Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Women in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"

Immediately, one is confronted with the apparent centrality of women in the society of Sir Gawain. King Arthur and his court are seen celebrating together, and the Queen stands before all as the representation of all chivalric excellence at the forefront of this otherwise all male society of knights. As one is respectful to the king, one must also be respectful to the queen -- if not more respectful, to show one's homage to Arthur.

However, although powerful images women may be symbolically important in the society of the poem, this does not mean that women are truly powerful players in courtly life. Rather, the female body is used as a 'test' of the homage a knight owes to his male host. Women serve as vehicles of male pride and honor, and facilitators of male knightly excellence, not as significant actors in and of themselves. As all the knights sit around the Round Table, during the New Year's celebration, the Green Knight of the title challenges any who will dare to strike a blow at him, provided he is allowed to strike back in a year's time. Sir Gawain cuts off the knight's head, and the knight leaves, with a promise from Gawain to extract his pledge next year.