Yf LAIN, AUCTOR:

THE UPWARD PLOW OF V f S C C f l I W

SIR G A B A f N AMD TRE GREEN KNIGHT -m __I- -- I- _.-- ----

Gail Althea Bell

THESIS SUBHXTTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLHENT Of

THE R E Q U I R E H E N T S FCR THE DEGREE OF

RASTER OF ARTS

in the Departaent

E n g l i s h

C Gail Althea Bell 1981

SISCN FRASEX UNXVERSITP

October 198 1

A 1 1 r i g h t s reserved, This thesis may not be reproduced i~ whale or in part, by photocopy

or other meaos, without permission of the author,

APPROVAL

NAME: Ga i l A1 thea BELL

DEGREE: Master o f A r t s

TITLE OF THESIS: V i l a i n Auctor: The Upward Flow o f Wisdom i n S i r Gawain and the Green Knight.

EXAMINING COMMITTEE:

Chai rman: Dr. Michael S t e i g

Dr. Joseph Gal 1 agher, 'Senior Supervi sor Associate Professor of Engl i sh

Dr. d a r y - ~ n n Stouck, Ass i s tan t Professor of Engl i s h

i Dr. Harvey De ROO, Ass i s tan t Professor of Engl i s h

Dr. K i eran Kealy , ~ x t e h a l Examiner Professor o f Engl ish, U.B.C.

Date Approved: 3 /81.

PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE

I hereby g r a n t t o Simon Fraser U n i v e r s i t y t h e r i g h t t o lend

my t h e s i s , p r o j e c t o r extended essay ( t h e t i t l e o f which i s shown below)

t o users o f t h e Simon Fraser U n i v e r s i t y L i b ra r y , and t o make p a r t i a l o r

s i n g l e cbp i e s o n l y f o r such users o r i n response t o a reqbes t f rom t h e

l i b r a r y o f any o t h e r u n i v e r s i t y , o r o t h e r educa t iona l i n s t i t u t i o n , on

i t s own behal f o r f o r one o f i t s users. I f u r t h e r agree t h a t permiss ion

f o r m u l t i p l e copy ing o f t h i s work f o r s c h o l a r l y purposes may be g ran ted

by me or t h e Dean o f Graduate Stud ies. I t i s understood t h a t copy ing

o r p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s work f o r f i n a n c i a l g a i n s h a l l n o t be a l lowed

w i t h o u t my w r i t t e n permission.

T it l e o f Thes i s /Pro ject /Extended Essay

Author:

\ A 5 I gna tu re )

ABSTRACT

~ r i 5 i . c ~ of a Gawain p a && Gfeeg Knight h a v e n o t e d i n the

Green K n i g h t fir! both h i s Bertilak a n d h i s Grene Gome forms) a

mixture o f churlishness and m a g i s t e r i a l power, and h a v e f o u n d i t

d i f f i c u l t t o a c c o u n t f o r t h e s e c o n t r a s t i n g f e a t u r e s . T h e first:

quality is e s p e c i a l l y d i f f i c u l t t o a c c o u n t for i f one a s s u m e s

t h a t a ~ e d i e v a l p e o p l e s a r s o c i e J p i n strict h i e r a r c h i c a l terms,

and i f o n e r e c a l l s t h a t t h e Greern K n i g h t is a source o f

wisdom-an a u c t o r - t o a peerless r o m a n c e k n i g h t , Sir Gava in , This

c r i t i c a l d i f f i c u l t y may be r e s o l v e d by r e c o g n i z i n g t h a t t h e

f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y had s e v e r a l i m a g e s of t h e k ~ i g h t and t h a t t h e

Green K n i g h t fits t h e l eas t exa l ted of them, A n a l y s i s of the

text shows t h a t w h i l e Gawain is a r o m a n c e knight, t h e G r e e n

K n i g h t is a real ist ic ' k n i g h t s , a r i c h m e r c h a n t t r a i n e d i n law,

who seeks t o n u r t u r e i n h i m s e l f t h e a a n n e r s a n d m a t e r i a l c u l t u r e

o f t h e r o m a n c e k n i g h t , b u t who u n d e r s t a n d s the i m p o s s i b i l i t y of

t h e r o m a n c e i d e a l 0 2 p e r f e c t i o s ? a t t a i f i e d b y k n i g h t s w i t h o u t

effort a s a g i f t of n a t u r e , T h e poem m e d i a t e s between t h e v a l u ~ s

of romance knights a n d t h o s e of t h e real wor ld , s h o w i n g w i t h o u z

r a n m u r that b o t h v a l u e sets are f l a w e d o r i n c o m p l e t e ,

TABLE OF CONTENTS ~ p p r o v Z t l w * - a - - - t - * - - - - - - a = t i w - 1 - a t - t m - ~ - i m - - - m m - - - - ~ - * - - - -wii

Ilf- Is t h e Green K n i g h t a K c i g h t ? , a , , , - - o l w s 36

I V , B e r t i l a k de Hautdesert I Hat: The S e l f - a a d e R n i g h t - - , 6 3

V , Some L i t e r a r y A c t e c e d e n t s and Affinities . . w , - m .-*-. .- 101

VI, Conc lns ion : T h e Counsel of Imperfection , , , ,,, - - - 1 1 7

Bibliography , - , m - , m . w , - - , - , , ,,,.. ~ , ~ ~ l . , . . * a = , - . I I w - - m I , - * - - - - - * 332

I. The A u c t o r In M e d i e v a l L i t e r a t u r e

@hen G a v a i n a r r i v e s home a t C a m e l o t w i t h a scar o n his

s h o u l d e r a n d a n o t h e r on h i s s o u l , the f o f k of C a n e l o t l a r g h

l i g h t l y a n d assuoae w i t h l i m i t e d romance v i s i o n t h a t Gawain w i l l

s e j c i n h i s s o c i e t y and a g a i n be a s p o t l e s s k n i g h t of Camelot. T o

them, t h e v i r t u e o f a k n i g h t c o m e s from a s c r i p t i o n , r a t h e r t h a n

f r a a a judgment based on a c t i o n ; the a d v e n t u r e of a Round T a b l e

k n i g h t is b y d e f i n i t i o n ~ e r f e c t , As a r e s u l t , every l o rd a ~ d

l a d y w i l l wear a face

, ,, fo r s a k e of t h a t s e g g e , i n swete-, . F o r that w a t z a c o r d f d t h e r e n o u n o f t h e r o u n d e table, 1

T h e a d v e n t u r e c o a m e r t i o r a t ~ d by t h e g i r d l e is t o b e washed i n t h e

g e n e r a l a p ~ r o b a t i o n g r a n t e d the Round T a b l e , For Gawain,

however, t h e v i r t u e he has l o s t i s g o n e f o r e v e r fgeTher h i t onez

is t a c h c h e d t w y n n e w i l h i t n e u e r e g ( 2 5 1 2 ) ) , Gatrain's r e f u s a l t o be

c o m f o r t e d a n d r e i n t e g r a t e d i n t o t h i s s o c i e t y i s a a e a s u r e o f

t h e f a c t it is no l o n g e r his s o c i e t y , H e h a s l e a r n e d t o s e p a r a t e

i m a g e f rom a c t u a l i t y a n d i d e a froin real i s a t i o n a n d c a n no l onge r

-----------------*

Norman D a v i s (&.)a G a w a i ~ ! j& G r e e n Kni*. S e c c n d . Edition, ( ~ r i g i n a l e d i e o r s 3, R-R, T o l k i e n a n d E-V-Gordon) . Oxford , C l a r e n d o n , 1967, l i n e s 2518-2519- B L 1 q u o t a t i o n s f rom S i r Gawain a n d t h e Green g n i q h t w i l l be f r o m t h i s e d i t i o n , w i t h --L --- -- -- -- spellings slightly a l t e r e d a s t h e p r i n t d e v i c e b e i n g u s e d f o r t h i s pager cannot r e p r o d n c e yq* Qr t h o r n - L i n e numbers w i l l be g i v e n i n t h e tex t d i r e c t l y a f t e r t h e q u o t a t i o n ,

t h a t h e is by d e f i n i t i o n good G a v a i n , N e i t h e r h i s r o l e a s

c a m e l o t k n i g h t a o r h i s d e v i c e o f t h e p e n t a n g l e of i n t e r f c c k e d

v i r t n e s can protect him f rom t h e knowledge o f h i s human

f r a i l t i e s - Though "a1 watz t h i s f a y r e f o l k i n h e r first,

age 154) **, t h e most s u i t a k l e time fo r t h e s e e k i n g o f l e a r n i n g ,

o n l y Gawain w i l l , t h r o u g h h i s e x p e r i e n c e s , f i n d it,

As a r e s u l t o f t h e t e a c h i n g s of h i s g r e e n 22- 2 Gaua in

now h a s a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e real n a t u r e and i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f

p e r f e c t i o n , and w i l l n o t be c o m f o r t e d b y t h e Round T a b l e , H i s

s e l f - c o n d e m n a t i o n i s b a s e d o n a more c o m ~ l e x # o r a l v i s i o n t h a n

2 T h i s word w i l l b e u s e d t o refer n o t t o an a u t h o r b u t to a n a u t h o r i t y f i g u r e , a t e a c h e r o r a judge. The d e f i n i t i o n i s o n e c o n s i d e r e d by t h e M i d d l e E n q l i s h D i c t i o n a r y , Hans K u r a t h a n d Sherman H, Kuhn ( e d s , ) , Anrt Arbor , U ~ i v e r s i t y o f H i c h i g a n Press, 1956---a This d i c t i o n a r y is t h e s o u r c e o f a l l d e f i n i t i o n s u s e d i n t h i s p a p r u n l e s s there is a n i n d i c a t i c n t o t h e c o n t r a r y i n t h e t e x t ,

The word a u c k o r h a s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e RED, s e v e r a l mean ings , F i r s t l i s t e d is t h e creator, a n c e s t o r o r p e r p e t r a t o r of a F e r s o n o r i n s t i t u t i o n , S e c o n d is t h e s o u r c e of a u t h o r i t a t i v e i n f o r m a t i o n o r o p i n i o n : a t e a c h e r , The c o e m o n l y - r e c o g n i s e d mean ing , a u t h o r o r scurce o f a s t o r y , i s c o n s i d e r e d t o be a s u b - d e f i n i t i o n of t h i s o n e ; t h e e d i t o r s p o i n t out t h a t i t i s c f t e n v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o t e l l w h e t h e r a citation is r e f e r r i n g t o ail a a t h o r o r t o a n a u t h o r i t a t i v e s o u r c e of inf o r e t a t i o n - C h a u c e r i i a t h e Hcus Fame s a y s ?*No o t h e r a u c t o u r a l e g g e Ln T h e MED c o n c l u d e s t h a t h e means s o u r c e o f a u t h o r i t a t i v e i n f o r m a t i c n , n o t m e r e l y a u t h o r - The "Cm v e r s i o n of Piers Plowman s a y s **Ho was h u s a u t o r a n d him of gode t a u g h t e . " -- --- O t h e r d e f i n i t i o n s are o f f e r e d : g u a r d i a n , a n d i n law, t h e a c c u s e r o r p l a i n t i f f , An a u c t r i c e i s d e f i n e d a s a woinac whose o p i n i o n is accepted a s a u t h o r i t a t i v e , T h e u s e o f t h e word a u c t o r t o mean - s o u r c e of wisdom seems t h e r e f o r e a p p r o p r i a t e , Al though Marie B o r r o f f , w o r k i n g f r o @ t h e Oxford E n g l i s h D i c t i o n a r y , c o n c l u d e s that etavster h a s many of t h e same m e a n i n g s , t h e poet's u s e of this word in t h e e p i t h e t " a g h l i c h m a y s t e r n [ l , 1 3 6 ) seems to c o l o u r t h e term i n t h i s Foem t o o s t r o n g l y . [ B o r r o f f , Sir Gana in and t h e G r e e n pniqhl~ A S t y l i s t i s 2nd Metrical S u r v e y , p 1 1 2 , j - -- --

is f o u n d i n most romances , Gawain h a s seen t h a t a b s t r a c t o r

d e f i n i t i o n a l p e r f e c tior. d c e s n o t long s u r v i v e the c o i n p l e x i t i e s

of t h e real world. The Green Knight h a s g i v e n him what a m o u n t s

t o a ~ O Q F S ~ ~ of i m p e r f e c t i o l - Gawain s h o u l d m e a s u r e h i m s e l f , h e

says, n o t against t h e p e n t a n g l e virtues nor agains t a n ideal f o r

t h e g o o d k n i g h t of Camelot , b u t against g e d e s t r i a n humans:

. - , , s o t h l y me t h y n k k e z On t h e f a u t l e s t f r e k e that e v e r on fete y e d e , As p e r l e be t h e quite p e s e i s o f p r y s more, So is Gawayn, i n god f a y t h , bi o t h e r g a y k n y g t e z -

( 2 3 6 2 f f )

S i n c e t h e Green Knight_ set Gawairt *s test o n e would e x p e c t Gawain

t o p e r m i t h im t o s a y v h f t h e r the p p i l had p a s s e d , But Gawain

c a n n o t accept t h e G r e e n K n i g h t ' s a s s e s s m e n t any more than h e

w i l l l a te r be a b l e t o accept t h e a s s e s s m f n t of t h e Bound Tak le .

further, h e c a n n o t accept a n y t h i n g t h e Gose, now r e v e a l e d a s

B e r t i l a k , o f f e r s , Though he t a k e s t h e green g i r d l e , h e d o e s nut

do so i n t h e sririt i n which i t i s o f f e r e d fi9a p u r e t o k e n / of

t h e c h a n n c e o f t h e G r e n e Chape l (23!18-23W3'38" ), B e utter1 y r e f u s e s

t h e more i ~ p o r t a n t o f f e r s o f a b s o l u t i o n from h i s f a u l t aod

continued h o s p i t a l i t y and f r i e c d s h i p (2425-2423)- It is k i t h

s o m e t h i n g r e s e m b l i n g r e p u g n a n c e t h a t h e seizes his helmet, s e n d s

sarcastic greetings t o h i s n h o n o u r e d l a d y e s " and p o i n t e d l y says

t h e a d v e n t u r e has been a n evil one for hiat ("1 haf s o i o r n e d .

sad ly ' s ) , Curing t h e bedroom s c e n e s a n d the t h r e e b lows a t the

Green C h a p e l , Gawain h a s been slowly s t r i p p e d of h i s p e r c e p t i o n

Of h i m s e l f a s p e n t a n g l e k n i g h t a n d s o u r c e of nurture. H e h a s

b e e n l e d t h r o u g h a set of t e a c h i n g e x e r c i s e s by a n i n d i v i d u a l

who, b e s i d e s b e i n g h i s rcc ia l i n f e r i o r , i s u n a w a r e t h a t i n

d e s t r o y i n g Gawain 's i d e a l of i n n a t e p e r f e c t i o n , h e h a s made

a e a n i n g l e s s t o Gawain his manners and Luxury, w h i c h the Green

% n i g h t h i a s e l f a s p i r e s to,

, One of t h e t h e m e s of S& C a w a i ~ 224 3& Gree_n Kniq3?,s is t h e

lack of juncture b e t w e e n the two w c r l d s i t d e s c r i b e s , G a m i n is

a romance k n i g h t who a d v e n t u r e s i n t h e real R i c a r d i a n w o r l d 3 \, Z

represented by H a u t d e s e r t , bringing w i t h him i n a d e q u a t e romance

v a l u e s . B e r t i l a k is a * k n i g h t 8 of the real f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y ,

which means t h a t h e h a s some romance p s e t e c t i o n s , b u t t h a t h i s

e s s e n t i a l values are r e a l i s t i c o n e s o f s t a t u s a n d economics . I n

B e r t i l a k q s wor l8 , Cawain .L,ries t o a p p l y his own v a l w s , b u t t h e y

f a i f him, T h i s F ~ O ~ U C ~ S a comedy of t r a n s p l a n t e d values and

p s y c h o l o g i c a l d i s p l a c e m e n t , which sometimes t a k e s t h e form of

a n a c h r o n i s m . A l t h o u g h i t may b e t h a t i.3 r c s t medieval poetry

d i s p l a c e m e n t and a n a c h r o n i s m are a c c i d e n t a l , the modern r e a d e r

s h o u l d n o t t h o u g h t l e s s l y a s s u m e t h i s is t h e c a s e when t h e

o p p o s i t e a s s u m p t i o n . would be made a b o u t m d e r n w r i t i x i g - I n j o h n

S t e i n b e c k ' s r e t e l l i n g of H a f o r y , w h e r e k n i g h t s s w i l l wh i sky a n d

g a z e w i t h d u l l wonder a t t h e longbowmen who w i l l l a t e r p r o v e t o

3J.A,Burrow uses t h i s % e r a i n R i c a r d g q metry: s h a u c e r , Gower, Lan91and a n d the ' G a w a i n * P o e t t o mean t h e p o e t r y of t h e l a t e -- -- --- ---- -- f o u z t e e n t h c e n t u r y i n England, H e d o e s not a r g u e s t r o n g l y t h a t t h i s p o e t r y was a l l wr i t tea w i t h i n t h e a c t u a l r e i g n of R i c h a r d XI*

t h e death of t h e k n i g h t l y warrior class, we g i v e S t e i n b e c k

fo r i n t e n t i o n a l d r a m a t i c i r o n y t h r c u g h anacbron i s te .* @e

do this e v e n though t h e r e is n o a p p a r e n t t h e m a t i c p n r p o s e i n t h e

t a h i s k y - s w i l l i n g . T h e Gawain pcet a p p e a z s t o h a v e knowz the uses

of b o t h a n a c h r c n i s m a n d d i s p l a c e m e n t , a n d u s e d t h e m c o n s c i o u s l y

for thematic p u r p o s e s , T h i s c o n s c i o n s j u x t a p o s i t i o n of two

worlds and two v a l n e sets Bay be c a l l e d media5,aJ romance, I n t h e

Cawelot scenes, the description of c o u r t and h e r o is doaiaated

by eleraents of Eomaance t r a d i t i o n w h i l e t h e H a u t d e s e r t s c e n e s are

a parody of f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y u p p e r - c l a s s t e a l i t y, The

antagonist t o Gawain, i n Camefot a g r e e n man a n d i n H a u t d e s e r t

B e r t i l a k , a p p e a r s i n b o t h worlds, As green man, h e may be s e e n

as a t y p e cf inferior creation: m o n s t e r , v e g e t a b l e , w i l d laan, As

B e r t i l a k , h e o c c u p i e s a s o c i a l s t a t u s much loner t h a n t h a t of a

Camelo t k n i g h t s c is f a s c i n a t i o n fo r t h e r e a d e r comes from the

fact t h a t h e c o m b i n e s these f e a t u r e s w i t h b e n e v o l e n c e toward

Gawain i n his f r a i l t y a n d a f i n a l c o n t r o l of e v e n t s s u c h a s t o

mark an a u c t o r .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e o f f i c i a l w y t h o l o j y o f t h e i n e d i e v a l period

t h e s e c u l a r s o c i a l o s d e r c o n s i s t e d o f nobles and commons ; t h e r e

was n o middle c l a s s a n d no m o b i l i t y , W i t h i n t h e class of n o b l e s

t h e r e was e e d l e o s subdivision and precedence, P l a c e m e n t in t h e .

order was d i v i n e l y o r d a i n e d r a t h e r t h a n a c h i e v e d , and was

a m a n i f e s t a t i o n of a h i e r a r c h y of v a l u e and g o o d n e s s which was

n e c e s s a r y r a t h e r t h a n m e r e l y c o e t i n g e n t . ? h i s l i t e r a r y and

social p r e s u m p t i o n had i t s i n t e l f e c t u a l p a r a l l e l i~

~ e o p l a t o n i s m , a c c o r d i n g t o which God was the u l t i ~ a t e s o u r c e of

a l l c r e a t i o n , h a v i n g c r e a t e d t e m p l a t e s f ~ r e a c h concept, T h e

t e m p l a t e s , c a l l e d ~ s v e r s a l ~ d u r i n g the ~ i d d l e ages, were t h e

o r i g i n a l s f rom which a series of c o p i e s were made. Each

successive c o p y was less f a i t h f u l . t o t h e o r i g i n a l u n i v e r s a l tha r ,

was i ts p r e d e c e s s o r , s I f t h i s m e t a ~ h o r were used to e x p l a i n

human ~ocie t i es , t h e s u p e r i o r i t y of n o b l e s would be s e e n t o b e

i n t h e i r be ing t h e ~ o s t f a i t h f u l c o p i e s of t h e u n i v e r s a l f o r t h e

huaan s p e c i e s , Wi th h i g h place i n the h i e r a r c h y went refinement

not o n l y o f body b u t also of mind, m o r a l i t y , a n d s e n s i b i l i t y ,

H h i h a l l humar?s had d i s c u r s i v e r e a s o n o f a k i n d , some humans,

s u c h a s women a n d t h o s e cf low d e g r e e , were a c t i v a t e d p r i m a r i l y

by t h e i r a n i m a l n a t u r e s - 6 T h e e l u s i v e q u a l i t y of wisdom Is

g e n e r a l l y t h e d c ~ a i n of t h e n o b l e , t h e male a n d t h e e l d e r l y -

--- 1*1-11.1--(..*..11*---

T h e m e t a p h o r is t h a t o f B,O, L o v e j o y i n gg~at C h a i g of Beim , Cambr idge , H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1966, This is t h e - s o d e r n l o c u s c l a s s i c u s f o r t h e m e d i e v a l and r e n a i s s a n c e theory of h k e s a r c h ies,

ti C h a u c e s ' s Mife of Bath makes t h i s comment: And sith a man is moore r e s o n a b l e Than woeman is, y e m o s t e b e e n s u f f r a b l e ,

( 1 - 4 4 1-4421 She i s , of course, n o t o f f e r i n g t h e s t a t e m e n t a s s i m p l e i n f o r m a t i o n , A l b e r t C, Baugh l e d , ) , C h a u c e r L s E l a _ l p r P o e t z y , Englewood C l i f f s , P r e n t i c e - H a l l , 1363-

i n r o m a n c e s s u c h a f e m a l e who i s a n a u c t o r -- a fay. T h e sane i s t r u e of the l o a t h l y l a d y a u c t o r t o t h e

k n i g h t i n t h e Wife of B a t h ' s ( B r e t o n Lay* , I f wise, a young man

is p r e s e n t e d a s puer s e n e x , a young o l d man,? T h e r h o t o r i c i a s s

do n o t appear tc h a v e p r o p o s e d a t h e o r y o f l i t e r a t u r e s h o w i n g

&pprooed c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s f o r t h e b r i n g e r o f wisdom, t h e puctor,

in g e n e r a l terms- However, o n e l i t e r a r y fornt, t h e drealn v i s i o n ,

does have i ts own p r e s c r i p t i o n f o r a g u i d e f i g u r e cr auctor , BY

t h e late f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y , t h e d ream v i s i o n a p p e a r s t o h a v e

b e e n a r e c o g n i s e d g e n r e , a n d its decorum t o h a v e been t h e same

as t h e decorum cf t h e dream i t s e f f . 3 P i e r s plow ma^ i s a series

of drean v i s i o n s . •’?earlL BUIBBI and 2% S o t h s e a q e r , a n d @inner ant

W a s t o u r s are a l l t r u e s i n g l e dream v i s i o n s . A l l o f C h a u c e r y s

l o n g poems except C a n t e r b u r y Tales a n d T r o i l u s are dream

v f sions. The dream v i ion r e q u i r e s t h e n a r z a t o r - - t h e d r e a m e r - - t o

f a l l asleep, e x ~ e r i e n c e an e n i g m a t i c v i s i o n t h a t r e q u i r e s

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , and reawaken , 9 Commonly, t h e dreamer i s a n

innocent, p u z z l e d b y a n u n f a m i l i a r moral a n d p h y s i c a l l a n d s c a p e .

