English

Thesis

This paper discusses representation of love in two novels. First novel discussed is 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'. Second novel discussed is Malory's Morte Arthur. The paper also highlights the author's perception of love in each novel and how love is depicted and portrayed in their stories.

Introduction

In 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' love is portrayed as being seductive between a man and woman. This is shown when the lady tries to offer Gawain company and praise. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are primarily a chivalric romance (romance called in Anglo-Saxon). Gawain has all the features of the knight Arthurian ideal. "It is certainly not an average man, nor the consideration of a knight that ever existed on the contrary, it is the best of knights, and he brings him the best of all the knights who ever lived." It is an instrument of "courage, humility, courtesy and honesty" its morals and manners are remarkable infallible. Its position as Arthur's nephew reflects personal characteristics close to perfection. "It is the ideal Christian feudal knight, who not only represents the highest level reached by human behavior, but our evaluation shows these qualities in a man living in an age that admired of all, as the feudal in general” (Greenblatt 2006, 18).

On the other hand, love is portrayed in 'Morte Arthur' as being something impure. Morgan is the only female character in this novel that raises her voice in her defense. Apart from that, women are thought to be bound in. They have just their feelings but not their actions. They are given limited space and boundary to open.

Representation of love in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Part III of the novel is about the hunts that go on both inside and outside the castle over the course of three days. Each day parallels the next. The host goes on his hunt, and then there is a bedroom scene played out between Gawain and the host's wife. Next there is a description of the completion of the hunt, and finally the host and Gawain exchange winnings. On the day, of the first hunt, while the host is outdoor hunting deer, Gawain lies in bed and, he becomes the object of the lady's "hunt." She gets into bed while Gawain pretends to sleep. Why? She offers him much praise and her company, but Gawain is quite modest and behaves courteously, being careful to maintain manners appropriate to a knight who has offered his service to a lady. Note how the lady manipulates him through her praise until she "catches" him and, he offers to kiss her as she requested - after all, she is a lady and, he is a courteous knight in her service (Greenblatt 2006, 18).

Once again the host spends his day hunting, this time boar, and Gawain spends the morning in bed. The lady visits Gawain; this time she flirtatiously insults his sense of courtesy because he has not yet kissed her. Notice the many times the ...