Beowulf and Sir Gawain: comparative analysis of medieval heroes

Beowulf and Sir Gawain as Heroes

Heroism is not something simply defined. It is a word so over-used that it has lost its meaning. To the authors of "Beowulf" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" the term probably had a clear meaning.

For one thing, heroes do great things. For instance, Beowulf slays two monsters and a dragon, while Gawain encounters and deals with such creatures en route to the Green Chapel. So at one level at least, heroes can do things others cannot. To a degree, we see heroism in the incredible feats of strength and skill demonstrated by popular athletes. but, skillful as they are, athletes are not performing these feats as part of an effort to help others.

So then, a willingness to help others must be part and parcel of being a hero; Gawain is a knight and although his deal with the Green Knight is struck in hasty pride, he has formerly served Arthur well in battle, as testified by the fact that on the inside of his shield he keeps an image of the Virgin Mary. Gawain's service to others takes place outside of the story in general, while all the drama in Beowulf is derived from his service to others. He goes to fight Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon to avenge and defend those whom these monsters had been afflicting.

While they are sometimes capable of feats of inhuman prowess, they are still men. When the Green Knight makes his challenge to the crowd, Arthur is bound to take it up, but Gawain, being the knight of least renown begs a boon from Arthur; he wants to be allowed to take up the Green Knight's challenge so that he can build up his own reputation as something other than just the King's nephew. However, his real motives are probably a little more selfish. He thinks the Green Knight is going to be a pushover, and plans to kill him with one blow so he (Gawain) never need face the blow the Green Knight gets to give Gawain as part of the deal. Once Gawain sees how things go when the Green Knight loses his head and doesn't die, we can see how unhappy Gawain becomes. He can only be contemplating what he considers the inevitable; his death at the hands of this somehow-supernatural being.

In Beowulf's case, when he faces the dragon the author tells us that both dragon and Beowulf dreaded each other. So heroes can and do experience fear.

Heroes may feel fear, but they seldom express it. Gawain is clearly unhappy with the outcome of the Green Knight's initial challenge, in spite of cutting off the Green Knight's head, the Green Knight still lives and promises to lop off Gawain's head in a year. Nearly a year goes by, and when Gawain realizes there is no way out of the situation, that he will have to face off the Green Knight, he becomes disconsolate. He expresses his misery to his uncle, Arthur, but publicly puts on a happy face for everyone else.

But Gawain said with cheerful face:

Why shrink back from the quest?

Though fate bring glory or disgrace man must meet the test."

Gawain is bedecked in all kinds of martial finery, but is full of woe. This furthers the theme of Gawain putting on airs of valor without truly possessing any. His trip is one of misery and hardship and he begins to learn the error of his ways after some time alone in a harsh wilderness full of dangers. Beowulf doesn't endure such hardships in the story, but the action he faces is from when he was younger and ended up adrift for five days at sea, fending off sharks and the like.

When Gawain enters a castle he comes to, he is greeted cheerfully but there is an undercurrent of mockery in his hosts' conversation; they seem to have heard of him before and that he is more of a lover than a fighter. A female in the castle catches Gawain's eye, and he hers; the first thing he does when they meet is kiss her!

The mistress of the house clearly has intentions to seduce him, being more than merely playful. What's she doing on Gawain's bed? In any event, he resists her. He may not be taking liberties with her, but just the same he doesn't mind her sitting on the bed. So he's a very good man, but still just a man.