A & a w e Thus t h e d r e a ~ guide who i n t e r p r e t s is o f s u p r e m e imporr

8 G e o r g e Kane, ah I i u t o b i o q s a ~ h i c a P P a l l a c y & c~&= g g L a a q l a n p s u d i e s , Chambers nernorial L e c t u r e , London, 1365, p 11 s Cited b y S p e a r i z i g i c Medievak Dream g=",ry, London, c a m b r i d g e 8 n i v e r s i t g P r e s s , 1976, p2-

b o t h to t h e d r e a m e r and t o t h e reader of the poem,

I n t r o d u c t i a n s t o Chaucer8s poems show t h a t h e assumes

dreams a n d dream v i s i o n s s h a r e a decorum, H e lists i n two of h i s

own dream v i s i o n s , the Hous of Fame a n d t h e P a r l i a m e n t qg

m, +.he k i n d s of dreams r e c o g n i s e d by m e d i e v a l s c i e n c e , He

appears '0 f o l l o w t h e c a t e g o r i e s n o t e d b y f l a c r o b i o s , whose

C o a m e n t a r x 3 mean! of S c i p i o i s r e c o g n i s e d a s a s o u r c e of

m e d i e v a l dream t h e o r y - I n t h e f ious of FaBe Chaucer's n a r r a t o r

begins by e x p r e s s i n g nucnder /Ba t h e r o o d e I T o my wyt/What c a u s e t h

s w e v e n e s w , i z S v e v e n e i s h e r e , it would seem, a g e n e r a l word for

dreams. T h e n a r r a t o r then lists the v a r i o u s k i n d s o r features of

dreants: avisioutmL r e v e l a t i o u n L dremeL swevene3 fantome, o r a c l e z

T h i s l i s t i n g uses nost of 8aczobius* t e r m , N a c r o b i u s saps t h a t

his model, S c i p i o ' s dream, is a t o n c e v i s i . s o m i u r n and

o r a c u l u & A v i s i o is f o r both a u t h c r s a ~ r o p h e t i c v i s i o n which

a c t u a l l y cams t r u e , M a c r o b i u s * somfiiuia seems t o be the same as

Chaucer's r e v e l a t i u u n , a n e n i g m a t i c dreat that c o n c e a l s riit h

s t r a n g e s h a p e s and v e i l s w i t h a m b i g u i t y t h e t r u e meaning of t h e

i n f o r m a t i o n b e i n g o f f e r e d and requires a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n f o r its

u n d e r ~ t a n d i n g . Most i m ~ o r t a n t for p r e s e n 2 p u r p o s e s , b o t h a u t h o r s

use t h e term oracu1um , a dream w i t h a n a u t h o r i t y f i g u r e . fo

a 0 8 a c r o b i u s , Commentary = && Drea@ flf s c i ~ i o , tlilliam Harris S t a h l ( t r a n s , ] , Ben York a n d Londo~t , Co lumbia D n i v e r s i t y Press, 1952, pt0.

" Baugh, p28-

a a c r o b i u s t h e o r a c u l a r a u c t o r is v e r y c l e a r l y d e s c r i b e d , a n d h e

is a p e r s o n a g e entirely p r e d i c t a b l e i n h i e r a r c h i c a l terms:

we c a l l a dream o r a c u l a r in which a g a r e n t o r a p i o u s or r e v e r e d inan, or a priest, or e v e n a god, c l e a r l y r e v e a l s wha t will o r w i l l oot t r a n s p i r e and wha t a c t i o n t o t a k e Or t o a v o i d m , l2

his list of a c c e p t a b l e dream guides, a n d by i n f e r e n c e

acceptable dream v i s i o n g u i d e s , is clearly a list o f p e o g l e

o c c u p y i n g t r a d i t i o n a l positicns of r e s p e c t a n d h i e r a r c h i c a l

a u t h o r i t y . They e a c h h a v e s u c h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a s o l d age,

l e a r n i n g , p e r s o n a l power a n d ~ a f e n e s s , Same h a v e t h e ear o f t h e

gods or are t h e a s e l v e s s u p e r n a t u f a 1 l y power•’ u l , fiacrobius*

e x a m p l e s cf c r a c u l a r f i g u r e s are Anaelius P a u l u s a n d S c i p i o t h e

Blder, who are p i o u s , r e v e r e n t , a n c e s t r a l a n d p r i e s t l y , The

p a r a d i g m a t i c , or h i e r a r c h y - w a k i n g , i m a g i n a t i o n w i l l v a l u e s u c h

f i g u r e s rnore highly t h a n it does t h e n a i v e d r e a m e r . S i n c e t h e

same social o u t l o o k s h a p e d and l i m i t e d t h e i m a g i n a t i o n s t h a t

created dreams a n d dream v i s i o n s , t h e d e c c r u m o f t h e d r e a m

v i s i o n c a n b e e x p e c t e d t c f olPow t h a t of t h e dream, A s S g e a r i n g

p o i n t s o u t i n H e d i e v a l P o e t r y , o u r own s o c i e t y could n o t

@aka n s e of fgacrobi u s * c lassi f i c a t i o n b e c a u s e we l a c k t h e

h i e r a r c h i c a l outlook t h a t would make t h e o r a c u l a r dream with its

a u c t o ~ common e n o u g h t o require a s e p a r a t e c a t e g o r y . a 3

S p e a r i n g , p l l , q u o t i n g E-3, Dodds.

T h e d e c o r u m f o r t h e q u c t o r t h a t is thus c lea r i n the case

of t h e d r e a m v i s i o n is i m p l i c i t i n t h e f r e q u e n c y w i t h which

other l i t e r a r y forms, e s p e c i a l l y r o m a n c e a n d f a b l i a u , aSEUHte

wisdo@ flows f rom above, a n d refuse t o have a ~ o b l e persenage

learn a n y t h i n g from a l o w e r b e i n g - Romances* o f f e r n o

d i s c o v e r a b l f a b s t r a c t s t a t e m e n t of what t h e ---- a u c t o r 's

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s are s u p p o s e d t o be, However, t e a c h e r s t o

n r t h u x i a n heroes c a n f a i r l y be a s s u m e d t c be r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ,

a a d e l t e i n e Pelner Cosman* s E d u c a t i o n of 482 Eggs &g A z t h u r i 3 q

Romance p o i n t s o u t t h a t w h i l e i n t h e more p r i m i t i v e rornances t h e -- teacher is siaply d e s c r i t e d as master a n d h a s a n i n f l u e n c e of

l i m i t e d d u r a t i o n , i n t h e more s o p h i s t i c a t e d romances the

s i t n a t i o n i s o t h e r w i s e , I * T h e r e , t h e t u t o r ' s i n f l u e n c e i s

l a s t i n g , a n d he is lan i a p o r t a n t c h a r a c t e r whose quali+,ies of

s p i r i t , m e t h o d s of t e a c h i n g , a n d p r o l o n g e d influence a s a e n t o r

are c a r e f u l l y d e l i n e a t e d w , * s I n C h r e t i e n q s P e r c e v a l , t h e

e d u c a t i o n of t h e h e r o comes f r o m t h e mother, t h e a u c t o r , a n d i n

l a t e l i f e t h e h e r m i t , The m o t h e r ' s a d v i c e , having l a r g e l j t o do

fJCostnan, pxv, Cosman d o e s not deal w i t h G a w a i n f s e d u c a t i o r r , . which s h e s a y s o c c u r s o n l y i n minor r o m a n c e s o r lninor r e f e r e n c e s , S h e lisf,s s w s g g a u v a i n : f r a a m e n t s 4 : ~ poeme P e r d u , P, Bayes: l e d , ) R o m n i a x x x i x ( 19 10) 1-32; "IDe O r t u Waluan i iq* , 3 . D - B r a c e {ed- ) Hesperig ( G o t t i ? q e n , B a l t i m o r e , 19 13) ; Vace's QL 1, A r n o l d (ed, ) [ P a r i s , 1938- 1 9 t i O ) f I 5 18f; -uyaa, W , A , N i t z e fed , ) C h i c a g o , 1932-1937-

~ i t h r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h women, i s i m m e d i a t e l y u n s u i t a b l e t o a

v a s r i o r - t n i g h t , 5 6 T h e t u t o r , G o r n e s a n t , i s s u i t e d b e c a u s e of h i s

background a s k n i g h t a n d h o s p i t a b l e h o s t t o t e a c h P e r c e v a f

skills and g e n t l e arts, B e is i n i + i a l l y p r e s e a t e d a s t h e

aaster: of a r i c h f o r t i f i e d c a s t l e , W n c h a s t e 1 s i c h e et forteg*

, & ? which h a s rrnlae b a r b i c a n e molt f o r t i q , n g u a t r e b a s s e s

t o r n e l e s / Q u i molt e s t o i e n t f u r s e t b e l e s n (1336 f ) and o t h e r

p h y s i c a l e v i d e c c e o f the economic a n d martial power of its

owner. Gornemans is r i c h l y c l o t h e d , " v e s t u d ' u n e r o b e porprine",

131s s c h o o l msas ter ly q u a l i t y is e m p h a s i z e d by the ' * k a s t o s e t t '

(1357)--a l o n g s l e n d e r sod--he h o l d s i n h i s h a n d , and b y t h e

young men (Nvallets8'--.the sairre word i s l a t e r a p p l i e d t o

P e r c e v a l ] who t r a i l b e h i n d him, H e i s a H ~ r e u d o m , q u i molt f u

c o r t o i s i * (1571) and has known horse a n d l a n c e "des enfancetr

(1448) - A l t h o u g h C h r e t i e n i s here w r i t i n g v e r y f u n n y m a t e r i a l

i n d e e d , Gornemans i s a s e r i o u s c h a r a c t e r , neither t h e b u t t of

humour nor o n e who makes fun o f P e r c e v a f , P e r c e v a l is a n

i n c a p a b l e h c r s e n a n a n d i s w e a r i n g f 001's g a r b , h i s mot h e r 1s coat

of %erf ma1 f a i t e and nal t a i l l i e " (1425)- Gorneiaans i s a b l e t o

see t h e n o b l e bones b e c e a t h t h i s i ~ p r o b a h l e c o v e r , H e g r a v e l y

commends P e r c e v a l r s mother on heariag t h e s u p e r f i c i a l a d v i c e s h e

'-----*----*---..--.. Cosnan, p73,

g 7 C h r e t i e n d e T r o y e s , &+ Roman @ Perceval p.~ & pggg &g Graal, B i l f i a m Roach led.) , G e n e v e , Droz, 1'353, 1.1323,

,

has g i v e n a n d o f f e r s t h e benefit of h i s own advice as a n

i I H e r e f u s e s t o t a k e urn b r a g e when i l l - n u r t u r e d P e r c e v a f 1

t t h e a d v i c e o n l y a s t h o u g h h i s a c c e p t a n c e were payment

F I

for l o d g i n g s - Gornemans* o b v i o u s e c o n o m i c and s o c i a l a d e q u a c y I

shoo h i s s u i t a b f i t y a s aUctor by t r a d i t i o n a l o r a c u l a r standards, B

i ' cosaan n o t e s Gosnemans* p e d a g o g i c a l methods. H e f i r s t

: q u e s t i o n s the fad t o l e a r n t h e extent of h i s i g n o r a n c e , t h e n

t e a c h e s b y example - $ 3 F i n a l l y , h e g u i d e s the l a d t h r o u g h a n

e x e r c i s e of i m i t a t i o n , p u t t i n g t h e e p e e i n h i s hand and saying*

in effect, m y f r i e n d , this is how you d e f e n d yourself i f you are

a s s a u l t e d (152 t r f f ) , A t t h e end, P e r c e v a l h a s b e e n p l i s h e d of

his a~iri~limg Banners a n d h i s w o e f u l % n i g h t s m a n s h i p , Gornemans i a

h i s teaching h a s b e e n c o n t r o l l e d , fys , a s s e r t i v e of h i s position

and r e a o v n , s e r i o u s i n t h e face of a h i l a r i o u s s i t u a t i o n . H e h a s

p r o v i d e d a c l e a r l y - s t a 2 e d c o d e c o n c e r n i n g t h e role o f t h e

The a u c t o s i n a o l f r a m * ~ g a r z i v a l , a romance of a b o u t t h e

year 1200, is c a l l e d Gurcemanz. Be g i v e s f o n d f a t h e r l y a t t e n t i o n

t o P a r z i v a l ' s p h y s i c a l and e d u c a t i o n a l n e e d s , 3 9 P a r z i v a l

initially seeks Gurnemanz b e c a u s e of a n o r a c u l a r f e a t u r e ; h e h a s

g r e y h a i r , "He is a c h i e f of men, u e l l - b r e d H ( 1 6 2 , 23) a n d

L9Edvlin H, Z e y d e l (trans,)- P a r z i v a l a OITolfram Van Eschenbach, C h a p e l B i l l , U n i v e r s i t y o f Narth ~arolina Press, 195 1,

teaching skills of a ras is a c o ~ b i n a t i o n of i n s t r u c t i o n and

pra&ice. T h e poet praises t h i s t e c h n i q u e a s more e f f e c t i v e t h a n

beatings weald be f f74,7) - G u r n e m n z also g i v e s h e e d t o

I p a r z i s a l ' s social b e h a v i o u r (170, l 5 f f ) . H i s advice e m p h a s i z e s i "hindness , g e n e r o s i t y , h u m i l i t y , c o l a p a s s i o n , a s e n s e of shame, k i

B i a n d a p r o p e r u s e of w e a l t h ; one s h o u l d neither h o a r d n o r I

s q u a n d e r . S c too h e discusses pure l o v e , n o t a s k i n g too a a n y

r q u e s t i o n s , c h e e r f u l n e s s , and a v o i d i n g l ies , H e is a f u l l y

o r a c u l a r f i g u r e .

V a r i o u s v e r s i o n s of t h e P e r c e v a l story u s e a c h a r a c t e r of

t h e GornePaant type t o t r a i n f o r knf g h t h o o d a n u n g e n t l y reared

b u t n a b l y born y o u t h - Holfram r e m a r k s t h a t P a r z i v a l h a s no

C u r n e v a l , companion t o t h e hero i n the Tristan romances , fn

G o t t b r i e d * ~ e a r l y t h i r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y x r i s t a n , C u r n e v a l is

described a s -@inern w i s e n manff, a;ld i s according to Cosman ?*a

cultured s q u i r e who is T r i s t a n s s f a i t h f u l c o m p a n i o n i n h a p p i n e s s

a n d i n a d v e r s f t y ~ ~ 2 0 H e is g i v e n credit f QS T r i s t a n ' s musical

v i r t u c s i t y , 2% I n t h e F r e n c h P r o s e T r i s t a n t h e ~ u r n e v a l

character, h e r e called G o u v e r n a l , is fro^ " h a u t paragew i n G a u l

a n d was c h o s e n by Rerlin as tutor f o r the newborn T r i s t a n - fie

effet garde T r i s t a n f i d e l e m e n t tonte sa vie,qq*z at one

p i n t , he bursts i n t o tears when T r i s t a n i s c a p t u r e d ,

in fur iat ing the c a p t o r s . This f e a t u r e , and t h e fact h e looks

af te r T r i s t a n from infaacp, raakes it appear that Gouverna l is

meant t o be n o t so much a maker of a kn igh t , a t e a c h e s , a s h e is

g companion, and s u g g e s t s t h a t h i s characteristics are n o t

n e c e s s a r i l y t o be c o n s i d e r e d those s u i t a b l e t o a n a u c t o r .

Cosman p o i n t s o u t t h a t the L a n c e l o t h a s a u n i q u e l y

Anadequate k n i g h t teaches. P r i o r t o t h e hero's b e i n g t a k e n i n

hand b y the fay Lady of the Lake, who teaches b y c h a l l e n g e and

love, and s h f f t s the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r l e a r n i n g t o t h e p p i l , 2 3

t h e hero has a n a m e l e s s t u t o r - T h i s t u t o r s p i t e f u l l y a s s e r t s h i s

autfiority b y knock ing Lancelot off h i s hcrse, R e is incapable of

teaching by e x a n p l e , He i s not gre ; h e lacks t h e j u d g a e n t to

d i s t i n g u i s h between foolish abandon and L a n c e l o t ' s g e n e r o s i t y .

T h i s t u t o r , who is not a g e n t i l hoarae, is e v e n t u a l l y dismissed

because h e shows i n s n f f i c i e n t c h a r a c t e r under stress, 2 *

Thus t h e rcmances a p p e a r to s o l i d l y a p p r o v e the o r a c u l a r

model for t h e a u c t o r t o young k n i g h t s , T h e m o t h e r is f i t o n l y to

nurture an i n f a n t , and even s o m y do d a ~ l a g e - Women other than

Bothers must have s u p e r n a t u r a l powers, A nsn-noble man ~ u s t n o t

2a Cosman, p123-124-

2* Cosman, p121,

teach a n c b l e , a h i r e a young man may h a v e u s e f u l n e s s a s a

coapanion, f o r real t e a c h i n g with s u p e r i o r wisdon a n d t h e b e s t

laethods, a g r e y b e a r d , rich a n d the head cf a n o b l e househo ld , is

to Ce p r e f e r r e d . Romance is h i e r a r c h y - s u p ~ o r t i c g i n t h i s

respect - G a v a i n ' s t e a c h e r , d e s p i t e f irst i m p r e s s i o n s , is n o t a fpp,

and d o e s n o t t h e r e f o r e become a s u i t a b l e a u c t o g by r i g h t of

s u p e r n a t u r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . We ~ a k e s t h i s s u f f i c i e n t l y cf e a r

i n t h e d e n o u e a e n t of t h e Green C h a p e l a f t e r h e has r e v e a l e d

h i a s e l f - The t e x t n a k e s no s u g g e s t i o n that h e h a s s h i f t e d s h a p e

before Gawain ' s e y e s , so physically h e is still t h e g r e e n g a y .

However, h e i d e n t i f i e s h i m s e l f a s B e r t i l a k f ' q 3 e r t i l a k ds

Hautdesert X h a t i r , t h i s londe1'(22r15) ), and h i s o r i g i n is t h e

white castle, Ect t h e Green Chapel, T h u s h e makes it c l e a r t h a t

h e does n o t t h i n k of h i m s e l f a s t h e Green Knight , I n t h i s p a p e r ,

as i n t h e poem i t se l f , the g r e e n creature a n d Eert i lak will

often be t r e a k e d a s a s i n g l e c h a r a c t e r . P h y s i c a l l y , there i s

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , b u t p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y , t h e c h a n g e s a r e more l i k e

those o f a single i n d i v i d u a l r e a c t i n g t o a v a r i e t y o f r o l e s and

c i r c u s s t a n c e s , Al though h e i s r e s p o n s i b l e i n his own persori for

t h e wooing galne fvtI wroght hit myseluenw (2361)) and t h e a s s a y i n g

of Gawain's f i b r e , h i s s h a p e - s h i f t i n g a t t r i b u t e i s t h e gift, .

aPparentlp g i v e n f o r t h i s o n e j o i n t v e s t u r e , " t h u r g h myght of

Horgne l a Faye , that i n my hous f e n g e s q * 1 2 2 4 6 ) . If E o r g a n * s

Purpose is s i m p l y "your wittes t o reuef for t o haf g r e u e d .

