605/Tyndale-at-the-stake-007.jpg>

This is why I believe, based on the text that we read, in the 14th century magic was not yet viewed as inherently evil. On a closing note, I invite you to witness the disembodied taking head of the Green Knight, as played by Sean Connery in what seems to be a really cheesy film from the 1980’s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BrwSroSCvE

This actually happened.

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