Sir Gawain's humanity and honor in medieval chivalry

Sir Gawain

Comparing Sir Gawain to the archetype character of a knight, similar to the knights in King Arthur's court, he possesses characteristics that define and at the same time provide a humane side to his knightly stature. As the archetypal knight, Sir Gawain is similar to King Arthur's knights in that he possesses the brave and resolute attitude of an honorable knight. He had shown these qualities when he met the Green Knight at the Green Chapel for a duel, where the impending threat and doom of death did not hinder him from courageously accepting his enemy's proposal. Despite the feeling that danger awaits him, Gawain mustered enough courage to at least face the challenge ahead of him: " ... If I turned back now / Forsook this place for fear, and fled ... / I were a caitiff coward; I could not be excused." These lines tells us that Gawain still maintains his stature as a knight, a man who is not afraid of anything, even if it would result to his death.

However, what differentiated Sir Gawain from the archetypal knight is that he also maintained a human side in him, a characteristic that showed that despite his honorable stature, he is also susceptible to other threats to his honor. This threat includes temptations in committing adultery or unmanly conduct towards a woman. This has been shown in his unwise decision to decline the lady's help to protect him against the Green Knight by using a magical sash.