~ a p n o ~ r - - - - " (2Y59-246O) , s h e h a s chose=i an u n n e c e s s a r i l y complex

i n d i r e c t method- The Green K n i g h t ' s e x p l a n a t i o n of G a u a i n g s

e x p e r i e n c e d o e s n o t make it u t t e r l y c l e a r that # o r g a n v s

influence enas h e r e . H e uses t h e 5erm "ha wayned mew twice, i n

one c i r c u m s t a n c e w h e ~ e s h e was clearly t h e i n s t i g a t o r (2459) , and i n o n e where s y n t a c t i c a l l y she might have i n s t i g a t e d t h e

test of t h e Court's s u r q n i d r e or migh t have i n s t i g a t e d o n l y

%his wyzen, t h e d i s g u i s e (2454). However, t h e r e i s a s t r o n g

s n g g e s t i o n t h a t s h e p r o v i d e d the d i s g u i s e a n d the p l a n t~

f r i g h t e n Guenevere only- Aer s u p e r n a t u r a l , power h a s j u s t been

s t r e s s e d . ("Weldez non s o hyghe h a w t e s s e / T h a t ho ne con make

fuL tam** (245U-24•˜5) - ) Immediately, t h e l a n g u a g e shows that the

disguise is aseant a s a means o f d i s c o v e r y and t es t ("For: t o

a s s a y t h e s u r q n i d r e , y i f h i t s o t h were/ T h a t r e n n e s of t h e g r e t e

renoun of t h e Rounde Table (2457-2458)1w), It would seem u n l i k e 1 y

that Pforgan, p o s s e s s i n g as she d o e s "olyght8 (2446) and " k c p n t y s e

of c l e r g y e t * (2447) would need to aake a fresh d i s c o v e r y of a n y

s u c h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , f c o n c l u d e t h a t Morgan controls o n l y % h e

S u p e r n a t u r a l e l e m e n t s , She is g i v e n con t rc l . of t h e s e e l e r e n t s

because t h e s e n t e n c e of t h e poem r e q u i r e s t h a t B e r t i l a k h e

essentially human, The b r i n g i n g of wi silo#, t h e psychof o g i c a l

insight, and t h e methods o f ths l e s s o n a re all B e r t i l a k ' s .

parther , despite t h e a s s u m p t i o n of critics s u c h a s J o h n Burrow25

*bat t h e Green Knight i s s i a p l y a c o n t r i v a n c e for the t e s t i n g of

~ ~ u a i n ' s f i b r e , he is i n f a c t a c h a r a c t e r w i t h g o a l s , e m o t i o n s ,

and i n a d e q u a c i e s of h i s owc- T h e resu14. is that Bert i lak is an

= t i - o r a c u l a r a u c k o r , a t e a c h e r who does n o t f i t e i t h e r

~ a c r o b i u s ' prescription cr t h e inages of t e a c h e r s seen i n other

g r t h u r i a n r claances,

The p a r t i c u f a r a t t i t u d e s shown t o w a r d s a u c t q r s p a r a l l e l s

g e n e r a l a e t i t u d e s t o w a r d s a stable h i e r a r c h y ir, m e d i e v a l romance

and f a b l i a u . P a b l i a u g e n e r a l l y t r ea t s failure of t h e s o c i a l l y

well-placed t o d i s p l a y wisdom a s a l a r m i n g . H u s c a t i n e ' s "The

Social B a c k g r o u n d of the O l d F r e n c h F a b l i a u x N shows t h a t

a l t h o u g h soc ia l r e a l i t y i n t h e a i d d l e a g e s was complex a n d

ambiguous , nos+, people t a c i t l y a c c e p t e d the myth of a clear

caste d i v i s i o n , flany f a b l i a u x j o s h a t t h e v i l a i n or show

h o s t i l i t y t o h i s soc ia l n o b i l i t y ; even t h o s e which are

p r o - v i l a i n , s u c h as Vieillg O i n t $J P a u a e , are n o t

a n t i = h i e r a r c h i c a l . - 2 s In f a b l i a u x , the u s u a l auctor is a j u d g e

rather t h a n a t e a c h e r , P e r Nykrog c o n s i d e r s t h a t c o u r t a n d j u d g e

figure i n at l e a s t %en percent of Old French f a b l i a u x , z ? Many of

2sJ! R e a d i s of _Sir_ Gawaia 2s $he G r g s Kniah3,New York, Barnes a n d Noble, 1965, p119,

2s C h a r l e s Pluscatsine, **The S o c i a l Background of t h e Old ~ r e n c h F a b l i a u x * * , Genre IX (1976) no, 1, pf-19-

2 7 Les F a b l i a u x : Nouve11e E d i t i o n , Geneve, L ibra i r i e Dr-, 3973, p57,

s e x a a p l e s a r e of t h e o l o g i c a l t r i b u n a l s , where by d e f i n i t i o n

judge is p r i e s t l y a n d t h e r e f o r e o r a c u l a r . However, several

cdar t r i b u n a l s a p p e a r , and show j u d g e s wi th h i g h s t a t u s

to t h a t of t h e l i t i g a n t s , T h e judge d o e s n o t seen t o be

elated by e x p e r i e n c e o r s t a t u s t o t h e l awyer , a s o c i a l l y

suspect f i g u r e , 2s

Bn i n f orroal judge is s e e n i n zuuentent &g Cons- Each of

three sisters claims t o b e t h e b e l o v e d of the same b a c h e l o r ,

T h e i r f a t h e r a s k s his b r o t h e r pfrere g e r s a i n n v .5 p - I l l 1.11)

t o judge their claims, I n doing so, he poses a riddle IwQui est

afsrsnez, v o r s ou v o s cons?q9 (v-5, p- 17 3 1.9) lrlhen h e c h o o s e s

t h e best a n s u e r , t h e n a r r a t o r asserts t h a t "li j ugeaenz @st b i e n

fezn (8.5-p. 1 ltC 1-23] t h u s v a l i d a t i n g t h e u n c l e t s a u t h o r i t y *

Formal t r i b u n a l s are f o u n d i n s e v e r a l f a b l i a u x , I n " La v i e f i l e q u i C i n t l a Palme a u C h e v a l i e r w , a n o l d uornan h a s had

her cows stolen by a siller a n d w a n t s j u s t i c e - The local

C h e v a l i e r will be judge i n t h e a f f a i r , T h e o l d woman is a d v i s e d

by a n e i g h b o a s how best to present h e r case t o h im- She is t o

speak e l e g a n t l y , behave well and in s u b t l e f a s h i o n , and grease

t h e j u d g e ' s palm (r.5 p, 157) . The o l d voaaan g r e a s e s t h e palm--

w i t h p i g ' s fa t , The j udge takes t h e mis take i n good g r a c e and

the cows are r e s t o r e d t o t h e i r r i g h t f n l cwner, T h e s t o r y ends,.

----"--..--*-*..--- Z e R e f e r e n c e s t o Old French f a b l i a u x are t o A n a t o l e de Plontaiglon, Recaei!, G e n e r a l et Cog&& des F a b l i a u x &% & X X V e S i ~ c l e s ~ P a r i s , L i b r a i r i e des ~ i f r l i c ~ h i l e s , f 852- 6 Volumes,

bowever, with a p r o v e r b t h a t makes it clear t h a t t h i s knightqs

h o n e s t j u s t i c e is e x c e p t i o n a l , a n d t h e m i s t a k e a b o u t a n o i n t i n g

t h e p a l a u n d e r s t a n d a b l e . It i s coamon f o r upper class j u d g e s

( u t i c h e s hommes hautzw v-5. p. I58 1-23] t o sell t h e i r j u s t i c e

and their word- ( w P o v r e s 3 * a d r o i t , se il ne donem v-5 p-159

1.4) The knight is e n t i t f e d to the role of judge a s a matter of

status whether o r n o t h e is r e c o g n i s e d a s wise or even h o n e s t ,

However, i n a t r i b u n a l scene i n "Du Preudome q u i Rescolt

son Compere d e Noiern fv , l p, 300) t h e j u d g e is u n q u e s t i o n a b l y

wise. A fisherman i n r e s c u i n g a c o l l e a g u e from d r o a n i n g

accidently p u t s o u t his eye, and t h e i n j u r e d Ban sues , T h e

judge, the mayor of t h e town, p ronounces that t h e i n j u r e d wan

may p u r s u e his suit o n l y if h e is willing t o b e p u t back i n t h e

sea t o drown; h e is n o t wi l l l ing and a b a n d o n s t h e suit- ("Le

g r e u d o ~ e a quite clam@/ E t si fu de p l u s u r s b lasmen(v , l p 3 0 3

l . l S l 6 ) ) .

A f i n a l judge i n a secular i s s u e i s found i n "Le a e ~ n i e r

D'Arleuxw (v-2 p1 31-45), a bedroom farce. T h e miller, Jakemars ,

has tricked a g i r l l o v e d by h i s a s s i s t a n t Bouses i n t o sleeping

in h i s bed, Houses offers Jakemars a p i g l e t i f h e n i l 1 t r a d e

places. J a k e m a r s a c c e p t s , i n t e n d i n g t o trick Houses o u t of h i s

bargain, but t h e g i r l h a s confided i n Jakeaars* wife a n d t r a d e d

beds with her . T h e c o m p l i c a t e d r e s u l t i s t h a t t h e wife gets a n

e x c e l l e n t n i g h t of bed s p o r t , and t h e miller is a n g u i s h e d t o

discover he b a s b e e n c u c k o l d e d as a r e s u l t of h i s own scheme.

lef, Mouses demands t h e p i g l e t back, pointing o u t t h a t h e

bargained t o sleep w i t h the girl, n o t the wife, Phen h e takes

h i s case t o t h e b a i l i f f f o r h e a r i n g , the b a i l i f f l a u g h s e i g h t i l y

at the l i t i g a n t s ' s to ry . He o r d e r s t h e p i g l e t r e t u r n e d t c

nonses, a n d s a y s J a k e m a r s c a n g e t h i s s i d e o f t h e b a r g a i n back

too IpY3 1-26-27), 2 9 Then %he b a i l i f f bugs t h e p i g l e t frorii

lrJonses t o r o a s t a t a f e a s t for t h e l i t i g a n t s ar,d t h e whole

ne ighbourhood a s s g s a i n s z \ . o n s && p a i ( F U ~ 1 - 7 ) . f r i e n d s of t h e

peace, T h i s jndge h a s a f o r m a l i z e d p o s i t i o n and h o l d s c o u r t a t a

fixed p l a c e and sets dates f o r t r i a l , Hie v e r d i c t is a c c e p t e d i n

advance of its being handed aovn (p .43 1 - 7 ) - R e uses t h e p l u r a l

pronoun t o refer t o h i m s e l f {**par jugemerit nous d i s o n s , , , ,* p. 4 3

1.21) in a fashim. known in E n g l i s h as t h e e d i t o r i a l o r r o y a l

we. F i n a l l y , t h e s t o r y marks h i s f r a u n c h i s g i n p a y i n g for the

feast, and h i s caste b y t h e a l a c r i t y with which t h e

ne ighbourhood w c h e v a l i e s s w and " d a ~ e s b i e l e s f l do his b i d d k c g and

attend t h e f e a s t (p4Q 1-20] - Xn short, t h e n , t h e j u d g e s i n f a b l i a u x , much l i k e t h e

teachers i n romance, draw t h e i r c o n d i t i o n of a u c t o r i t e f r o a

h i e r a r c h i c a l l y approved s o u r c e s of r e s p e c t , Thus B e r t i l a k , who

is in p r a c t i c a l t e r n s b o t h a teacher and a judge, s h o u l d , i f h e

i s t o b e a c o n v e n t i o n a l source of wisdom, b e of a status a b o v e .

------"----&---*-a.

"9There is a r e s e m b l a n c e i n t h e s o u r c e o f humour seen h e r e t o t b a t . i n t h e e x c h a n g e o f winnings game i n S G G K , where Gawain p u r F 0 f t s t o t u r n o v e r the kisses he has wcn, a s though t h e y were m p a b l e of b e i ~ g p a s s e d on intact t o a t h i r d p e r s o n -

that of Gawain. J - A - Burrow i n Readinq of 5ir GX- ggq

pniqht s a y s t h a t Gawain learns the impossibility of

saj ,ataining a l l of h i s p e n t a n g l e v i r t u e s , h i s t r a u t h s , because

they are i n t e r r a l l y inconsistent, 1': is n o t possible to be

c o u r t o i s in t h e C h r i s t i a n s e n s e and i n t h e ----- fineamour sense,

Larry senson c a l l s Cawain9s loss h i s log, h i s r e p u t a t i o n and

v i r t u e , 3 @ The Green Knight l e a d s Gawain t o an understanding

t h a t t h e s e values r e q u i r e inhuman p e r f e c t i o n , Because t h e main

lesson he p r o v i d e s Gawain w i th and t h e a a i n theae of the poein

concern the p o s s i b i l i t y of being admirable w i thout b e i n g

p r f ~ c t , it is t h e a a t i c a l l y suitable for the a u c t p r h i i n s e l f to

b e i a p e r f e c t , The oracular model for the t e a c h e r and the judge

is suitable where a poet does not q u e s t i c n the hierarchical

mythology. The Gawain poet, however, does q u e s t i o n , does appear

to see the failure of t h i s atythology to expla io R i c a r d i a n

r e a l i t y , In p r e s e n t i n g B e s t i l a k (and his green gome disguise) as

*he agent of courtly Gawaines f a l l into wisdom, t h e poem

provides an emblem for his c o u n s e l of i m p e r f e c t i o n .

Tbe tlediated Ronance and the l lnltip3.e Image of the Knight

In p a r a l l e l moaents of t h e f i n a l fitt of S i r Gawain g r ~ g

Green Knight , Gawain fejects the h o s ~ i t a l i l y of H a u t d e s e r t

and the c o m f ~ r f h g of Canelot, These moments show that Gawain

has recogaised t h e b r i t t l e n e s s of h i s own fornez i ~ a g e of

k n i g h t l y ~ e r i e c t i o n b u t h a s nct f o u n d H a u t d e s e r t *s s u m p t u r ~ u s n e s s

and a v i d i t y f o r social and ataterial a d v a n t a g e a n a c c e p t a b l e

s e p l a c e ~ e n t . B e is no l o n g e r a k n i g h t of Camelot; he is n o t

wi l l ing to be the knight Hautdesert n n d e r s t a n d s , Much 02 t h e

conedy of t h e poem ar ises from h i s o v e r - c c n c e r n f o r h i s c o n c e p t

of knightly kynde. Yet t o an original a u d i e n c e , both the

r e j e c t e d i n a g e s of t h e knight would h a v e seeaed t o be normal.

r e a l i s a t i o n s of t h e c o n c e p t o f k n i g h t h o o d , G a v a i n of Canelot,

t h e Gavain of t h e early p a r t of the poem, i s a n iaage of the

aost e x a l t e d and i d e a l i z e d of romance k n i g h t s , w h i l e B e r t i l a k of

h u t d e s e r t i s a knight i n the least e x a l t e d sense, t h e

a r r i v i s t e - knlght,

By t h e Ganain poet3s per iod , t h e c o n c e p t of k n i g h t h o o d was

broad, Ideals of k n i g h t h o o d c o u l d be dram f rom t h e R i c a r d i a n

P ~ l i t i c a l scene, o r t h e h i s t o r i c a l o r literary role of knights

as w a r r i o r s , o r from t h e knighr's t r e a t m e n t i n l i t e r a t u r e a s

artists of o r debasers of fin'amour, Romances a n d b o o k s c f --- c h i v a l r y ~ r o v i d e c o n f f i c t i n g information concerning t h e g r o p e r

role o f the k n i g h t - Sermons a n d h o m i l i e s a a k e clear t h a t

hat ever t h e ideal , t h e p r a c t i c e r a r e ly aatcbed i t , A simple

e x a a p l e o f this compound image i s clear ly s e e n i n the a t t i t u d e

of the p e r i c d toward k n i g h t l y predence, C h a r l e s Ferguson shows

t h a t i n chivalric handbooks of a l l p e r i o d s p r u d e n c e i n b a t t l e

and other fields of endeavour was a c a r d i n a l virtue, There was a

*healthy d i s t a s t e f o r f o c l h a r d i n e s s n . 1 F i f t e e ~ t h - c e n t u r y

y q r f o l k knight S i r John F a s t o l f d i s t i n g u i s h e d be tween +he "noanl y

@an" and t h e " h a r d y manH: :

,,,the manly man y s sore t o be commended, more t h a n t h e ha rdy man; f o r the h a r d y man t h a t s o d e n l y v e t h o u t discretion sf gode auysement, a u a u n c y t h hym i n t h e f e l d e t o be h a l d e courageouse,, , h e l e u e t h h i s f e l y s h y p d e s t r e u s s e d , Bnd t h e mazly man, ,, w i l l @ so d i s c r e t e 1 y a u a u n c e hym t h a t h e wille e n t e n d t o hafe t h e o u y r hand of h y s adversarye, and safe h y m s e l f and h y s f e l y s h p p - a

Charles Barber p o i n t s o u t t h a t i n romance, b y c o n t r a s t , a

k n i g h t s s word o f honour , no m a t t e r n o matter how e x t r a v a g a n t t h e

exp lo i t s it l e a d s h i = to , cannot be r e t r a c t e d , 3

B similar d i v i d e d image narks the courtly love a s p e c t of

knfghthood, This e t h i c , whereby the knight sought the love of a

l a d y , through u n f u l f i l l e d years d u r i n g which h e expended

Billiam B o r c e s t e r , T r g Boke Eblesse . John G- ~ i c h a l s tea,] London, N i c h o l s , 1860, B o r n s t e i n quotes this p a s s a g e a t p37,

i n s e e k i n g e x p l o i t s t o c o a p l e t e i n h e r naae and honour ,

t h r o n g h t h i s p r o c e s s a c e r t a i n r e f i n e m e n t of s p i r i t ,

aost f a ~ i l i a ~ to s t u d e n t s of l i t e r a t u r e as d e s c r i b e d t y

subject of e x t e n d e d d i s a g r e e m e n t - I t is u n c l e a r whether, i f s u c h

an ethic ex l s t e d at a l l , it e x i s t e d i n t h e world or s i m p l y i n

]titeraturem A t a 1968 c o n f e r e n c e t h e classic d e f i n i t i o n was

p q r a p h r a s e d t o assert t h a t c o u f t l y love, which h a d t h e k n i g h t a s

its c e n t r a l f i g u r e , was n e c e s s a r i l y secret, s a c r e l i g i o u s , a n d

a d u l t e r o n s , O t h e r j u d g m e n t s at t h a t , c o n f e r e n c e were t h a t c o n f t l y

l o v e was m e r e l y a l i t e r a r y c o n v e n t i o n , a social r e a l i t y , a game,

a code, a n i n t e l l e c t u a l e x e r c i s e , and a n impediraent to t h e

a n d e r s t a n d i n g of t e x t s , * P e r g u s o n s a y s t h a t c o u r t l y l o v e was

" l a r g e l y i r r e l e v a n t , if n o t r e p u g n a n t , tc t h o s e o f t h e

p r o v i n c i a l a r i s t o c r a c y who sti l l h e l d t h e basic p r i n c i p l e s of

c h i v a l r y as g u i d e s t o the a c t u a l b u s i n e s s o f l i v i n g . " 5 In _Sir i

Gawain a n d the G r e e n Kniqhe t h e t w o impugned v a l u e s , stalwart ' -- -- . - --- a d h e r e n c e t o o n e * ~ s a s h uord, and c o u r t l y l o v e , are e q u i v o c a l l y

treated, Gawain t r y i n g t o g i v e a c c e p t a b l e s e r v i c e t o t h e lady

and t o s t a n d b y h i s word, but B e i n g forced i n t o c i rcu las tances

where these v a l u e s o p p o s e a11 human i n s t i n c t , Al though most

roaance indicates t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e p e r f e c t k n i g h t by

---*-----..-------- *F-X- Newman, % n e a n i n q gf Court lv Love, B l b a n p , State u n i v e , r s i t y of N ~ W York Press, 1968, p x and p6-

=Perguson, p48.

d s a ~ l a t i c a c t i o n , i n t h e Prose L a n c e l o t the i d e a l q u a l i t i e s are

actually l i s t e d . T h e Lady of t h e Lake, L a n c e l o t ' s f a y g w y ,

rimes off her fist as LancePo): i s l e a v i n g h e r t o j o i n Arthur*s

court. She e x p e c t s a k ~ i g h t t o b e - t h e tallest, s t r o n g e s t , I

f a i r e s t a n d laost nirabf e, the ~ o s t l o y a l and t h e b r a v e s t , f u l l of

goodness of h e a r t a n d h0d_2r-~ H e r sus t p r e f e r death t o shame, fie

' ~ u s t b e '"merciful w i t h o u t b e i n g uncou th , a f f a b l e u i t h o v t b e i n g

t reacherous, k i n d t o the s u f f e r i n g , generous, ready to succour

the needy and ccnfcsund r o b b e r s a n d m u r d e r e r s , a j u s t j u d g e

without f a v o u r o r h a t e , " T h e r e is n o ment ion of s e r v i c e t o

ladies.* C h i v a l r y ~ a n n a l s , u n l i k e b o o k s cf n u r t u r e , are meant to

describe rather t h a n p r e s c r i b e , a n d show t h e i d e a l knight a s one

whose c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a r e i n b a r n , n o t l e a r n e d . T h e f a s h i o n i n

knights d u r i n g t h e R i c a r d i a n p e r i o d e raphas ized w o r l d l y g r a c e s ,

so t h a t l aanners , h o s p i t a l i t y , and g e n e r o s i t y s e a t e d a s vital. a s

compassion, and o p e n h e a r t e d n e s s a n d gaiety as e s s e n t i a l a s

loyalty, 7 Aa a r e s u l t , Geoffroi d e C h a r n y ' s

a i d - f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y L i v r e j& C h i v a l r i g shows t h e young k n i g h t

as gap, haodsome, v e r s e d i n t h e soc ia l g r a c e s , a v o i d i n g

drunkenness a n d v a n i t y , b e i n g n e i t h e r a ~ i s e r n o r a s p e n d t h r i f t ,

- - - . . * I I I I ~ - - - - - ~ - - Barber, p 1 1 6 . Eaimon L l u f l ' s s u p r e m e l y ~ o p u f a r l a t e

t h i r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y L i b r e O d e 42 C a v e l l e r i g , l a t e r ta be t r a n s l a t e d by Cax ton a s t h e B a k e of &;_he Crdre of C u u a L r y gy m g h t h o d e , h a s a s e c t i o n a p p a r e n t l y copied from t h e L a d y ' s list of c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ,

k e e p i n g clear of b r o t h e l s , shunning s o l i t u d e arid melaachcly, a ~ l d

honour ing his word,

Two f i f t e e n t h - c e n t u r y k n i g h t hood books add i n t e r e s t i n g

f o r l n u l a t i o n s of t h e knight q u e s t i o n . C h r i s t i n e d e Pisaz 's

E p i s t l e Qthfa shows t h a t justice is t o b e done by k n i g h t s not

b e c a u s e of legal r i g h t s , o b l i g a t i o n s and duties, buk b e c a u s e of

" v o l u n t a r y n o b l e s s e o b 1 i q e of k n i g h t s and P a d i e s , * The p u r s u i t

uf r i c h e s i s t o be shunned as i n v o l v i n g "much b u s h e s and

t r a v a y l e w which -Bay t o m e a rnan f r o t h e geting o f w o r s ~ h i p - ~ a

However, G-A-Bolaes ' s s t u d y o f l a n d tennre by m e ~ b e r s of t h e

uppe r nobility i n the f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y traces t h e purchase of

new estates ky the v e r y g r e a t , It l i n k s u s s u r g e s i n laad hunger

t o p e r i o d s when l a n d c o u l d b e p r o f i t a b l y r e n t e d o u t , Thus when

events such as the b l a c k d e a t h of 1349 d r a m a t i c a l f y c u r t a i l e d

t h e a v a i l a b l e tenant c l a s s , t h e y c u r t a i l e d a l so the rate o f l a n d

a c q u i s i t i o a - 9 This p r o v i d e s a n i r o n i c f c o t n o t e t o t h e notion

that k n i g h t s s h o u l d a v o i d * q b u s p e s 9 * - B l a i n C h a r t i e r * s &g

B r e v i a r e 2 3 Nobles lists t w e l v e v i r t u e s of kn igh thood , and

p r o d u c e s t h r o u g h a @ e l d i n g of t h e c o u r t l y aod warrior1 y i d e a l s

w h a t Ba rbe r calls t h e c l o s e s t t h i n g we have t o a n a l l - @ % b r a c i n g

d e f i n i t i o n o f kn ighthood, T h e s e v i r t u e s a r e nobility, l o p a l ty,

9G, B,Holntes, gh& Estates of B i g h e r Mobility &g P o u r t e e n t h Centugy gwf a n d , Cambridge, Calabridge U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1957, A -

p200.

r i g h t e o u s n e s s , p r o w e s s , l o v e , c o u r t e s y , d i l i g e n c e , c l e a n l i n e s s ,

g e n e r o s i t y , s o b r i e t y , a n d p e r s e v e r a n c e , 1 0

B a r b e r s u q g e s c - s t h a t a new i d e a l of k n i g h t h o o d , a b s t e n t i o n

fro@ c u l t i v a t i o c of t h e f a a d or t r ade i n c o m l n o d i t i e s made its

appearance a s the r e s u l t o f a m i s t r a n s l a t i o n i n Ronore B o n e t t s

late f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y Tree of Battles, but i t is clear that i n

E n g l a n d a t l eas t t h i s n e g a t i v e i d e a l had e x i s t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e

cen t ury . T h e debate poela Winner and r;lrastourg makes the knight a

wastrel, u n w i l l i n g k o work h i s l a n d o r otherwise t o t u r n h i s

h a n d t o productive work-18 Running t h r o u g h a l l of these

p o r t r a i t s is, t o t h e modern eye, o n e p e r s i s t e n t theme: - - -.-_ Y

k n i g h t l i n e s s i s n a t u r a l , n o t c u l t i v a t e d or s o u g h t after,

Gawain and the Green Kniqht is rare i n s h m i n g b o t h p h y s i c a l and -- -- -- --- - a e n t a l tomen+ i n the hero.

S y l v i a Thrupp's a a a l y s i s of the ~ i d d l e classes m e n t i o n s

t h a t the a c t u a l o f f i c e of knigh- thood, a s contrasted w i t h its

s o c i a l s t a t u s , was not a l n a y s p r i z e d . Infieed, t h o s e who s h o u l d

by r i g h t of a n c e s t r y h a v e been k n i g h t s s o ~ e t i m e s a v o i d e d t h e

o f f i c e by paying fines, b e c a u s e f o r m a l k r i g h t h o o d i n v o l v e d

o n e r o u s d u t i e s of ~ i l i tary s e r v i c e . 12

A f u r t h e r s o u r c e of i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e i m a g e o f the

Q u o t e d in t h e c h a p t e r T h e Self Blade Knightn.

s o c i o l o g i s t s , t h e p u l p i t e e r s a n d h o ~ i l i s t s , Rypoo, a f a o n a s t i c

c o m m e n t a t o r of a b o u t 1330, c o m p l a i n s t h a t i n h i s d a y aany

k n i g h t s d i c e a n d go f o w l i n g , are wanton a n d e a s e f u l a n d s q u a n d e r

time and a t t e n t i o n on c l o t h e s , n o t e x e r c i s e of arms, a 3 B r o n y a r d

objects t o t o u r n a m e n t s a n d j o u s t s , pageantry , t h e b r i g h t e y e s of

ladies, l a u g h t e r a n d e x c i t e m e n t . $ * A h o m i l i s t a t t h e end of t h e

r e i g n of R i c h a r d I1 c o m p l a i n s t h a t k n i g h t s h a v e b e t t e r clothes

than their ancestors, who c o u l d better afford c l o t h e s , They a lso

h a v e w e l l - d r e s s e d r e t a i n e r s , and good horses e v e n for t h e i r

squires, F n s t h e r o f f e n c e s of k n i g h t s i n c l u d e t h e s e :

There-as h i r a u n c e t r e s weren uond $0 b e s e f v i d i n h i r h o u s e s a t mete i n p e v t r e v e s s e l , b u t i f t h e r e u e r e n any peeris of the reem, now i t i s n o g h t worthe b u t i f a ntene b a c h e l e r , y e a , and d y n e r s e s q u p r s a l s o w h i c h e ben cone u p of n o a o l d e a u n c e t r i e , b u t b i e x t c r c i o n s c r e p e n s o h i g h e , mvsten b e s e r v e d wi2h s y l v e r e n vessel. ,,.

The u n k n i g h t l y o r i g i n s of t h e k n i g h t s * cc l l tpanions is the basis

of t h i s e x c o r i a t i o n a s auch as the l u x u r i a of the k n i g h t s

t h e m s e l v e s . A final. illustration o f t h e iwage of t h e R i c a r d i a n

knight comes f r o m the h c n i l i s t who a c i d l y d e f i n e s a k n i g h t a s a

n g e n t i l m e n t h a t r e n n y t h a b o u t e a n d s a v i s s h i t h a n d i o p e t h , f l t ,

It i s r e a s o n a b l e then t o c o n c l u d e t h a t i f t h e original

a u d i e n c e saw 23 Gawain 2nd Green Kniqhk through a filter of

c o n t e a p o r a r y v iews o f t h e k n i g h t , they would have seen as i r o n i c

the s t y l i z e d i n n o c e n c e o f Camelot and t h e j m p o s s i b l e p e r f e c t i o n

of Cawain, Some readers have seen i n t h e initial Camelot scene

e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e Court i s t o be condemned f o r lack of sobriety,

Hughes s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e poet's u s e of t e r m a p p r o p r i a t e t o acts

o f tuartial prowess f o r mere s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s - - a 'stif kings

t a l k i n g o f tr ifles, 'gene men* s e r v i n g a banque t , is

c o n d e a n a t o r y. ' 6 Diaaaond p o i n t s o u t t h a t i n o t h e r a l l i t e r a t i v e

romances, games and l a u g h t e r are n o t major parts of l i f e , b u t

* * b r i e f r e s p i t e s fro@ action., ,?he v e r y b r i l l i a n c e of t h e images

i s d i s t u r b i n g b e c a u s e the words d e s c r i b e a r e s p o n s e f a r too

s t r o n g for such a t r i v i a l @ a t t e r W - ' 7 Hughes b e l i e v e s h e sees aa

Wimagery of a r t i f i c e based i n p a r o d i e s of C h r i s t i a n i z y , life

seen as f i c t i o n o r t h e a t r e , game and r i t u a l , and c h a r a c t e r s

d e s c r i b e d by ornament a n d c lo th ing . ' " , A g a i n s t t h i s , o t h e r

readers see a p r o p e r youthful joy, Burrow, p o i n t i n g to t h e

n a r r a t o r ' s judgment t h a t t h i s is "rych reuel o r y g h t i * i *

c o n s i d e r s t h a t d e c o r u a requires that this company on t h i s

----*-----------*-

#*Derek W, Hughes, "The Problem of R e a l i t y i n g g Gawain ~a a~ Green KnighA, ffTQ 40, p219, -- * a Arlyn Diamond, n S i s Gawain and 9h Green Kniqh-t : Bn A l l i t e r a t i v e Romancen, PQ 55, p l 6 ,

Hughes, p217.

f 9 Enrrow, A Readinq of SGGK, pUO-

o c c a s i o n b e mirthful, a v o i d i n g , a s m e d i e v a l o p i n i o n a p p r o v e d ,

the u n b e a d i n g l y g r a v e demeanour a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h y p o c r i s y - 2 0 I t

would seem t h a t , a s J o h n G a n i n s a y s , i n Camelot e v e r y d a y i s a

h o l i d a y . 2 %

However, t h i s f a c t d o e s n o t force t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e

n a r r a t o r i n t e n d s t o c o n d e n n Camelot, Rather, h e w a n t s t h e reader

to see t h a t a l l o f t h i s C a m e l o t i s e t a p h a t i c a l l y u n r e a l . If h e

h a d i n t e n d e d to show Camelot a s effete or d e c a d e n t , i t is

u n l i k e l y h e would h a v e m e ~ t i o ~ e d a t a l l those martial o c c a s i o n s

when f l t o u r n a y e d t u l k e s by tymez f u l monyn 141)- I n t h e s a w

vein, it is u n l i k e l y b e would have sa id of Gawain o n his s o j o u r r

t o A a u t d e s e s t that:

Someuhyle n y t h worraez h e w e r r e z , and w i t h w o l v e s als, Sumwhyle w p t h wodwas, t h a t woned i n the k n a r r e z , B o t h e wpth k u l f e z a n d berez , a n d borez o t h e r q n y l e , And e t a g n e z , , -,

(72Of f)

F u r t h e r , t h e m e n t i o n of Arthur's c h i l d s e r e d q u a l i t y , e v e n i f

i n t e n d e d as a c r i t i c i s n , is an u n l i k e l y c c n c o m i t a n t of

d e c a d e n c e , The c o n c l u s i o n s h o u l d b e t h a t C a m e l o t i s d e l i g h t f u l l y

u n r e a l , d i v o r c e d f rean p r a c t i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , a n d e x c e p t when

i n v a d e d b y t h e green uome, d i v o r c e d from t h e l a t e

f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y day,

-III*II--i.....(..-----

20 Burrow, A R e a d i n q of =&, $5,

2 3 John fl, G a n i n , n D i s o r i e n t a t i o n , S t y l e a n d C o n s c i o u s n e s s i n S i r Gawain a n d the G r e e n % n i g h & " PHLA 91, p379. - --- --- -- --U --

The p e r f e c t i o n i n Camelot comes from s t y l i z a t i o n and the

fac t t b a t t h e f o l k act i n c o n c e r t . T h e Wew Year's s c e n e i n

Camelot shows r i c h and p r o p e r r e v e l r y , A l l m o t i o n is e x q u i s i t e l y

patterned a n d b e a u t i f u l l y i n t e g r a t e d . S e r e m o n i o u s n e s s i s

e m p h a s i z e d by t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e members of t h e c o u r t i n t h e

p l u r a l ; t u l k e s t o u r n e y ; all the kn igh"s " j u s t e d f u l j o l i l y f q m A l l

t a k e p a r t i n t h e flilaurasyng on n y g h t e s * , T h e pace is l e i s u r e l y ,

Only. o n e a c t i v i t y is d e s c r i b e d as t a k i n g p l a c e a t a tirne.22

There i s l i t t l e sense of transaction or c a r i n g abont w i n n i n g or

l o s i n g even i n the kissing game. T h e joust i s d e s c r i b e d a s

though it i n v o l v e s a s i n g l e sweeping a c t i o n , T h e goat's

i n s i s t e n c e on the s i n g l e n e s s of t h e c o u r t e x t e n d s to u n i v e r s a l

accolades, T h e l ad ies a r e a l l " l o v v l o f r k e s t n , t h e k n i g h t s a l l

"kyd'), The a e m b e r s are a l i k e e v e n i n b e i n g a l l " i n h e r first

aget9; other A r t h u r i a n r o m a n c e s d o n o t make t h i s point . I n a

c o u r t i n which a l l are young, the members musf n o t y e t be

c r e a s e d a n d p a r t i c u l a r i z e d by unique e x p e r i e n c e , It is

reasonable t h e 2 t o d e s c r i b e them a l l i n the same terms,

A t the C a m e l o t feast there i s n o w a n t b u t t h e d e s c r i p t i o n

is n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y l u x u r i o u s , E m p h a s i s i s on t h e s t y l e of

p r e s e n t a t i o n , w i t h t h e f o o d coming i n l i k e a n arlny o n t h e

battlef ieId:

a I I I - - - - m - l * * * * * - -

22 A l t h o u g h t h e p o e t shous h i m e l f p e r f e c t l y c a p a b l e o f s i m u l t a n e o u s d e s c r i p t i o n where , in t h e h u n t i n g a n d bedroom s c e n e a l t e r n a t i o n s , i t f i t s h i s p u r p o s e s .

n e i t h e r case i s h e t o p a r t i c i p a t e , T h e cour t , is, i n sun, o2e if,

which no v i s i b l e e f f o r t is exgended- D i f f i c u l t i e s a r e

n o n - e x i s t e n t ; e v e r y t h i n g i s a c c o m p l i s h e d n a t u r a l l y - The

characters a r e even w i t h o u t p e r s o n a l a n t a g o n i s m s : there is n o

c a r p i n g f rom Bgravaine. T h e e n t i r e c o u r t strikes t h e r e a d e r as a

single c h o r e o g r a p h e d c r e a t i o n , t h e c r e a t i v e i m p u l s e being the

code of knighthcod--ease and a s s u r a n c e c o a b i n e d with

a c c m p l i s h m e a t .

T h e s e n s e of i d e a l i s a t i o n , ease, a s s a r a n c e and

u n q u e s t i o n i n g , unemphat ic s e l f - a p p r o v a l seen in t h e court

extends a l s o to Gawain, as t h e a r ia ing s c e n e shows. Although

Gawainss r e d a n d g o l d g e a r is e l a b o r a t e , there is no sense t h a t

the knight inside i s proud o f it or e v e n aware of it, s o the

f i n a l e f f e c t i s t o s u g g e s t t h a t good g e a r is a n a t u r a l outflaw

from knightly s t a t u s , r a t h e r t h a n a p a r t i c u l a r ach ievemen t , The

e n e r g y of the p a s s a g e g o e s mainly i n t o t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of the

F a r t s of the g e a r which are n e c e s s a r y e x c e l l e n c e r a t h e r t h a n

luxury. a h e r e as i n t h e case af t h e vryscun there is unden ied

sumptuousness , t h e n a r r a t o r expresses wonder, but t h e wea re r is

seeming ly u n c o n s c i o u s o f t h e sumptuousness . F u r t h e r , t h e

v f y s o u n q s l u x u r y is d e s c r i b e d no!: i n tesrns of p r i c e or

e x c e l l e n c e , b u t i n terms of the p e r s o n a l g a i n s taken:

, , . t o r to r s and t r u l o f e z e n t a y l e d s o t h y k As aony burde t h e r a b o u t e had been s e w n y y n t e r

j672f f )

Another i n d i c a t i o n of t h e i z n o c e n c e of t h e s o c i e t y and its

freedain f f a a reality l i e s i n Gawa in9s pentangle. A g r e a t d e a l

h a s been written on i ts meaning, T h e device uas n o t i n t h e

ta idr?ls ages ordinarily thought o f as k z i g h t l y aor ChzisZian-

R i c h a r d RamiXton Green p o i n t s o n t t h a t wh i l e the d e v i c e is o l d

and u b i q u i t o u s , i t seems t o have been rare i n t h e a i d d l e ages , 1 2 3 B e p o i n t s ou t t h a t I n the B i b l e and eve rywhere i n t h e I

j e x e g e t i c a l t r a d i t i o n , Solomon is a s s o c i a t e d with t h e sytabol, and

h e is, d e s p i t e h i s fanous wisdom a n d k i n g s h i p , u l t i a a t e l y a

f a i l u r e b e c a u s e o f h i s w ~ a k n e s s f o r women, A t h i r t e e n t h - c e n t u z y

b i s h o p , H i l l i a m o f Auvergne, c o n s i d e r e d the p e n t a n g l e t o be a

form of idolatry a s s o c i a t e d w i t h " d e t e s t a b l e i n v o c a t i o n s and

imagea**,z* T h e r e is some r e a s o n t o think it was c o n s i d e r e d a s

w i t c h f u r n i s h i n g s - 2 5 Green c o n c l u d e s that i n t h e R i c a r d i a n

p e r i o d , t h e pentangle was a s s o c i a t e d with magic a n d was p a r t of

a church-condemned p o p u l a r t r a d i t i o n , s o t h a t t h e Cawain poet's

use o f i t a s a n kinage o f f u l l y - i n t e g r a t e d p e r f e c t kn igh thood is

whol ly o r i g i n a l ,

It d o e s n o t s e e a l i k e l y t h a t t o a f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y r e a d e r

the d e v i c e c o u l d be s w e p t clean o f its old c o n n o t a t i s o , I t would

seem rather that t h e p o e t i n t e a d e d t o comlaent on t h e knight, who

---Lo --*.I- 1--..---

*3*$Gawain * s S h i e l d and t h e Quest f o r P e r f e c t i o n " , ELH 213 f 1962) p, 130,

"Green, p13 1,

Erown, plO,

wanfd make t h e p e n t a n g l e his emblem, i g n o r i n g the m a l i g n

a s s o c i a t i a n s , Doing so seems e v i d e n c e o f t h e k i n d o f b l i n d n e s s

t o human e x p e r i e n c e t h a t is ccamon i n + h e v e r y young. Modern

children are often fascinated w i t h t h e p e n t a n g l e form, d r a v i c g I

a n d r e d r a w i n g i t a n d correcting p r o p o r t i c n s , It i s a e s t h e t i c a l l y

p l e a s i n g i n i f s symmetry , a n d h a s n o more mean ing for t h e

c h i l d r e n t h a n would a p i n w h e e l , I n the same s p i r i t t h e y draw a

swas.tiika t o thea a m o r a l l y n e u t r a l form b e c a u s e it l a c k s

h i s t o r y , T h e n a r r a t o r of Gawain 2nd G r e e n Kqiqhs is

i n s i s t e n t on h i s e x p l a n a t i o n o f what t h e entangle means, H i s

v o i c e seem i n + , r u s i v e and d e f e n s i v e , as though h e were aware h e

was i n s i s t i n g o r a meaning a t o d d s with what t h e r e a d e r kou ld

expect, InI aB in t e n t yow t o t e f l e , thof t a r y h y t me s c D u f d e /

H i + i o a syngne, , , , (624-625) ") The choice of t h e p e n t a n g l e a s

Gawain's eableza stresses t h a t h e h a s n o chastening e x p e r i e n c e

o u t s i d e the s t y l i z e d world o f romance , a n d t h a t his &gag,

" l a r g e s a n d lewte t h a t l o n g e z to k n y g h k e z (2381)**, i s rzot

n e c e s s a r i l y r e a l i s a b l e %Zen h e does g e t s u c h e x p e r i e n c e , In

s p i r i t , Gawain of C a n e l o t i s a n a b s o l u t i s t , a p a r a d i g n a t i c

t h i ~ k e r whose paper v i r t u e s are e n t i r e l y i n P i n e w i t h t h e i d e a

t h a t t h e r e is a n absolute h i e r a r a c h y of v i r t u e a n d soc ia l

a u t h o r i t y , T h e r e s u l t i n g d o u b l e r e a d i n g of G a w a i n ' s c h a r a c t e r

produces d r a m a t i c i r o n y , An o r i g i n a l a u d i e x e , a c c u s t o m e d t o

h e a r i n g how s a f e l y con t e m p o r a r y k n i g h t s makched a n y i dea l , may

h a v e g r e e t e d G a r a i n ' s i a a g e w i t h s y n p a t h e t i c l a u g h t e r ,

111, Is the Green Knight a Knigh t?

When, i ~ t s r r u p t i n g t h e joy of the Camelot feast, there

whales i n a t the h a l l e d o r an a g h l i c h n a y ~ t e r { l 3 6 ) ~ * , t h e p o e t ' s

s t y l i s a t i o n sudden1 y ends, and for the f i v e l o n g s t a n z a s of t h e

e f f i c t io t h e r e is a i n u t e a t t e n t i o n t o the amazing and alarming

d e t a i l , far frcm o r ~ ~ h t ~ o f the green i n t r u d e r T s f e z s o n , The

wealth of d e t a i l does n o t p r o d u c e a coherent p i c t u r e a n d would

not have p e r r e i t t e d a n o r i g i n a l audience t o f i t hi^ i n t o a

convenient c a i f g o r p , Though it w i l l l a t e r become clear h e i s mot

a fay, fo r t h e moment, h e might b e one, H e might a l s o be r e a d a s

an erobodiment cf t h e n a t u r e - n u r t u r e d e b a t e the p e r i o d was

i n t e r e s t e d in, Finally, h e n i g h t be a knight, e x c e p t t h a t Re

presents c o n f l i c t i n g features o f t h e v i l a i n , some b o o r i s h , some

t h o s e of t h e r i c h v i l a i n u i t h social a s p i r a t i o n s - His g e n e r a l

i l l - a s s o r t e d n e s ~ prevents s e t t l i n g on a s i g n i f i c a n c e . An

e x c e l l e n t d i s c v s s i o n o f h i s i l l - a s s o r t e d n e s s i s Larry Benson's

Art a n d T r a d i t i o n &g Sir Gavaika _and the g ~ g ~ K n i g h t - % Froin the U_ -- - moment he enters Camelot: t h e creature bristles, as John Burrow

says, w i t h c o n f l i c t i n g s i g n i f i c a n c e s , +

The d i f f i c u l t y i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g l i e s not m e r e l y i n

a ~ b f g u o u s d e t a i l , b u t a lso i n t h e l e v e l of word c o n n o t a t i o n -

------------------ 1 New B m n s w i c k , R n t g e r s U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1965, ~56-95,

Barrow, geadiqq qf SGGK, p4,

flarie B o r r o f f a n a l y s e s two terms from t h e effict-12:

T h e r h a l e s i n a t t h e h a l l e dor a n a g h l i c h e m a y s t e r , On t h e mos t on t h e molde on n e s u r e hpghe; F r o t h e t o t h e swanqe s o sware a n d so t h i k , , , ,

( l 3 6 f f )

The first term may h a v e e l e v a t e d c o n n o t a t i o n s , s h e s a y s .

However, t h e i n e l e g a n t word q n a n q e * * g r o i n w would u n d e r c u t t h e s e

c o n n o t a t i o n s - 3 T h e u s e of t h e f a n t a s t i c is r e s t r a i n e d , o n l y

two e l e m e n t s , the g r e e n c o m p l e x i o n a n d t h e d e t a c h a b l e head being

d e a o n s t r a b l y ~ a g i c - Of t h e s e two elernec+_s, t h e first h a s drawn

more c r i t i ca l a t t e n t i o n , s i n c e several p o s s i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n s f o r

t h e gome's g r e e n n e s s e x i s t i n the p o p u l a r c u l T u r e , a n d s e v e r a l

s u g g e s t i o n s a r e o f f e r e d i n the poem i t s e l f ,

L a r r y Beason r e v i e w s a d m i r a b l y %fie ~ o s s i b l e i m p l i c a t i o n s of

the c r e a t u r e ' s c o ~ p l e x i o n , G r e e n is, h e s a y s , by c o n v e n t i o n t h e

c o l o u r of f a n t o u m a n d fayrye '* . T h u s t h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e s u g g e s t s

i m m e d i a t e l y his power , a n d e s p e c i a l l y h i s power t o d o inhurnan

d e e d s , B e n s c n a l s o q u o t e s a l y f i c of the p e r i o d i n which " h i s

r o d e was w o r t h e n g r e n e " is a l o c u t i o n f o r d e a t h , P a r a d o x i c a l l y

@enker g r e n e m is af so a c o l o u r of l i fe- I n c e r t a i n l i t e r a t u r e ,

t h e devil c l o t h e s h i m s e l f i n g r e e n , 4 A n a t u r e f i g u r e scretinaes

s e e n u n d e r t h e c e i l i n g s of c h u r c h e s who s p r o u t s l e a v e s instead

o f hair i s r e f e r r e d t o a s a green wan, Benson b e l i e v e s t h e p o i n t

3 Earie Borroff, 2 % ~ Gawain _an4 G r e w Knigh t& & S t y l i s t i c and Metrical S u r v e l , N e w Haven and London, Yale U n i v e r s i t y U_ -I__-- - Press, 1962, p108,

* Benson, p90-92,

of Gawairrrs will-be a u c t o r * s b e i n g g r e e n of p e r s o n and cf d r e s s I i s n o t t o i d e n t i f y him e x c l u s i v e l y w i t h a n y of t h e s e

i c o n t e m p o r a r y r e a s o n s f o r g r e e n n e s s . b u t t o c u l t i v a t e r a y s t e r y , so I

! t h a t it is c o t even clear u n t i l the last l i n e s of t h e poem that I

the creature i s b e n i g n - 3 i 3 I

To B e n a o n r s a n a l y s i s may be a d d e d o t h e r s b a s e d on m e d i e v a l

phys iogno i r t i e s , e c o n o m i c s , a n d h e r a l d i c law- I n p h y s i o g n o m i e s ,

c o s ~ l e x i o n s g e n e r a l l y show c h a r a c t e r , E l s e w h e r e i n t h i s Eoem

t h e y are e x p r e s s l y r e a d ax i n d i c a t i o n s o f a g e a n d h e a l t h , T h e

" a u l d aunc iea r wifw of t h e s e c o n d f i t t h a s a y e f l o v c o a p l e x i o n ,

e v i d e n t l y the sallowness of old a g e . The young l a d y ' s c h e e k s are

r e d a n d w h i t e , B e r t i l a k , whose a g e is " h i g h @ eldet;" h a s a "felle

face a s t h e f i r e f 8 4 7 ) lr- G e o r g e Pace, referrieg t c such

p h y s i o g n o m i e s a s t h a t of John Betham, p o i n t s t o a n a s s o c i a t i o n

of a y e l l o w c o m p l e x i o n w i t h m a l e v o l e n c e . 6 Flushed or g r f y i s h

c o a l ~ l e x i o n s are u n d e r s t o o d to h a v e been read r e s p e c t i v e l y a s

i n d i c a t i o n s of sanguine and b i l i o u s d i s p o s i t i o n s , A g r e e n i s h

c o m p l e x i o n is one o f t h e few that. d o e s not appear to h a v e h a d

"--------I------"-

%one critics n e v e r c o n c l u d e t h a t h e i s b e n i g n , One is Krappe, who i n 9*Who Bas t h e G r e e n Knight?-, s u g g e s t s t h e c s e a t u r e i s the Lord of H a d e s who can only be b r a v e d b y a k n i g h t sgns puer 22 s a n s r e p r o c h e {Spec XI11 41938) p235). P I y s t e r i o u s n e s s i s t h e n -- aost s u c c e s s f u l l y created,

p h y s i o l o g i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e , 7 In a s e n s e , t h e n , t h e g r e e n

c o m ~ l e x i o n i s a mask, p r e v e n t i n g t h e o b s e r v e r f r o m r e a d i n g

c h a r a c t e r from face tone, T h e g r e e n s k i n creates a ~ b i g u i t y not

I o n l y by what i.t-, s u g g e s t s , b u t a l s o by t h e s u g g z s t i o r ; ~ i t bf ocks,

Seeing the g r e e n s k i n , t h e c h a r a c t e r s i n Camefo t e a c h h a v e i "I B

9*,,,meruayle q u a t h i t mene myght T h a t a h a t h e l a n d a horse myght s u c h a hwe l a c h

(233- 234)

The p o e t is c o n c e r z e d t o h a v e t h e c r e a t u r e a n u n c l a s s i f i a b l e ,

u n d i s m i s s i b l e h y b r i d . B e s i d e s its other a s s o c i a t i o n s , g r e e n was

also, a t least; i n +he thirteenth c e n t u r y , a n e x t r e m e l y

f a s h i o n a b l e c o l o u r p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e it was the most e x p e n s i v e

c o f o u r t o make, T h u s t h e colour m a t c h i n g of t h e c r e a t u r e ' s

c l o t h e s and p h y s i q u e s u g g e s t s there is l u x u r y n o t o n l y i n t h e

e x c e l l e n c e of h i s garments a s d e s c r i b e d i n the # f i c t i u , b u t

a l s o i n h i s b e i n g v i r t u a l l y all of a c o l o u r a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

s u m g t u o u s n e s s , A s s o c i a t i o n s o f g r e e n w i t h e x p e n s e may h a v e made

t h e c o l o u r d e s i r a b l e t o p e r s o n s c o n c e r n e d t o d i s p l a y w e a l t h , b u t

t h e c o l o u r had a t one time a n u n f o r t u n a t e h e r a l d i c c o n n o t a t i o n -

C h r i s t i n e de P i s a n , w r i t i n g s l i g h t l y a f t e r t h e Gawain Poetqs

time, d e s c r i b e s s e v e r a l c o l o u r s , i n c l u d i n g g r e e n , a c c o r d i n g t o

a s s o c i a t i o n s w i t h t h e e l e m e n t s , and S h s p r o p e r soc i a l l e v e l of

7 C o n t r a s t our own culture, w h i c h a s s o c i a t e s g r e e o i s h n e s s with ill-health or f a i n t h e a r t e d n e s s ,

a M a r g a r e t Wood, E n q l i s h B e d i a e v a l H o u ~ e , London, P h o e n i x Mouse, 1965, p396,

t h e wearer, 9

,,,I s h a l l t e l le t h e o f thoo c o l o u r s t h a t men r e p u t e n and t a k e n f o r t h e most highe moost r i c h e a n d most nob le , , , .Csc r ip t .u re s a y s ) t h e w i s a n d h o l y p e r s o n e i a l i k e t h e g o l d a n d t h e s o n n e , , , t h e a u n c i e n t lawes d y d e ordeyne t h a t ro wan nhulde were g o l d b u t t h a t h e were a p r i n c e , ,, , t h e s e c o n d e c o l o u r e is p u r p r e t h a t we c a l l e red w h i c h r e p r e s e n t e t h t h e f i r e . - , a f t e r t h e sunne , . , the most n o b l e , , . f o r t h e which a o b l e n e s ~ e m b f a b l y d i d o r d a y n e t h e l a v e s that n o o n e s h u l d were red,, , b u t o n l y t h e p r i n c e s . , , ,

T h e s e are, cf c o u r s e , t h e c o f o u r s c h o s e n by C a a e l o t for Gavain ,

Azure and u h i t e are n e x t i n n t b i l i t y ; t h e y r e p r e s e n t water a n d

a i r , B l a c k i s a s o r r o w f u l and humble c o l c u r , a s s o c i a t e d r i t h

e a r t h , and p r o p e r l y worn by the r e l i g i o u s o r d e r s . F i n a l l y ,

C h r i s t i n e d i s c u s s e s green:

, , , g r e n e that men c a l l s i n o p l e or v e r t e which b e t o k n e t h wodes f e l d e s a n d medones a n d b e c a u s e it is n o t r e p r e s e n t e d t o noon o f t h e f o u r e l e m e n t s i t s h n l d be t a k e n f o r t h e l a s se n o b l e ,

C h r i s t i n e is t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e nse of c c l u u r s i n b a n n e r s a n d

d e v i c e s . T h i s , and the a p p a r e n t l y c o n f l i c t i n g f a c t t h a t she

a l l o t s t h e c o l o n r black t o t h e s e c o n d estate, makes it u n c l e a r

who p r e c i s e l y are t h e 'Ilasse n o b l e w t o whcm g r e e n is s u i t a b l e .

She is n o t l i i n i t i n g comment t c t h e w a r s i a r l y first e s t a t e ; a t

t h e saae time i t is u n l i k e l y she would be s u g g e s t i n g banners f o r

wocdsmen or similar v i l a i n s , It is a n i n t e r e s t i n g s p e c u l a t i o n

t h a t s h e i n t e n d s t o a l l o t green t o t h o s e who, t h o u g h v i l a i n i n .

9 P a y t e s of A r m c t s g s CJyvalrye, W i l l i a r n C a x t o n ( t r a n s , ) , i4.P.T. B y l e a (ed,) , Zondon, O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y Press, 1932, p289-290,

t h e f o r m a l s e n s e , n o n e t h e l e s s can a f f o r d the o u t l a y for k a n n e r s

o r sisi lar d f s ~ l a y - - a s map be the case of t h e green c r e a t u r e ,

Benson s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e a l s o h a s s o w of

t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of ano+her l i t e r a r y f i g u r e , t h e wi ld man,

which was s e ~ a r a t e and n o t by c o n v e n t i o n g r e e n - This p a r t of

Benson 's a n a l y s i s is based equally on t h e tester's a p p e a r a n c e

and o n his manners, 10 The w i l d man of t h e m e d i e v a l p e r i o d ,

c a l l e d a woduose, i s unlike t h e g r e e n inan a p p a r e n t l y b o r n hnman,

r a t h e r than b e i n g a s o r t of san-shaped v e g e t a b l e . T h e wodwose

has e i t h e r : been f e r a l l y r a i s e d o r h a s abandoned s o c i e t y - . T h e r e

is a wodwose i d e n t i f i e d a s such i n sir Gawaiq and Green

Knight (721) who i s an opponen t i n Gawa in9s journey t o

Hautdesert, There , he i s s i m p l y a n a t u r a l h a z a r d l i k e bulls and

b o a r s arid d r a g o n s , b u t Benson p o i n t s o u t t h a t i n other a r t of

t h e p e r i o d t h e wodwose had g a i n e d a role a s a * s n a t u r a l

p h i f o s o p h e s c h a s t i s i n g t h e a r t i f i c i a l i t y and p r i d e of t h e

c o u r t i e r * ' . $ 1 H i s a p p e a r a n c e and behaviour h a v e a lraassivrf

o v e r l a p w i t h t h e m e d i e v a l l i t e r a f y madman. T h e s i m i l a r f i r s t

m o r ~ h e m e s u g g e s t s why t h e f i g u r e s may h a v e come t o o v e r l a p .

P e n e l o p e Doob's s t u d y of the l i t e r a r y nadnan shows t h a t t h e

c o n c e p t of madness had broadened beyond its o r i g i n s a s a d i s e a s e

based i a s i n , and b y t h e time of t h e Cavain poet encompassed anx

e c c e n t r i c b e h a v i o u r , and t h u s i n c l u d e d "holy f o o l s and desert

s a i n t s w . a * Nekuchadnessar is t h e med ieva l pr ime type f o r

madness, C l a n n e s s ( l , t68Q-l?OO) d e s c r i b e s h i m a s t h i n k i n g of

h i m s e l f a s an a n i m a l and e n p h a s i z e s t h e growing o f h i s hair and

bea rd , file h a s h a i r i n mats i n h i s g r o i z and toes. He is k n o t t e d

w i t h bu r r s . H i s b e a r d r e a c h e s o v e r h i s breast t o the e a r t h and

he has b r i s t l y brows a ~ d ha i r . 83 Benson a r g u e s t h a t the wild

man, s i r t l i l a r l y h a i r y , was s u f f i c i e n t l y f a a i l i a r t h a t a itisre

a l l u s i o n would be enough t o e s t a b l i s h the r e s e a b l a n c e - 2 9

While t h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e ' s b e h a v i o u r nay f a i r l y b e

d e s c r i b e d a s mad or w i l d , h i s a p p e a r a n c e is less s o than Benson

t h i n k s - I n t h e f o r ~ a l p o r t r a i t h e c e r t a i n l y h a s a bea rd l i k e a

bush, b u t t h i s ~ e t a ~ h o r may h a v e been ?ioZ rauch laore motivated

t h a n it is today. Thus the a u d i e n c e may n c t have been

p a r t i c u l a r l y aware t h a t a bushy b e a r d is b e i n g compared to a

p l a n t i n t h e w i l d l a n d s c a p e , a s Benson's a n a l y s i s s u g g e s t s -

F u r t h e r , t h o u g h h i s h a i r i s e c c e n t r i c a l l y l o n g and g r e e n , the

creature is m e t i c u l o u s l y groomed:

A much b e r d a s a busk ouer h i s b r e s t henges, T h a t with h i s h i g h l i c h here t h a t o f h i s h e d e s e c h e s , R a t z euesed a 1 vmbetarne abof h i s e lbowes ,

( I 82Ef) -.*------*-*.-----

rz Pene lope Doob, N e b u c h a d n e s s a r ' g Ch i ld ren : C o n v e n t i o n s QZ Badness i n a i d d l e g a 1 i s h w e s a t u r s , New Haven a n d London, Pqfe - -- I_-

U n i v e r s i t y Press, 1974, p50.

H i s h a i r is, t h e n , n a t u r a l l y l u x u r i a n t , b u t i t h a s been c l i p p e d ,

not j u s t s o t h a t i t i s c o n t r o l l e d b u t so t h a t i.5 r e s e m b l e s a

" k i n g e z capadosg9 , a k i n g ' s c l o a k .

To a mcdern a u d i e ~ c e , t h e b e h a v i o u r of t h e g r e e n man seems

its maddes t not i n t h e p o r t r a i t , b u t a f t e r h e h a s p roposed h i s

, - . r u n i s c h l y h i s r e d e yghen h e r e l e d a b o u t e , Bende h i s b r e s e d broghez , b l y c a n d e grene, Wayued h i s berde f o r to wayte quo-so wolde r y s e ,

(304f f)

T h e word ~ n i s c h l y c o n n o t e s t h e i l l - u n d e r s t o o d , Robe r t B- White \

\

Bas a r g u e d t h a t the r e d e y e s , a d i s s o n a n t f e a t u r e i n t h i s J

otherwise c o l o u r m a t c h e d c r e a t u r e , were, in phys iognomies s u c h as

S e c r e t a Sec re to rum, an i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e p o s s e s s o r i s --- "coraiuos, stalwart a n d snygh4;yw b u t a l so * )d i sposyd t o

~ o o d n e s s e * ~ , "y - l i kened t o b e s t e s whych may n o t be daunted,** a 5

T h e r e e l i n g e y e s a p p a r e n t l y do n o t express m e n t a l c o n f u s i o n and

g i d d i n e s s , a s a taodern r e a d e r ~ i g h t assume, as t h e Oxfo rd

E n g l i s h D i c t i o c a r y does n o t r e p o r t t h i s u s e before 1736,

F o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y e n t r i e s hare g l o s s e s s u c h a s l lwheel

s u d d e n l y m ; t h e c r e a t u r e may o n l y be c a s t i n g h i s eyes o v e r

p o t e n t i a l a c c e p t e r s o f t h e be h e a d i n g c h a l l e n g e . T h u s a g a i n s t t h e

i m ~ r e f z i o n c r e a t e d fry t h e c r e a t u r e ' s expensive c l o t h e s and h i s

f l o w i n g h a i r s u b j e c t e d t o topiary barbering, ua have his

--*------*- ------- fsRobert 3, B h i t e , Jr, , "A Note on t h e Gseeo K n i g h t ' s Red EyesH, ELN 2 11965) , p251.

b r i s t l i n g brow, waving beard , and o v e r t v e r b a l r u d e n e s s , ahile

t h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e a p p e a r s f o r i s c l a t e d moments t o b e a wi ld or

s a d man, a t o t h e r s h e a p p e a r s t o be l ook ing and a c t i n g k n i g h t l y - -2

As i n a g o d anystery where e a c h c l u e points t o a d i f f e r e n 2

suspect, t h e e f f e c t on the hearer is c u m u l a t i v e be fudd lemen t , "".

Eenson s u g g e s t s t h a t the c r e a t u r e ' s b r i s t l i n g b e a r d and

b e e t l i n g brows would have marked hint, n o t o n l y a s mad, but a lso

as n n c o u r t f y , These f e a t u r e s c o u l d laark t h e f i g u r e most, opposed

t o the c o u r t l y , t h e v i l a i n , The v i l a i n , the plowlaan, was

o r d i n a r i l y cons idered , d e s p i t e Langfana and Chaucer , v i l e ,

Benson p o i n t s t o the example of D a n g i e r s li V i l a i n s i n the Roman

de f a Rose and A l a g o l o f u f i n t h e Sowdorte qf 3a3aylone. B e r i d e s --- t h e i r f ~owns, 1 i terary v i l a i n s also c o n v e n t i o n a l l y u s e

i n s u l t i n g l y f a ~ i l i a r a n d o t h e r wise r u d e language , g h i l e the

green c r e a t u r e is c e r t a i n l y a s rude a s a n y v i l a i n might k e , h i s

r u d e n e s s d o e s n o t a l l a p p e a r t o be o f a p i e c e , I n some of his

remarks h e may be more o f a soc ia l b l u n d e r e r t h a n one who o f f e r s

insult on purpose. B e ntay be unaware of t h e i rnpl icat io~s of what

h e i s saying, Such a b l u n d e r is h i s r e q u e s t t o 'speke r a y s o u n *

vith t h e ' g o u e r n o u r o f t h i s gpng.s{225) It is i n s u f f e r a b l e t o

, h a v e a p e r s o n one has n o t f o u n d r a t i o n a l invite one to be

r e a s o n a b l e . However, i t may b e s e e n a s t h e u n m a f i c i o u s social.

b u n g l i n g of a n i n d i v i d u a l e a g e r t o d i s p l a y a newly - l ea rned

vocabulary who gets it wrong,%* I n t h e same way, the g r e e n

c r e a t u r e is a s e a s i l y s e e n a s unaware ",a2 p o l i t e n e s s requires

t h a t h e say Y E r n o t thee, t o Arthur. In t h e f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y ,

t h o u was t h e n o r m a l pronona, u s e d f o r the d e i t y , s e r v a n t s , i c -- 1

s o l i l o g u i e s a n d i n a d d r e s s i n g the d e a d , In private

c o n v e r s a t i o n s , even w i t h p e o p l e o f h i g h r a n k , a n d i n a l l o t h e r

s i t u a t i o n s where t h e s p e a k e r d i d n o t wazt t o stress p o l i t e n e s s

it was a lso t h e i d i o m , You w a s r e s e r v e d f o r s o c i a l . s u p e r i o r s ,

p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e with h i g h r a n k when s p o k e n to i n p u b l i c . I t

was u s e d t o stress r e s p e c t and v e n e r a t i o n , a s a courtly l o v e r

would wish to do t o h i s l a d y - a t

However, n o t all of t h e b e h a v i o u r t h a t e v e n t u a l l y r i les

A r t h u r i n t o p e r s o n a l l y a c c e p t i n g t h e c h a l l e n g e seems s o

i n n o c e n t , T h e creature's a s s u m i n g , u n i n v i t e d a n d w i t h o u t

c r e d e n t i a l s of zame o r manners , t h e role of tester, Bay be

i g n o r a n c e , b u t it may well b e a r r o g a n c e , It seems f o r sose

women ts t h a t t h e green c r e a t u r e may c o n t e m p l a t e j o i n i n g A r t h u r * s

k n i g h t s since h e b e g i n s , much a s any s e e k i n g knight would, b y

a s k i n g , nut f o r a C h a l f e n g ~ r , b u t for t h e l e a d e r , B e casts an

a p p r a i s i n g e y e t o d i s c o v e r "quo waft t h e s mos t r enoun l* (231) -

16 As fo r e x a m g l e t h e s t r a n g e r who says h e a d m i r e s t h e l i s t e n e ~ and h i s i l k , Hodern B r i t i s h s o c i e t y i s g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d t o show how d i f f i c u l t it is t o a d o p t t h e c l a s s dialect of t h e u p p e r classes, and how l a c k of t h i s d i a l e c t Bay s t i g m a t i z e t h e i n d i v i d u a 1.

2 7 A l l a n A, Hetcalfe, " S i r Gawakn and Yon '#, ChauR 5, ~ 1 6 5 .

I n v i t e d t o "light l u f l y c h a d o u n and l e n g e n ( 2 5 6 ) h e d e c l i n e s

w i t h a s p e r i t y ( T o wone a n y g u y l e i n t h i s won, h i t watz no+, myn 9,

erndeN (257) ) , R e h a s , h e s u g g e s t s , a s o r e p u r p o s e f u l l i f e t h a n 1 * 11

t h e i a ~ m b e r s of t h i s c o u r t , The i n v i t a t i o n was a display cf I 4

f o r b e a r a n c e on A r t h u r * s p a r t ; a k n i g h t i s not r e q u i r e d to f i g h t I

w i t h an i n d i v i d u a l whose c r e d e n t i a l s are s u s p e c t , much less t o

pe rmi t h i s s i t t i n g w i t h hiin a t table, $ 8 The g r e e n atan sprns

t h i s g r a c i o u s i n v i t a t i o n and w i l l , a f e u lines l a t e r , b e

c o n s c i o u s l y i n s u l t i n g when h e r e s p o n d s t o A r t h u r * s offer t o

f i g h t w i t h h i s p a t r o n i s i n g rejection * % e r e is n o &on me t o

inach.,.hit a r n a b o u t e o n t h i s bench h o t b e s d l e z c h y l d e r f l

(282,280). The r e f e r e n c e to b e a r d l e s s n e s s may h a v e had a

p a r t i c u l a r smart i n A r t h u r i a n 1 i t e r a t a r e , I n t h e Allitey&ig

Horte, t h e shame a n d l o s s o f power a s s o c i a t e d w i t h b e a f d l e s s a e s s

are t n i c e marked, O n oce o c c a s i o n , a g i a n t who h a s t h e h a b i t of

shav iag the beards of v a n q u i s h e d k i n g s a n d w e a v i n g thein i n t c

c a p e s t h r e a t e n s A r t h u r , telling hin t o d e l i v e r u p h i s beard.

A r t h u r asserts h i s power by saying t h a t h e w i l l present t h e

beard i n p e r s o n a n d on i t s c u s t o m a r y p l a c e on h i s c h i n

( L I 0 0 0 f f ) . E l s e w h e r e i n t h e f l o f t e A r t h u r h i m s e l f i n s u l t s

c a p t i v e princes by s h a v i n g o f f t h e i r beards (1 .2330f f ) - The g r e e n atants a r r o g a n t p r o v o c a t i o n of A r t h u r seems t o b e c1irnaxe.d

----*------ ---*-*-

'a B a r b e r p o i n t s o u t t h a t l a c k of a d e m o n s t r a b l y n o b l e background p r e v e n t e d some bights from e n t e r i n g t o n r n a a e n t s . Barber, p31,

by h i s r e f e r e n c e t o t h e h igh k i n g and his p e e r l e s s k n i g h t s a s

b e a r d l e s s . The a u d i e n c e ' s u n c e r t a i n t y a s t o whe the r t h e g r e e n

man s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d to b e a c h u r l i n a s ta te o f Lgzs

t n a a t e o r t h e awesome representative o f some nether world is - c o a p l i c a t e d by t h e s e remarks , as t h e a r r o g a n c e o f power and t h e

a p p a r e n t a r r o g a n c e of the l i t e r a r y churl a r e s i a i l a r ,

The hybrid qual i t i es n o t e d b y Benson a a y be a m e t a p h o r i c

e x p r e s s i o n cf t h e q u a l i t i e s o f a n i m p o r t a n t s o c i a l h y b r i d of the

R i c a r d i a n p e r i o d , the * k n i g h t (who wovld prove , i f h i s background

were s e a r c h e d , t o b e a rnerchant o r a lawyer- T h e m i x t u r e i n a g

Gawain and t h e Green K n i g h t of realistic and romance e l e m e n t s --- II- -- --- s u g g e s t s , t o t h e r e a d e r who t a k e s t h e ~ i x t u r e a s p u r p o s e f u l ,

t h a t h e is supposed t o suspend disbelief s e l e c t i v e l y - Vhen -- , \

A r t h u r i a n k n i g h t s wear f a s h i o n a b l e f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y c l o t h i n g

i t s h o u l d n o t be assumed t h a t the 6-t knew no b e t t e r b u t that

t h e Arthnrian k n i g h t s were meant t o b e seeo t h r o u g h t h e s c r e e n

of and j u x t a p o s e d with the knights of Ricardian s o c i e t y , Hhen a

physical a n d social enigma such as a green k n i g h t h a l e s on t h e

scene t h e a u d i e n c e is reminded t h a t i n R i c a r d i a n society, t oo ,

elegant c l o t h e s sometimes cover a n o n g e n t l e n a t u r e ,

S e v e r a l o f the g r e e n c r e a t u r e t s i g n c b l e traits a r e e x a c t l y

t h o s e t h e N u r t u r e Books of the period showed how t o a v o i d , The .

a i s o i r s of n o b l e s s e i n t h e l a t e middle a g e s d e s c r i b e d the kynde -- of k n i g h t s , t h a t is, what a n o b l e is, r a t h e r t h a n how h e sfioulil

act, T h e r e a p p e a r s t o have been no p e r c e ~ t i o n o f need for s u c h

p e o p l e t o l e a r n t h e i r behav iou r . T h e books of n u r t u r e were by

c o n t r a s t o v e r t l y d i d a c t i c , It. is c l e a r t h e y were i n t e n d e d , n o t

t o d e s c r i b e a n d g l o r i f y a n e x t a n t n o b i l i t y , b u t t o show cthers

how t o behave, how t o b e n u r t u r e d , i n o r d e r t o gain status, Ao

example of t h e n u r t u r e book i s R u s s e l l ' s Boke & N u r t u r g , a 9

S t a t u s is d r a n t , s o u r c e s s u c h a s t h i s o n e s a y , from a n c e s t r y o r

nature, n o t f r o a p r o p e r t y and l i f e s t y l e , ("The s u b s t a u n c e o f

l y f e l o d e is n o t so d i g n e / A s is blade r o y a l l e , , , n1093) O e s p i t e

t h e b c o k ' s clear s t a t e i n e n t t h a t status i s i n n a t e , the u s e f u l n e s s

uf t h e book t o t h e p e o p l e i t i n t e n d s t o s e r v e d e p e n d s on i t s

u n d e r l y i n g a s s u m p t i o n t h a t s u c h g9comenynge and t h e conaynger* a s

is expressed i n it is t e a c h a b l e ; t h i s is no mere c e l e b r a t i o n

from a f a r o f noble mancers, b u t a hornbock f o r e m u l a t i z g t h e n ,

E l e g a n c e i s assumed n o t t o be a n a t t e r of k s n d e b u t of nurtuse,

This a t t i t u d e , not: c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e i d e a t h a t n o b i l i t y i s

i n h e r e n t , i s v e r y c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e e s s e n t i a l l y u p s t a r t i d e a

that r a n k is a marker of a e a l t h a n d power r a t h e r than t h e

r e v e r s e , 20 Faofii l i ty i s treated as m e r e l y a c o d e of b e h a v i o u r

a9Pound i n 2 2 B a b e s Boke, S i n c e t h i s m i d - f i f t e e n t h - c e n t u r y a u t h o r claims {in l i a e s 1243-46 of t h e J3aegg Boke XVII) t h a t he is working from a n c i e n t a u t h o r s p o s s i b l y the book had a f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y a n a l o g u e , Even i f t h i s i s n o t s o , i t is i e p r o b a b l e that a writer of n u r t u r e b o o k s i s w r i t i n g a new c o d e and t h e r e f o r e woula p r o d u c e a view c o t a p ~ l i c a b l e t o t h e f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y -

2 f J H d m e s n o t e s t h a t i n f a c t s t a t u s was h a n d l e d i n p r a c t i c a l f a s h i o n i n t h e f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y , It c o r r e s p o n d e d t o w e a l t h and poae r , " A magnate was cot e l e v a t e d t o a n e a r l d o n u n l e s s h e had b u i l t up, ,,an i n h e r i t a ~ c e s u f f i c i e n t . , , . f*p. 4 -

which, o n c e l e a r n e d , a c t s n o t as a d i s g u i s e b u t a s a genuine

i n d e x ,

Other n u r t u r e books work f r o m the saae a s s u m p t i o n , The

a t t ~ l e C h i l d r e ~ s Xj. Boke a d j u r e s i ts ycur,g hearer t o " b a r e

t h e so thow haue n o blame/Than men u y l l e s a y t h e r a f t e r 1 t h a t a

g e n t y l leman was h e r e ( W / 9 6 ) ;f.. O t h e r s a re Bore c o n c r e t e . T h e

Pounq C h i l d r e ~ s &pk counsels a boy t o ",, , i a n g y l l e n e t h e r with - iak ne i y l l e *, a n d f u r t h e r t o **, , .haue few wordes, a n d w y s l y

s e t t e , / F o r so t h o u may t h i v o r s c h y p p e g e t e , " 2 % T h e Babe- Boke

22 s u g g e s t s that t h e young * * h a w w o r d e s l o v l y , s w e t e , b l e s t e , and

benyngneH when p e o p l e "lyst e yow reheteqs- 23 I +, e l a b o r a t e s on

this scheae:

Rhenne y e s a n s w e r e or s p e k e , y e e shulle b e purveyde What fee s h a l l e say speke eke t h i n g f r u c t u o u s ; On esy wyse l a t t e t h y r e s o n e be sayde In w o r d e s g e n t y l l e anil sl c s o m p e n d i o u s , F o r many w o r d e s e e n r i h t e tedious T o ylke wyseman t h a t s h a l l e y e v e a u d i e n c e , Tkaynt t o e s c h e w e t h e r f o r e d o o d i l i g e n c e ,

F i n a l l y , Stam P u e r ag ?!ensam, a s c r i b e d t o L y d g a t e , d e s c r i b e s

propel: persocal m a n n e r s s u i t e d t o a young man who would " y o u r e

y o u t h led@* ,,,a3. i n t o vertuslesM(96), S t a n s P u e r c o u n s e P s t h e

boy a g a i n s t loud s p e e c h and fidgeting: ( * * R h i l e t h o u spekist, be

n o t r i c h e l e s ; / k e p e b o t h e f y n g i r and hond s t i l le i n

2 2 ~ 3 , Oddly , t h i s book is said to b e for vgyonge babeesa* ~f "bloode r c y a l l e w ( p l ) ,

p e e s , ,, ."d-7), H e s h o u l d walk " d e m u r e l y bi streetis i n the

t o u n ( 1 8 ) " and n o t b y i n d u l g i n g i n "wan-F,oune l a u g h i n g e m - - , t h o u

do noon off e n c e / l a - f o r e t h i asouereyne, - - [ 2 0 / 2 1 ) o r n o t

g e n e r a l l y t o be w c o p i o s c of l a n g a g e w , The g r e e c c r e a t u r e , q u i t e

a d d i c t e d t o b r o a d m o t i o n s and c o p i o u s l a n g u a g e , would seen t o

h a v e u s e f o r t h e s e n u r t u r e books. T h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e ' s p h y s i c a l

e n e r g y a n d g a r r u l o u s n e s s a r e i n ~ a r k e d c o n t r a s t t o t h e r e s t r a i n t

a n d decorum n o t e d i n C a m e l o t , a n d s u g g e s t lack o f n o b i l i t y and

a s s u r a n c e .

T h e r e are o t h e r r e a s o n s t o t h i n k t h a t social m o b i l i t y was a

r e c o g n i s e d a n d w o r r i s o m e s o c i a l phenoaenon of s u c h d i m e n s i o n s

t h a t t h e R i c a r d i a n a u d i e n c e would h a v e q u i c k l y p l a c e d the hybrid

g r e e n c r e a t u r e a s a a e r c h a n t - k n i g h t , or a l a w y e r - k n i g h t : ir

other words, a r i c h n o a - n o b l e t r y i n g t o F a s s f o r a n o b l e a n d a

knight, One r e a s o n i s t h a t l i t e r a t u r e shows u t h e s u p s t a r t s t h a n

h i m , t h o u g h it g e n e r a l l y shows them i n a less s p m g a t h e t i c l i g h t ,

Peassall sa ys t h e l a t e f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y p a r t l y a l l i t e r a t i v e

Sir g e q r a v a u n t merges t h e roatance k n i g h t w i t h t h e real by making - t h e h e r o n o t o n l y a Round Table k n i g h t b u t a l s o a Y o r k s h i r e

l a n d o w n e r w i t h estates, gamekeepers, l e t t e r s demanding

c o m p e n s a t i o c, a n d o t h e r p r o s a i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s - ** C h a u c e r ' s

Franklin, a c o u n t r y Paadowner a n d a v a v a s o r , i s the best kcown

literary u p s t a r t o f t h e p e r i o d . T h e r e h a s b e e n s u b s t a n t i a l

*-----------*-----

"*Derek P e a r s a f l , "The Development of t h e M i d d l e E n g l i s h Romancen, MS [ T o r o n t o ) 27: 3965, p, 115,

a g r e e m e n t among c r i t ics s i n c e t h e e a r l y years of t h i s century

that t h e F r a n A f i n s s f o n d n e s s f o r t h e i d e a of g e n t i l l e s s e , h i s

deference t o t h e s q u i r e , a n d his s o r r o w a t his s o n ' s a t a v i s t i c

v u l g a r i t y all show t h a t he h a s come t o h i s position of power and

i n f l u e n c e t h r o u g h h i s own e f fo r t s , a n d that h e is n o t b y birth

g e n t l e , Even a crit ic who sets o u t t o prove t h a t the f r a n k l i n is

a g e n t l e m a n f i n a l l y a i d s t h e t h e s i s t h a t h e i s n o t ,

d i s t i n g u i s h i n g n o t bet ween t h e n o b l e a n d t h e a r r i v i s t s b u t

l i l e r s ly b e t w e e n t h e n o b l e a n d the l o w e r classes, or between

bondsman a n d f r e e n a n - 2s C h a u c e r * s G e n e r a l Prologue l a v i s h e s

% v e r y k i n d of v e r b a l e x t r a v a g a n c e . ,, upon t h i s wan whose p r i m a r y

c o n c e r n i s the " s p l e n d i d display of u n s u r p a s s e d w e a l t h and

taste* . 2 6 Though aware d i s c r e t i o n a n d g e n t i l i t y are n o t

q u a l i t i e s t h a t c a n be b o u g h t , t h e F r a n k l i n n a t u r a l l y thinks i n

t e r m s of b u y i n g w h a t h e wan ts , a n d m e a s u r e s t h e s e q u a l i t i e s in

terms such as twenty pounds ' wor th of l a n d . 2 1 The g r e e n

creature*^ d i s c o m f i t t i n g h a b i t of ~ e a s u r i n g , weighing, and

v a l u i n g a s a p p l i e d t o t h e fz A r t h u r i a n c o u r t way be seen a s

drawn from the same e t h i c , C e r t a i n of his h a b i t s i n h i s B e r t i E a k

form w i l l b e seen a s m e r c a n t i l e or l a w y e r l y , o r o t h e r ~ i s e in iddfe

- - - * - - L * I 1 I 1 I I I I I I

2SGordon Hall G e r o u l d , "The Social S t a % u s o f Chaucer's F r a n k l i n H , PPlLA 47 ( 1 9 2 6 ) , p265-270,

26Robert 0, B u r l i n , ?*The A r t o f t = h a u c e r 8 s F r a n k l i n g \ N e o ~ h i l 51 119671, p58-

class and l a c k i n g i n f r a u n c h i s e ,

Alan T. C a y l o r d points o u t t h a t a l l the p r o m i s e s i n t h e

F r a n k l i n ' s t a l e are s c m h o w f l a w e d as i l l u s t r a t i o n s of I

g e n t i l l e s s e , D o r i g e n a s p r o w i s e is ~ a d e o n l y t o b e i m ~ e d i a t e l y

i n v a l i d a t e d by h e r r e m a r k t h a t s h e knows t h e r o c k s c a n never b e

remeved. A u r e l i u s , w i t h " f a n a t i c a l L i t e r a l i s m " , r a t i o n a l i s e s

t h i s p r o m i s e i n a way " u s e f u l t o h i a s e l f , b u t S a l s e to its

o r i g i n a l expressionw- 2 8 The removal o f t h e rocks is i n any case

o n l y an i l l u s i o n . A u r e l i u s i n e n f o r c i n g Dorigen* s prortlise

" i n s i s t s that h e is not, b e i n g p e t t i l y l e g a l i s t i c . S h e i s a

g e n t l e l a d y and-., w i l l ac t a c c o r d i n g l y , B e would much

p r e f e r , . , t o r e c e i v e her l o v e through q*gracel* and n o t ? * r i g h t t * ,

,, , B e u s e s language, however , o r d i n a r i l y used t o describe

t r a n s a c t i o n s o f solem c o v e n a n t , ** 2 9 T h e k n i g h t ' s concern for his

own good n a @ e c a u s e s him t o make a h a r s h d e c i s i o n which i g n o r e s

D o r i g e n a s welfare, 3 0 T h e m a g i c i a n i s self-denial c o n s i s t s o n l y i n

g i v i n g np a n n e x h o r b i t a n t fee for s h a d y d e a l i n y w . 3 1 Looked a t

from t h e F r a n k l i a * s u n c r i t i c a l v i e w p o i n t , the story shows

s a t i s f y i n g q e n t i l l e s s e on t h e p a r t of all c h a r a c t e r s ,

3occacciois a n a l o g o n s Fif O G O ~ O j u d g e s t h e knight t o be most

-----"--I--------

+ s A l a n T, G a y l o r d , "The P r o m i s e s i n t h e F r a n k l i n ' s T a l e n , ELH 3 1 ( t 9 6 Y ) , ~ 3 4 7 -

'9 G a y l o r d , p335,

30 G a y l o r d , p3Y9,

3 1 Gaylord , p350.

f r e , b u t t h e F r a n k l i n l eaves this question open, His Orliens - c l e r k , a mere s t u d e n t o f law, makes a n e q u a l l y g e n e r o u s

sacrifice, showing g e n t i l l e s s e and f r e d m are n o t t h e t l e x c l u s i v e

preroga?5ves of knighChocdn, s 2 Thus C h a u c e s l s F r a e k l i n D s

u n s u b t l e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f g e n t i l l e s s e and h i s a r i s t o c r a t i c

d i s p l a y o f g e n e r o s i t y and a a g n i f i c e n c e c a a b i n e d w i t h a

l e g a l i s t i c and m e r c a n t i l e turn of mind mark a c o n t r a s t between

o r i g i n and a s p i r a t i o n which h a s a s i g n i f i c a n t r e s e a b l a n c e to

B e r t i l a k and the c r e a t u r e of Sir Gawairt and the Green Kwh.,

Chauce r ' s F r a n k l i n is a l s o , i t w i l l be r e c a l l e d , a vavasor ,

T h i s rare word Is used i n Chauce r ' s Geneha1 P r o l o g u e a s though

it were a s i m p l e syrnonya n e e d i n g no e x p l a n a t i o n . T h i s d i f f i c u l t y

h a s p a r t l y been overcome by Roy P e a r c y 3 s study of t h e v a v a s o r i n

F rench romance and f a b l i a u x , T h e v a v a s o r i s o f t e n , he says, a

r u s t i c s e e n i n e n c o u n t e r w i t h the knight e r r a n t . T h e role of t h e

vavasos is t o c h a l l e n g e t h e k n i g h t ' s more r a r i f i e d v a l u e s with

v a l u e s e i t h e r more e a r t h y o r wore mean, depending on w h e t h e r the

s.to+y a p p r o a c h e s romance o r a p p r o a c h e s f a b l i a u . 3 3

S a m s t u d e n t s of Sir main ah Green Rniqht ,

f a s c i n a t e d by the g r e e n n e s s of t h e c r e a t n r e , have d e v e l o f e d

t h e o r i e s i n which the goae is a s o r t of s p i r i t of n a t u r e meaning

33Boy P e a r c y , yyChauce r t s F r a n k l i n a n d t h e L i t e r a r y Vavvasourql, ChB 8 f l W 3 ) p33-59, D e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s of B e r t i l a t a s v a v a s o r w i l l be done i n t h e c h a p t e r "Some L i t e r a r y A n t e c e d e n t s and A f f i n i t i e s w ,

t h e b o t a n i c a l a e a s t t h e world o u t s i d e c i v i 2 i s a t i o n , I I

I

J* P e r h a p s i f the gome is t o b e i d e n t i f i e d w i t h &y_nde, h e s h o u l d 1

merely b e t h o u g h t of a s a sort of v i s u a l gun, B e s i d e s nteaning

natore i n t h e b o t a n i c a l sense, t h e MED shows t h a t kynd3 had a

c o ~ ~ l e x of meanings i n t h e human c o n t e x t , It i c c l u d e d q u a l i t i e s

such a s c h a r a c t e r , t h e p h y s i c a l n a t u r e of man, n a t u r a l i n s t i n c t s

and d e s i r e s , a c t i o n c u s t c a a r y o r p r o p e r t o a Ban, a t r i b e ,

f a m i l y , race or k i n d r e d , and t h e o p p o s i t e o f n u r t u r e or Banners -

I n s h o r t , Gawain ' s meaning f o r t h e word k ~ n d e ( L 2 3 8 0 ) i s n o t t h e

most comaoa. S t was less commonly a s s o c i a t e d outside of C a ~ e l o t

w i t h p e r f e c t i o n t h a n w i t h t h e rough & a t e r i a l of t h e u n t u t o r e d or

unnnr t u r e d bulk of humanity. T h e r e was c o n s i d e r a b l e d e b a t e

d u r i n g the l a t e m i d d l e ages c o n c e r a i n g w h e t h e r n u r t u r e ox 4 m d e

was more p o w e r f u l , The e x i s t e n c e o f t h e n u r t u r e books s h e w s a

p r a c t i c a l r e l i a n c e on n u r t u r e , Diane Cosman n o t e s t h a t t h e

p r o v e r b nnature s u r p a s s e s n u r t u r e q i was one of the Bore o f t - c i t e d

of t h e m i d d l e ages . 3s I n t h e t h i r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y Roman gg

Rose, t h e duenna i n t e a c h i n g manners i s teaching a r t i f i c e . She -- r e c o g n i s e s , however, t h a t a l l . her efforts Bay come t o n o t h i n g

a g a i n s t the g r e a t e r power of n a t n r e :

T r o p est f o r t c h o s e gue o a t u r e , ----------- -*---."- 3 4 POT example , C.S.Lewis i n "The Bn thsopo log ica f . Approachw i n . Howard and Zache r a t p59-71,

3Vosniaa, p 119- She a l s o p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e Prose L a n c e l o c d i s ~ l a y s the c c n t r o v e r s y i n t h e s c e n e s c ~ n c e r n i n g L a a c e l o t * s e d u c a t i o n ,

E l p a s s e n e i s n o u r r e t u r e , 36

N u r t u r e a s t h e Duenna t ~ a c h e s it i s a s o r t of b r e a t h m i n t for

t h e scul, coslaesis r a t h e r t h a n a n actual t a ~ i n g of t h e beast

w i t h i n - However, i n t h e theory o f c o u r t l y love t h a t h o l d s t h a t s

k n i g h t ' s u n f u l f i l l e d l o v e f o r a l a d y a i g h t e l e v a t e h i s s p i r i t

a n d b u f f off h i s coarser e d g e s , t h e r e i s a partial e l e v a t i o n of

t h e role cf n n r t u r e , Here not mere manners , n u r t u r e n o n e t h e l e s s

m u s t h a v e good !tiaterial, a n o b l e n a t u r e , on which t o work i t s

c h a n g e s , I n C h a u c e r ' s Franklin's Tale, any aaswer g i v e n t o t h e

q u e s t i o n n v h o was m o s t ff3?" would s u p p o r t o n e s i d e or t h e o t h e r

of the n a t u r e - c n r t u r e d e b a t e , The knight has l a r g e s s e a s a

matter o f n a t u r e , w h i l e t h e O r l i e n s clerk h a s what h e has of

g e n t i l i t y b y n u r t u r e , fn t h e f i f t e e n t h c e n t u r y , a poem appeared

called "The D e b a t b e t w e e n e N u r t u r e a n d Kindem-3p The poem

i n c l u d e s a f a b l e in w h i c h a cat t r a i n e d t o h o l d a c a n d l e

a b a n d o n s its training when a mouse g o e s by. The poem concludes

t h a t % e d i s t h e i nust go t o g e d r i n f a y / Be closed yn OCtrrr" In

t h e debate s e c t i o n of t h e poem, N u r t u r e a r g u e s t h a t i f h e t o o k

n a t u r e i n t h e for@ of a two year o l d c h i l d he c o u l d make i t,

" g r a n t as a swine,. , a n d n o t h e r t o know t h y sire ne dame,** Hature

retorts t h a t no matter:

37V,.J, S c a t t e r g o o d , nThe D e b a t e Between N u r t u r e and Kynd: An U n p n b l i s h e a B i d d l e E n g l i s h Poemn, N Q 17 (1970) p24b2ti6,

Among l a d y e s ar,d l o r d i s t h a t are s u r e , [ y e t ) ,-.by word, by coun tenance , or o t h e r by c h e r F o r a l l t h y h e l p e and s o c o u r e Yet t h o u w i l l show s u m t o u c h from whence t h o u come,,,, !

T h i s r e c o g n i s e s that n a t u r e c a n n o t be e x ~ u n g e d , b u t e q n a l l y that

nusture is ab le t o effect f a i r l y f a r - r e a c h i n g c o n t r o l s over

b e h a v i o u r , Words, c o u n t e n a n c e and c%y a r e t h e ways i n w h i c h

B e f t i l a k shows h i s o r i g i n s , T h i s d e b a t e poem l a c k s t h e m a t i c

s u b t l e t y or nuance o f c h a r a c t e r and p l o t , s u g g e s t i n g a p c p u l a r

a u d i e n c e , In the norma l c o u r s e of e v e n t s , a new i d e a goes

t h r o u g h a p e r i o d when it is the prope r ty of s o p h i s t i c a t e s b e f o r e

it beco~es a c l i c h e , P o s s i b l y t h i s i d e a was the property of

s o p h i s t i c a t e s a t t h e time of the makiag of G_auaixi gn_d_ Qg

Green Xniqhs. :n t h i s poem, t h e i m p l i e d d e b a t e between n u r t u r e -- and kynde is much more s u b t l e t h a n i n the f i f t e e n t h - c e n t u r y

p o e ~ t , and wore nuanced thao i n Rosan & & Rose,

Widespread upward n o b i l i t y d u r i n g t h e R i c a r d i a n period

shows t h a t n u r t u r e was, i n n p r a c t i c a l terms, t s iumghan t . Sylvia

Thrupp ' s 2% 14lerchang C l a s s of Med ieva l Lcndon shows t h a t t h e

g r e a t London m e r c h a n t s were chief a m n g the mobi l e - They c o u l d

b u i l d n o b l e s t a t n r e for t h e m s e l v e s o r their c h i l d r e n b y the

c a r e d o l c u l t i v a t i o n of t h e marks of n o b i l i t y , These i n c l u d e d t h e

p r e d i c t a b l e p h y s i c a l marks---great houses i n the c o u n t r y ,

e x t e n s i v e l a n d s , a a r r i a g e and f r i e n d s h i p s w i t h t h e n o b l e s , and

r i c h c l o t h i n g - S l i g h t l y more diff icnlt t c n u r t u r e were t h e

manners and p a s t i m e s o f t h e nob le , A final and most d i f f i c u l t

a e t h o d o f b e i n g a s s i m i l a t e d in%o t h e n o b i l i t y 'was t o i m i t

s u g p s e d l y - i n n a t e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f poblesse-

ate the

Though i n t h e final v i t a l s c e n e of Gavain and &@ Green

Knight t h e green creature d i s p l a y s Bore Parses sqq leute and - pite % h a t lmqs to k_n_vcrht,_es t h a n c o u r t l y G a m i n does, fur t h e

g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e poem he shows gauche g o o d w i l l and a l a c k of

u r b a n i t y . T h i s is t h e mark o f t h e uould-be a r i s t o c r a t whc h a s

l e a r n t t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f n o b l e s s e up to a p o i n t , k u t c a n n o t

a l w a y s h i d e h i s v i f a i n o r i g i n s , The d o u b l e n e s s of his n a t u r e

b e g f n s t o impress i t s e l f on the a u d i e n c e f r o a t h e f irst scene,

When t h e a u d i e n c e i s st i l l stunned by t h e matter of f a c t

revelation t h a t the c r e a t u r e is " o v e r a l enfrere grene*' t h e p o e t

g i v e s a full staaaza on his e l e g a n t b u t u n a i l i t a r y garb:

Ande a1 g r a y t h e d i n g r e n e t h i s gome and h i s wedes: A s t rayte cote f u l s t r e g h t , t h a t s t e t on h i s ~ i d e s , A mere mantile a b o f , mensked w i t h i a n e , W i t h peluse p e r e d a p e r t , the pane f ul c l e n e With blythe b l a u n n e r ful b r y g h t , a3d h i s hod bo the , T h a t watz l a g h t f r o his l o k k e z and layde on his

s h u l d e r e s ; Heme wel-haled hose of that s a s e , T b a t s p e n e t OF, h i s s p a r l y r , a n d c l e w s p u r e s vnder Of bfyght golde, vpon silk b o r d e s b a r r e d f u f ryche , And s c h o l e s vnder schazkes t h e r e t h e s c h a l k r i d e s , and a l l e h i s v e s t u r e u e r a p l p watz c l e n e v e r d u r e , Bothe t h e b a r r e s of h i s belt a n d other b f y t h e stones, T h a t were s i c h e l p rap led i n h i s a t a y clene Abou t t e hymself and h i s sadel, vpoc s i l k uerkez- T h a t were t o tor f o r t o te l le of t r y f l e s t h e h a l u e --.

(150 if)

Though he h a s come t h r o u g h s t r a n g e t e r r i t o r y a n d i n t o a s t r a n g e

court where a r & o u r n i g h t be e x p e c t e d he is n o t so encumbered:

f h a u e a haube fghe a t home and a h e l m b o t h e ,

A s c h e l d e and a scharp s p e r e , s c h i n a a d e b r y g h t , And other weppenes to welde , I wene wef, a f s ; Bot f o r I wofde no were, m y wedez ar s o f t e r ,

(268f f)

H e a s s u r e s h i s audience t h a t he h a s a l l t h e g e a r s u i t e d t o a

k n i g h t , t h a t it is i n good order, azid t h a t h e h a s weapons t o

s p a r e , T h a t is, h e asserts fozcef u l l y t h a t h e i s a Bona Zide

k n i g h t . 3 3 B e d o e s n o t h a v e a device, e i t h e r , f n the A l l i L e r a t i v e

Morte , S i r C l e g i s t q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a s a knight a r e c h a l l e n g e d by -- a c h a l l e n g e t o his c o a t of arras.

,, , t h o u bees n o g h t e d e l p v e s e d e , Bot t h o % s e k e r l y e n s u r e w i t h c e r t e y n e k n y g h t e z , T h a t thi cote and t h i b r e s t e be knawene w i t h P o r d e s , O f a r m s of a n c e s t r y e , e n t y r d e w i t h l o n d e z ,

(1687ff)

T h e iarpugned knigh? r e p l i e s i n d i g n a n t l y that his a n c e s t r y can be

t r a c e d t o t h e time o f B r u t u s , T h u s weapons a n d c o a t s of arms are

n o t rtlerely an accessory of k n i g h t h o o d , but t h e b a d g e of t h a t

s t a t u s ,

T h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e a l s o brings attention t o his c l o t h e s of

the matent tnmy wedez a r softerqq (27 3 ) ) , He c o n s i d e r s good c l o t h e s

no t -to be s i m p l y a part of the b a c k g r o u n d , b u t a matter of

conscious a t t e n t i o n a n d care, and p e r h a p s p r i d e . The c r e a t u r e

seems t o l o o k down a t hiraseff c o m p l a c e n t l y a s h e s p e a k s , The

need t o e x p l a i n o n e s e l f i s a raark o f i n s e c u r i t y . The green

*-*-*---**----*---

38 %I CCret ient s P e r c e v a l GawainTs p o s s e s s i o n of s u c h weapons, if he d o e s not h a v e t h e m by f r a u d , p r o v e s h e i s a k n i g h t ( f , S 2 0 0 f f ) ,

g o ~ e * ~ i n s e c u r i t y c a n s u r e l y no t be p h y s i c a l while h e i s under

rslorgan's spell, so it may be presumed t o be social , The ~ o e t h a s

not s e e n it a s n e c e s s a r y to d e s c r i b e t h e garb of t h e memkers of

Camelot; p r e s u m a b l y the garS, like all else, is t sorygh t** , E v e z

G u e n e v e r e i s s i e g l y d e s c r i b e d a s a p a i r cf g r e y e y e s surrounded

by t h e impersorial r i c h n e s s of the h a l l ' s d r a p e r i e s , G a w a i n e s

d r e s s i n g i s d e s c r i b e d by t h e poet i n d e t a i l , b u t w i t h o u t a n y

i n d i c a t i o n t h e k n i g h t i s p r o u d of h i s g a r b , O b l i v i o u s n e s s to

n a t e r i a l t h i n g s is a @ark of n o b i l i t y - In t h e u l i t e r a t i v g Horte

Arthur is s a i d a p p r o v i n g l y t o be:

, . . d e s p p s e r e of s y l v e r e , T h a t n o more o f g o l d e g y f f e s t h a n e of g r e t t e s t o n e s , No aore of nyne t h a n e of w a t y r e - , ,,

p 3 9 f f )

A r t h u r ' s r e s p o n s e t o t h e c r e a t u r e ' s r e g u e s t t h a t h e g r a n t

**The golnen t h a t I a s k / b i r y g h t f274-275)" h a s b e e n much

m i s u n d e r s t o o d , The clue is i n t h e l a s t p h r a s e - T h e creature has

of course n o s u c h r i g h t a s t o c l a i m a Chris tmas game, T h e I decorum which does not require a knight t o f i g h t with sotkeone 1 his social i n f e r i o r c e r t a i n l y r i l l n o t i n s i s t on h i s playing 1 w i t h s u c h a person. It i s a n a n t h r o p o l o g i c a l truism t h a t t h e

p e o p l e we eat w i t h a n d p l a y w i t h are of our own s o r t . Arthur's \ r e s p o n s e s u g g e s t s t h a t h i s p a t i e x e is be ing s t r e t c h e d , Re

s a y s , " S i r c o r t a y s knyghtr/X f t h o u craw h a t a y l bare, /Here f a y f ez

t h o u not t o f p . g h t ( 2 7 f j f f ) w .

A R i c a r d i a n a u d i e n c e would have b e e n aware t h a t i f t h e

c r e a t u r e is n o t a knight he is b e h a v i n g not o n l y u n a c c e p t a b l y i n

t e r a s of r o m a n c e c o n v e n t i o n , but i f l e g a l l y i n terms of E n g l i s h

s u m p t u a r y law, which l i a t i t e d suntptuotlls c l c t h i a g t o t h e n o b i l i t y ,

Thrupp sap, however , t h a t t h e dress of c h o i c e fo r t h e wagnates

or r i c h m e r c h a c t s was i n d e e d much l i k e h i s : tnnics o f s a r i t e a n d

v e l v e t , s i l k l i n e d h o o d s triraaaed w i t h f u r o r e w b r o i d e r y , a n d

o u t e r r o b e s i n b r i l l i a n t c o l o u r s , f u r r e d with b e a v e r , marten o r

ermine, They e n j o y e d j e w e l l e d r i n g s a n d s i l k g i r d l e s a n d on

s t a t e o c c a s i o n s " f o l l o w i n g F r e n c h f a s h i o n s , they moved t o t h e

m u s i c o f l i t t l e g o l d and s i l v e r balls sewed a b o u t t h e i r h o o d s

a n d sleeve^,^ 3 9 T h e i n f o r m a t i o n accords w i t h t h e picture i n Sir

Gawain o f t h e c r e a t u r e ' s * * s t r a y t e cote f u f s t r e g h t , t h a t stek on -- h i s s i d e s 1152) ", h i s mmere w a n t i l e (153) mensked w i t h i n n e / With

p e l u r a puered a p e r t {lSU) -, t h e " b l y t h e s t c rnes / T h a t were r i c f i e l p

r a y l e d i n h i s a r a y ~ l e n e ( t 6 3 ) ~ ~ a n d t h e " b l y t h e b l a u n x ~ e r ( l 5 5 ) ~

which g r a c e s h i s hood, Amusingly, t h e most e x t r a v a g a n t of t h e

f a s h i o n s , t h e l i t t l e b e l l s , i s t r a n s f e r r e d t o the t a i l o f the

green h o r s e , w h e r e their effect of d i s p l a y i s f u r t h e r

h e i g h t e n e d ,

S e v e r a l sets of s u n p t u a r y laws were p a s s e d d u r i n g t h e l a s t

d e c a d e s of t h e f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y , a l l d e s i g n e d t o keep r i c h

c l o t h i n g , f u r s , and c l o t h of gold a n d s i l v e r o u t of t h e c l o s e t g

of the r i c h m e r c h a n t s and p r o f e s s i o n a l s . The f a c t t h a t t h e

s t r i c t u r e s were l o o s e n e d a n d t i g h t e n e d i n s u c c e e d i n g e n a c t m e n t s

a p p a r f fitly reflects t h e u n e n f o r c a b i l i t y of t h e l e g i s l a t i c n ,

Thzupp feels t h e l a us were c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e ; i f the w e a l t h y

m i d d l e classes associa tea r i c h f a b r i c s w i t h the n u b i l i t y they

y e a r n e d t o j o i n , their cr ;ve+ ,ousness would h a v e been increased.

S h e e n and s o f t n e s s of fabric then became emblem n o t just of

wealth b u t also of n o b i l i t y , 4 0

Zn t h e a l l i t e r a t i v e poern R i c h a r g Redeless, written i n

the l a s t years of t h e c e n t u r y , t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n of c l o t h e s w i t h

power i s l o o k e d on with r i g h t e o u s h o r r o r . The k i n g R i c h a r d I? is

e x c o r i a t e d b e c a u s e of h i s b a d c h o i c e of c c n f i d a n i e s , The f i r s t

r e a s o n is t h a t t h e y are c o n c e r n e d w i t h c l o t h e s t o t h e e x c l u s i o n

cf c o n c e r n with g i v i n g good c o u n s e l :

P o r ben t h e y r a y e d a r i t h t h e y r e c c h i t h no forther But s t u d i e t h a Z P i n s t r o u t g a g e and s t i r e t h agtys

e v e r e , F o r I say f o r my-selfe a n d schewe, a s fne t h y n c h i t h , Tkat ho is rial of h i s ray t h a t l i g h t reede

hia fo lwe th . - - , (120-123) * r

The s e c o n d r e a s o n i s t h a t they a re a r r i v i s t e s :

%her grcmes a n d .the godeatan b e t h a l l e l i c h e g r e t t e ,

Well wo b e t h t h e wones a n d a l l t h a t woneth t h e r - i n , (66-67)

*sHaf>el Day a n d Robert S t e e l e teas.), as4 Sothsesqgg 2nd R i c h a r d t h e R e d e l e s s London, Oxford U n i v e r s i t y Press, 1936 , -7- - -,,,p EETS ( c s ) n o - 189,

In - S i r --- Gawain - and -- the ._ Green gniqht the s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s of the

c r e a t u r e s h o w s t h a t r i c h a r r a y i s a m a t t e r o f u n c a s u a l

s e l f - a p p r o v a l , even a mark o f a c h i e v e m e n t . T h e getup is

g r o t e s q u e , a c a r i c a t u r e of what the n o b i l i t y would r e a l 1 1 wear,

I n t h e poem a n d i n t h e real f o u r t e e n t h - c e ~ t u r y world, t h i s is a

&ark of t h e a r r i v i s t e ; h e c a n n o t be e x p e c t e d t o know w h e n to

stop.

T h u s t h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e who c o n f r o n t s Gawain i n t h e first

f i t t way be s e e n a s a m a r v e l , b u t o m v h o s e i l l - a s s o r t e d n e s s

g i v e s h i n t s a s t o how t o read hi&- A c r e a t u r e g o r g e o u s l y d r e s s e d

and s e l f - c o n s c i o u s a b o u t that dress, h a v i n g t h e manners of the

i g n o b l e , b u t +he p r e % e n s e of o u t d o i n g A r t h u r ' s c o u r t i n a

s i g n i f i c a n t f a s h i o n , c o u l d be seen as a n i n a g e o f t h e s o c i a l l y

~ o b i l e a e r c h a n t o f t h e R i c a r d i a n p e r i o d , The g r e e n man and w i l d

a a n d i m e n s i o n s become, u n d e r t h i s v iew o f t h i n g s , mre

u n d e r s t a n d a b l e , The p o e t c a r i c a t u r e s t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f his

c h a r a c t e r , The u p s t a r t i s a f e r a l human, a subhumaa, and a

mind- ravaged human, not m e r e l y a commoner- I n t h e l a t e r fit$s,

t h e Bertilak S ~ a n s f o s m a t i o n w i l l b e treated o n l y as a r i c h

coniaoner, these d i m e n s i o n s b e i n g , for t h e time, f o r g o t t e c . The

m e a d a t i o n d c n e i n t h e s t o r y b e t w e e n h i s p a r v e n u - k n i g h t v a l u e s

a n d G a w a i n ' s r o m a n c e k n i g h t v a l u e s h a s b a r e l y begun, However, .

h i s i n c u r s i o n i n t o C a m e l o t makes it clear h e is ia some r a p s a

hostile c h a l l e a g e r ; it r e l n a i n s for h i s o t h e r self t o show t h e

n a t u r e of the c h a l l e n g e ,

II. B e r t i l a k de Hantdesert I Bat: The Self-made Knight

I n the behead ing scene in C a w l o t , the g r e e n c r e a t u r e

d i s p l a y e d manner i sms a n d tastes i n p e r s o n a l a d o r n a e n t which

s u g g e s t e d t h a t , f a r from b e i n g a perfect romance war r io r -k r i i gh t ,

h e was, i f a k n i g h t a t all, one s s 9 frcm non h i q h p a r a s , As

B e r t i l a k , h e wilf confirm that he h a s what h e h a s as a result of

c a r e f u l n u r t u r e , and n o t as a f r e e g i f t cf &p_nde, Ris c a s t l e ,

h i s h u n t i n g park , h i s household, and h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p with h i s

l a d y a l l show the g a u c h e n e s s and % i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n coamon t o the

person d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g f o r the f i r s 2 time, and t o impress

o t h e r s , T h e d e t a i l s which t o a t w e n t i e t h century r e a d e r hint a t

t h i s s i t u a t i o n may well have s h o u t e d it t o an o r i g i n a l a u d i e n c e

because the newly - r i ch iaan whose g o a l was t o be a c c e p t e d f o r a

knight a p p e a r s t o have been a s o c i a l f a c t of t h e E i c a r d i a n

p e r i o d , F e r g u s o n * ~ I n d i a n Sarawer ggglish C h i v a l r y g i v e s much

a t t e n t i o n t o the e x i s t e n c e o f the a i d d l e classes, ft notes i n

Cursor FIundA a h e s i t a n t r ework ing cf the t r a d i t i o n a l i d e a o f t h e

two s e c u l a r classes, t h e nobles and t h e ccremons, T h e r e f e r e n c e

is to t h e t h r e e sons of Noah a s t h e o r i g i n s o f H k n i g h t and

c h o r l e and •’re-manw, 2 Thrupp shows t h a t o f f i c i a l c i v i c

documents t h r o u g h t h e later m i d d l e a g e s r a n k e d t h e m i d d l e

c l a s s e s anong t h e m s e l v e s , e q u a t i n g greater w e a l t h with g r e a t e r

h'onesty, misdon a n d prudence, a n d c a l l i n g t h e i r F o s s e s s o r s ~ l i u s

s u f f i c e a u n t z a n d p o t e n t i a r e + 2 Holmes shows t h a t t h e r e was a -I--

n a t u r a l p a t t e r a of f a m i l i e s g r o w i n g i n w e a l t h , d y i n g o u t , a n d

losing t h e i r t i t l e s and esta?es t o nencosers, @ore often than

n o t creatures of t h e c o u r t . O c c a s i o n a l l y new famil ies c r e p t up

by their own e f f o r t s o u t s i d e the court, 3 Movement u p t o t h e

nobility i n two g e n e r a t i o n s was not u n c o m o n , In o n e t e s t e d

g r o u p of tuent y-six s o n s of h i g h merchants , f i v e became kn igh ted

a n d two known as g e n t l e m e n , 4

It w o u l d s e m , however , t h a t living l i k e a k n i g h t was more

u n i v e r s a l l y desired t h a n a c t u a l k n i g h t h o o d . T h e g r e a t spabol o f

fanill status was the l a n d e d c o u n t r y h o u s e , s o m e t i m e s together

w i t h i n l a n d f i s h e r i e s , m i l l s and whea t p r o d u c i n g l a n d s - 5 B u y i n g

old castles and hav ing p r i v a t e parks might a t t r a c t f a v o u r a b l e

a t t e n t i o n from the local gentry, J o h n Peche, a v i n t n e r w i t h a

trade mctnopoly, was s e e n i n a b o u t 1374 b u y i n g a l a n d e d estate,

m a r r y i n g a rich young ward t o his d a u g h t e r , and b r i n g i n g up h i s

s o n t o h e a knight , 6

Whether they lived like k n i g h t s or were a c t u a l l y k n i g h t e d ,

it would seem a c c e p t a n c e o f these newcomers was n o t c o m p l e t e , A

m e r c h a n t retired t o the c o u n t r y would always seea n o u v e a u

r i c h e . 7 Aristocrats were critical when, fcrr exam@, R i c h a r d XI

knighted f i v e a l d e r x e , % O w s t quotes Broayard on the subject of

soc ia l r e l a t i o n s of apparen t friendship ge tween m e r c h a n t a n d

gentry i n which h u n t i n g and bangueting t o g e t h e r Mere i n v d ved.

H e says the f r i e n d s h i p s will end when t h e m e r c h a n t s t r y to c a l l

i n t h e l o a n s t h e y h a v e made t h e gentry, 9

This a n e c d o t e u n d e r l i n e s a n a p p a r e n t t ens ion b e t w e e n t h e

n o b l e ethic of l a r g e s and t h e mercantif e ethic of caref uf

h u s b a n d r y , By c o n v e n t i o n , c h i v a l r i c f ikerature made t h e raerchant

**the t y p e of a v a r i c e and a s b i t i o n , n a r r o w l y a b s o r b e d i n t h e

p u r s u i t of rsoney a n d power, i n c o n t r a s t t o the noble, whc, in

t h e r o m a n t i c wor ld , made l i fe an artw,io O w s t quotes t h e Gesta

[ a merchantlne s u f f r e t h him nought t o h a u e s l e p e , ne reste, by nighte ne by d a y ; but nraketh hi@ t r a v a y l e i n water and i n l o n d e , in chele a n d i n hete, i n faynryse a n d i n werynesse. , , r i g h t a s a spythur d e s t r o y e t h h e r e - s e l f i n a a k y a g e a webbe f o r to take a f l y e , fyght so the c o v e y t o u s man d e s t r o y e t h h i s oweae body for tc gete t h y s worldes goed,

Thrnpp p o i n t s o u t the anomaly o f the f i f t e e n t h - c e n t u r y mcneyed

d r a p e r who made h i s b e t r o t h e d e l e g a n t p r e s e n t s i n c l u d i n g

Nypoc ra s , deyteos a s f i g g e s and r e i s i n , f i g n e l a u n e , a

popingeay , a great r i n g cf f f n e g c l d nit a g r e % e poynted

diaeant, , .,**and k e p t c a r e f u l a c c o u n t o f t h e costs, g t

T h e two opposed a t t i t u d e s of m e r c a n t i l i s m and n o b i l i t y are

t i t l e , t h e poem i s n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y p a r t i s a n , It talks a k o u t

lltodera W O ~ ~ ~ E E a w e s t e r n boy s e n t s o u t h will see, such as " b y e s

of no blode , w i t h boste and p r i d e / s c h a l l wedde l a d y e s i n

l ~ n d e , , , , ~ (15-36) Binraer i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d a s a worker wko

e x c o r i a t e s t h e k n i g h t l y class t o which Waster be longs :

Alle t h a t 1 wynn thurgh w i t t h e w a s t e s t h u r g h p ryde ; f g e d i r , I g f e n e , and h e l a t t y s goo sene; I p r y k e and I p r y n e , and h e the p u r s e opynes , Why h a s e t h i s c a y t e f f e no case how men c o r n s e l l e n ? H i s l o n d e s l i g g e n a l l e f e y , h i s l o ~ e s aren s o l d e , Downn b e n e h i s d o n f e h o u s e s , d r p e beE h i e p o l e s ; The d e u y l l s o u n d e r the wele h e n e l d y s a t home, B a t h u n g e r e a n d hegbe h o r s e s and howndes f u l kene Safe a s p a r t h e and a spere s p a r r e d e i n a n e hy rne , A bronde a s his bed-hede, b i d d e s h e no n o t h e r B o t a c n t t e d e c a p i f l t o cayre with t o his f r e n d e s ,

(231)f f)

T h i s class wastes the l a n d i t monopol izes - The k n i g h t l y

a p p a r a t u s of sword and spear l i e i d l e i n corners. T h i s kcight's

l a c k of potency is n a r k e d by h i s r i d i n g a c a s t r a t e d horse. The

p e a d o e s n o t entirely s i d e w i t h Winner, t hough , g o f a t i n g o u t

s 3 S i r I s r a e l G o l l a n c z fed-) . Carobridge, D-S,Brewer, 1974 (1921 ) -

i n s t e a d t h a t h e and Vaster a r e s o c i a l complements:

When t h o u h a s t e w l a t e r e d a n d went a n d wak l ede a l l e t k e n g g h t e ,

And i c h e a wy i n t h i s u e r l d e t h a t wsnnes t h e a b o u t e , And hase werpede t h y wyde howses f u l l e o f w o l l e s a k k e s , T h e b e ~ e s benden a t t h e r o f e , siche bakone t h e r e hynges, S t u f f e d a r e s t e r l y n g e s v a d e r e s t e l e n bcwndes, What s h o l d e u o r t h e of t h a t uele, i f ao waste c o r e ? Some s c h o l d e rote, some r u s t e , some ratones f e d ,

(248- 254)

Winne r ' s v i n n i w g s a re g r o s s a n d p o i n t l e s s e x c e s s , While h e

p a i n t e d h i m s e l f a s a f a rmer , Waster t h i n k s of hima a s a n

e n t r e p r e n e u r , as much i n v o l v e d with money as w i t h the matter

t h a t earns it,

As h a s been ment ioned , c h i v a l r i c l i t e r a t u r e excoriates t h e

a e r c h a n t a n d h i s e t h i c , One romance treats i n e s p e c i a l l y

p a r t i s a n f a s h i o n the r e l a t i v e v a l u e of k n i g h t s a n d

e n t r e p r e n e u r s . I n C h r e t i e n ' s P e r c e v q l , Gawain i s the h e r o of

t h e e p i s o d e c a l l e d "La P u c e l e As Mances Pe t i tesw, A t o u r r a m e n t

is held in which Gawain, a s t r a n g e r i n t h e area, i s f o r c e d

merely t o watch; he c a n n o t j o u s t because h e has nof yet avenged

am o u k s t a n d i n g i n s u l t , An a r g u m e n t b r e a k s o u t among t h r e e

sisters a s t o which o f the knights i s best, The y o u n g e s t sister

c h a ~ p i o a s Gauain . T h e o l d e s t , "enf famee et c h a u d e l v l . 52Ol),

d i s a g r e e s , This m a , s h e s a y s {in l o o s e t r a n s l a t i o n of 1 , 5 0 7 0 f f )

is not even a k n i g h t , b u t a merchant in~oster who l i v e s t y t h e

c o n t e n t s of h i s t r u n k ("par v o s t r e male a v e n t u r e f l ) a n d who

c a n n o t fight, H e is a merchan t , s h e s a y s ; do n o t say h e d a r e s

h e a r t a l k o f t h e t o u r n e y , H e h a s a l l t h o s e h o r s e s f o r sale, T h e

s e c o n d s is ter a g r e e s : h e is a moneychanger- itt s c a s h and

d i s h e s h e * s got i n t h o s e sacks a n d t r u n k s - T h e y o u n g e s t sister

d e f e n d s Gawain: you e v i l - t o n g u e d c r e a t u r e s , s h e says, d o you

think a aercha~t would c a r r y a grea+ lance like h i s ? Be's a

k n i g h t , 1 know it, L a t e r , t h e oldest sister a p p e a r s a n d a c c u s e s

Gawain o f t r u m p e r y because o f h i s h o r s e , lance a n d d e s t r i e r and

t h e R n i g h t r s d e v i c e on h i s armour , Ne is, s h e s a p s , making free

w i t h this g u i s e when i n f a c t h e smells of t r a d e , h e is a

t r a v e l l e r i n m e r c h a n d i s e (1.52 ?Off) = T h e m e r c h a n t is , by cori t r a s t

w i t h t h e knight, a wre tch ,

I n S f r Gawain ~n the Green EaiuhS, t h e h e r o r e f u s e s t h e

l a d y a g i f t on p a r t i n g , H i s r e f u s a l is g r a c e f u l , b u t central t o

it is t h e n o t i o n t h a t Gawain is a k n i g h t , a n d "avells f i g h t , s o

c a n n o t b e ~ x p e c t e d t o c a r t around sacks of p r e t t i e s l i k e a

merchan t :

Ye h a f deserved, . , Bore r e w a r d e l -. t h e n I r e c h e myght f Botf,, ,I a@ h e r e a n e f a n d e i n erdez v n c o u t h e And h a v e no men up*h no malez w i t h m e a s k f u l t h i n g e z ,

(1803- 1809)

There is reproof h e r e a g a i n s t the s u g g e s t i o n t h a t a k n i g h t

should come bearing a n y t h i n g b u t h i s noble s e l f , The lady, l i k e

h e r h u s b a n d a n d a l l h e is l o r d oE, appears t o ~ a w a i n t o h a v e t h e

~ e r c a n t i l e o u t l o o k ,

The r e a d e r h a s first e n c o u n t e r e d Bertilak's g o r g e o u s domain

as a reepanse t o t h e prayer of G a m i n , e x h a u s t e d by h i s search

for: the G r e e n Chape l , T h i s t r a v e l - t r a v a i l p a s s a g e shows t h a t t h e

.atends o u r h a v i n g no doubt t h avain is capable a s a

w a r r i o r - k n i g h t , moving f rum t h e c h o r e o g r a p h e d g a i e t y of She court

t o t h e c h o r e o g r a p h e d p e r i l s of t h e wild. if g o r g e o u s n e s s is not

a matter of rtloment w i t h him, neither, when that is s u i t a k l e to I

t h e s i t u a t i o n , i s asceticism- Raving Gawain s l e e p i n h i s i r o o s ,

W o n y g h t e z then innoghef f (730) , t h e p o e t s p e a k s uith n o b l e

u n d e r s t a t e ~ e n t , Gawain es b a t t l e s w i t h e t a i n s , wodwoses and

dragons , t h o s e f i e r c e s t caf romance monsters, are **to tore f o r t o

te l le of the t e r t h e dole" , (7 1 9 ) These e n c o u n t e r s , u n d e r s t o o d and

iaanageable b u t still "per71 and payne a n d plytes f u l hardet* (733)

b l i n d Gawa in9s judgmen L H i s relief a t e s c a p i n g weather and

monsters incapacitates hiiu ntuch as the energy h e w i l l b e ' f o rced

t o put i n t o e s c a p i n g t h e l a d y ' s wiles w i l l b l i n d him t o the

dangers of a c c e p t i n g t h e g r e e n girdle, Gawain 's u rgency to end

his t r a v a i l s - d o f i n d somewhere to h e a r mass--cause h i ~ t o be

bedazz l ed a t Z h e s p e c t a c l e o f E e r t i f a k l s l u x u r i a u s new castle-

T h i s b e d a z z l e ~ e n t r u n s very deep, T r e e s from t h e s a n e stand of

o a k s t h a t moments before a p p e a r e d of a p i e c e w i t h t h e menacing

forest (743-745) are now %oghez/Of mony kore lych b o l e (766) ** and

even mschyre okez(772)m, T h e e x h a u s t i o n and t h a n k f u l n e s s f o r any

" h e r b e r m t h a t c a n p roduce t h i s a c t u a l change i n p e r c e p t i o n c a n

a l s o p r o d u c e a n u n r e l i a b l e judgment of the c a s t l e Itsef f . a * .

~ * P s a r s a l l e s comment t h a t the p o e t is c o n c e r n e d not t o tell what t h e cas t le o a k s r e a l l y looked l i k e b u t t o u s e a d e s c r i p t i v e d e t a i l t o a m p l i f y G a w a i n t s f e e L i n g s s u g g e s t s t h e i d e a of a r e a d i n g of this k i n d , "Rhetorical D e s c r i c t i o in Sir GawaQ

Gawain8s first gli~pse o f the castle is s t a r t l i n g not o n l y

because it comes a s t h e i m m e d i a t e r e s p o n s e t o p r a y e r , but a l s o

b e c a u s e i t is overdone , T h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e castle b e g i n s

with several l i n e s t h a t e a p h a s i z e d e t a i l s less t h a n o v e r a l l

en to t i ona f r e a c t i o n s . I t is d o n e " i n the test l a n e (790) ". T h e

k n i g h t has n e v e r seen "a better b a r b i c a n t t ( 7 9 3 ) , As h i s eye moves

i nward , G a w a i n r e m a r k s with a p p r o v a l d e t a i l s t h e hearer

u n d e r s t a n d s a s an a r c h i t e c t u r a l o v e r d r a w i n g , a m i x t u r e of too

ntany a n d t o o f l a s h y f e a t u r e s . J u s t a s C h a u c e r sholss t h e Franklin

open for by d r a w i n g h i n a s

u n p a r a l l e l e d i n w e a l t h and taske, s o t h e Gawain poe t h a s

p r o d u c e d a cast le t h a t , k e c a u s e it is l a v i s h i n e v e r y d e t a i l ,

some o f them quite u n n e c e s s a r y , i s d i s t n r b i n g ,

T o u r e s t e l d e d by twene , trochet f u l t h i k , F a y r e fylfolez t h a t f yghed , and ferlply lung, With coraon coprounes c r a f tply sf eye, Cha lkwhy t chymnees ther ches h e i n n o g h e vpon baste1 rouez, t h a t b l e n k e d f u l q u y t e ; S c laonp gynalrle p a p t e t watz poud red a y q u e r e , That pared o u t of papure p u r e l y h i t semed,

(7958f)

S e v e r a l v e r b a l f e a t u r e s contribute t o the i m p r e s s i o n o f

e x t r a v a g a n c e , No Z e a t n r e is s o unigue a s t o be i n d i v i d u a l l y

d e s c r i b e d ; n o t h i n g i s used i n s u c h n i g g a r d l y f a s h i o n a s to b e

c o u n t e d , T h e r e ate a large number of d e t a i l s w h i c h seen t o be

p u r e l y d e c o r a t i v e , w i t h no f u n c t i o n , f i l i a l e s , c o r v e n cggrounes

and many p i n a c f e pen t e : aroong them, T h i s i s i n i t s e l f s u i t a b l e

for t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f e l e g a n t f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y houses, a s

B a r g a r e t %Zood*s The E n q l i s h M e d i a e v a l Ffofl~e shous, B

p i c t u r e s q u e element i n r o o f s was c o n s i d e r e d d e s i r a b l e , F i l e a l s

had a t o n e time been f u n c t i o c a l , t h o u g h d e c o r a t i v e , smoke v e n t s ,

TBey had by now b e c u a e v e n t l e s s . The d e s c r i p t i o n of B e r t i l a k ' s

h o u s e u s e s more v e r b a l e n e r g y than is n e c e s s a r y fo r a

d e s c r i p t i v e p r o c e s s , Bord o r i g i n s f r e q u e n t l y s u g g e s t -the newness

o r impermanence , or t h e p r o c e s s o f c o n s t r u c t i o n , o r t h e

o v e r - l u x u r i a n c e of t h e castle, t cTe ldednmeans p i t c h e d , a s of

Sen ts, s u g g e s t i n g i mpernanence , n T r o c h e t f a 1 t h i c k e f i is a

m e t a p h o r i c tera b a s e d on the p o i n t s of a n t l e r s . W i l d n e s s is

s u g g e s t e d , C c r n s t r u c t i o n , t h e work o f h a n d s , is s u g g e s t e d i n

" c r a f t y l y s l e g h e n , S e v e r a l d e s c r i p t i o n s which c o u l d h a v e beer,

p r e s e n t e d a s v e r b l e s s a n d s t a t i c a re g r a t u i t o u s l y e n e r g e t i c ;

* f y l y o l e z t h a t f y g h e d m ; "chyianees t h e r c h e s hen, T h e r e a r e t'so

mory p y n a k l e m t h a t t h e y a r e i * p o n d r e d m w i t h a l i b e r a l hand. The

word m c l a n b r e d m a p p e a r s t o have Bad t w o s e p a r a t e Eaeanings f r o m

two e t y ~ o l o g i e s , g i v i n g a p u n n i n g r e s u l t , The p o s s i b l e Old Norse

f o r @ & l a m b r a gives t h e m i d d l e E n g l i s h ~ e a n i n g c l u s t e r o r squeeze

together, T h e s e c o n d mean ing is t h e f a n i l i a r "climb i n a n

e n e r g e t i c u n g a i n l y f a s h i o n " , The word s o c o n s i d e r e d s u l a m a r i z e s

t h e r o u g h v i t a l i k y a s s o c i a t e d , through h i s castle, w i t h

--*---*---------*-

Is London, P h o e n i x House, 1965, p298.

g * E t p m o l o g i e s are from A r c h i b a l d A. Hill, "The Green K n i g h t ' s Cast le a n d t h e T r a n s l a t o r s t t , CJL 17 (1972). p !YO- 158,

Thrupp s n g g e s t s t h a t mos t e l e g a n t c o n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e la te

f o u r t e e n t h century was o f manor h o c s e s , r a t h e r t h a n castles, A

new m a g n a t e wanting a castle would u s u a l l p buy a n o l d one, 17

Bobert C o c k c r a f t ' s W a s t 2 e N a u t d e s e r t : P o r t r a i t or P a t c h r o r k ? "

s u g g e s t s t h a t some castles were i n f ac t ~ t i l P built i n t h e

Gawain p o e t ' s p e r i o d , but t h a t t h e y were b u i l t f o r d e f e n s i v e

p u r p o s e s by n o b l e s w i t h d e c l i n i n g f o r t u n e s s e e k i n g t o f e n d of f

u n p a i d servants a n d o t h e r commercial eneznies, 1s I f e i t h e r is

right, B e s t i l a k l s cas t le , brand new and y e t o f f e r i n g a ve lcowe

t o a s t r a n g e k n i g h t , i s a n a c h r o n i s t i c , The r o o f s gleam whi te ,

T h e c h i a n e y s , i m p r o b a b l y i f t h e y f u n c t i o n t o v e n t s a o k e , a r e

a l s o u h i t e - The whole is t h e f r e s h c o s t l y w h i t e of a c a s t l e

" p a r e d o u t o f papureql , The word paper o c c u r s h e r e in o n e of i ts

f irst r e c o r d e d u s e s i n the l a n g u a g e . I t soba ably c o n n o t e d

r a r i t y , e x o t i c n e s s a n d novelty*

R e t a p h o r a n d a c t u a l d e s c r i p t i o n a re t h e r e f o r e a t o d d s ; a

new a n d v e l c o t n i n g castle i s a s s t r a n g e a s a p o c k e t - w a t c h uith a

d i g i t a l r e a d o u t , Other details may be d i s j o i n t e d a s well- Bcod

s a y s c h a l k - w h i t e c h i m n e p ~ were b u i l t of ~ i a s t e r of P a r i s ,

e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e r e i g n o f Edward 111, b u t t h e y vould c e s t a i a l y

not r e a a i n white w i t h use. Wood s u g g e s t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t .

s u c h e h i a n e y s ~ i g h t n o t have been f u n c t i c n a l - B e r t i l a k 3 s high

h a l l and fire "on f l e t m s u g g e s t s that his h a l l was of t h e sort

b u i l t t a l l i n order t h a t s ~ o k e f s c n t h e Glen fire in the centre

of the f lcor c i r c u l a t e up h i g h , not a t a l e v e l t o choke t h e

f a m i l y . T h i s was still t h e nora u n t i l the fifteenth c e n t n r y . A

wall f i r e p l a c e , unusual b u t n o t unheard of i n the f o u r t e e n t h

century, vented by means of a chimney. * g If BertiPak's chimaeys

are only shaas, t h e y may b e c h a l k - w h i t e t h rough l a c k of use. 2 0

Cockcraft finds t h e h o n s e strange i n many ways. B h i l e a t

first impression it is f o r t i f i e d , h i s a n a l y s i s s u g g e s t s t h e

f o r t i f i c a t i o n does not ex tend through the c o n s t r u c t i o n , so t h a t

it appears to be stouter and more i ~ p r e g n a b f e than it is* Re i s

unhappy a t l e n g t h a b o u t the d i f f i c u l t y of v i s u a l i z i n g t h e castle

in a l l its details; h e has trouble t h i n k i n g of a n angle from

which one ought to be able to see a l l the details that Gawain is

described a s seeing as he pauses at the entrance to the

clearing. He is unhappy at the poet's s t a t e n e n t t h a t w h i l e

Ganain h a s to l o o k up at the c a s t l e , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t it is on a

aound or the s i d e of a m u n t a i n , i t s e a r t h e n m a t would seen t o

r e q u i r e that it contain water at the t o p of a promontory . This

s u s p e n d s t h e laws of p h y s i c s , C o c k c r a f t e v e n t u a l l y satisfies

himself t h a t a l o c a t i o n on a h i l l o c k at t h e base of a mountaip

**Note, h o w e v e r , t h a t Gawain's room h a s a chimney which is d e f i n i t e l y f u n c t i o n a l ; see 1,895.

l a i g h t e x p l a i n t h e moat, and he is ab le tc; e n v i s i o n one angle

f ro@ v h i c h G a n a i n m i g h t te able t o see t h e d e t a i l s h e i s

desc r ibed as s e e i n g . Houever , t h e r e is a g r e a t deal o f a n x i o u s

s t r a i n f o r Cockcraft i n so c o n c l u d i n g , a n d t h e a n a l y s i s is as a

result n o t a l t o g e t h e r c o n v i o c i n g - R a t h e r , the a n a l y s i s a d d s R . L I

weight t o my oun belief that the cast le is i n d e e d meant t o be a

p a t c h w o r k of i n c o h e r e n t f e a t u r e s ,

I n s i d e , Gawain h a s h i s own roo@. U n t i l t h e fifteenth

c e n t u r y g e n e r a l l y o n l y the owner of t h e h o u s e Dad h i s own r o o i ~ ,

2 % ~ a w a i n ' s room is e l e g a n t :

[ B u r n e z j b r o g h t hym t o a b r y g h t b o u r e , t h e r beddyng watz n o b l e ,

O f c o r t y n e s o f c l e n e s y l k vpth cler g o l d e h e a ~ e s , And couertorez ful c u r i o u s w i t h cornlych p a n e z O f b r y g h t b l a u n n e r aboue , enbrauded b i s y d e z , R n d e l e z r e n n a n d e o n r o p e z , r e d p l a e r y n g e z , T a p i t e z t y g h t t o t h e woghe o f t u l y a n d tars, And u n d e r fete, on t h e f l e t , of f o l y a a d e s u t e ,

(853f f)

G a w a i n t s bedchamber is d e c o r a t e d a s well a s was a b e d s t e a d v h i c h

a p p e a r s i n S i r R i c h a r d S c r o p e t s w i l l , 22 T h i s Was e m b r o i d e r e d

v e l v e t , w i t h four s i d e s of a r r a s w i t h f o u r m t c h i n g t a p e s t r i e s ,

G a n a i n t s bed h a s a l s o v a r i o u s t o u c h e s of the n e w f a n g l e d . H i s

b e d c u r t a i n s a re c a u g h t i n g o l d r i n g s a n d run a l o n g r o p e s ; h i s

e l a f r r o i d e r i e s are i n t e r e s t i n g a n d ncvel, His f l o o r , n n u s u a l fo r

22 Vood, p403. Scrope was a well -known a r r i v i s t e k n i g h t of t h e R i c a r d i a n p e r i o d -

t h e p e r i o d , i s carpeted-2s F i n a l l y , Gawain h a s a window capable

of b e i n g c p e n e d 11734). P o s s i b l y 1% is a a d e of g l a s s s i n c e the

l a d y t e ~ l a r k s os? how c l e a r t h e d a y is, a n d Gawain nJ.urkkez quyl

the d a y l y g h t l emed on t h e wowes(ll80J **, N e i t h e r o f these

f e a t u r e s was u n h e a r d o f , b u t both were still v e r y Iuxurious, 2 *

By coginon c o n s e n t of the critics, the t h i r d f i t t of

GanaTn a n d t h e Green K ~ i g h a : b e l o n g s t o t h e bedrooat, This is 7- -u .II.- 7- .I---

u n d e r s t a n d a b l e ; t h e d e l i c a t e v e n e r y o f t h e l a d y i s more

o b v i o u s l y v i t a l i n p l o t terms a n d more o b v i o u s l y d e l i c i o ~ s t h a n

t h e o ther sort of vewery p r a c t i s e d d u r i n g this f i t t by B e r t i l a k ,

Commenta to rs o n t h e h u n t i a g s c e n e s s o m e t i a e s hope to f i n d

t h e m a t i c p a r a l l e l s w i t h t h e bedroom s c e n e s ; c thers are s a t i s f i e d

t o n o t e that a n o r i g i n a l a u d i e n c e sa ight well enjoy t h e h n n t i n g

scenes w i t h o r w i t h o u t thematic r e l e v a n c e , 2s However, t h e poe t

seems a l s o t o h a v e been u s i n g t h i s a r c h - a r i s t o c r a t i c sport t o

nndercnt B e s t i l a k ' s a p p e a r a n c e of s a v o i r - v i v r e , T h e first

hunting manual. was n o t t r a n s l a t e d i n t o English from F r e n c h u n t i l

t h e e a r l y f i f t e e n t h c e z t u r y , T h i s i n i tself is, of c o u r s e , a

clear i n d i c a t i o n that t h e h u n t i n g manua l s were meant f o r an

aris tocrat ic , n o t a b o u r g e o i s , a u d i e n c e , T h i s f i r s t t r a n ~ l a t e d

a V h e t h i r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y h n n t i n g a a n u a l & Chace dou Ceef says tha-t. t h e s p o r t is s o p r i n c e l y t h a t k i n g , c o u n t or even Gamin would b e honour& for p r a c t i s i n g it. Marcelle Th iebaux , "The HedievaZ Chase tq , Spec U2 {1967) , ~ 2 6 5 .

m a n u a l was Gastog t o a t e de P o i x ' l a t e f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y L i v r e

de C h a s s e , t h e o r i g i n of a l l l a t e r E n g l i s h h u n t i n g manuals a n d - r e a s o n a b l y l i k e l y t o h a v e b e e n a v a i l a b l e i n t h e Gawain pcetis

time. F a i l i n g evidence to t h e c o n t r a r y , i t @ a n 5e assu~ed t h e

L i v ~ e & g m g is a v a l i d point cf c o m p a r i s o n for B e r t i l a k r s

h u n t i n g s c e n e s . 26 T h e t r a n s l a t i o n was done i n 1406 by Edward

Duke of P o r k , uho c a l l e d h i s work &aster gf Game-z? Its c r o l o g u e

shows t h a t h i g h claims were made for h u n t i n g , T h i s s p o r t is lato

e v e r y gentle h e a r t aost d i s p o r t f u l of a l l g a r n e ~ - ~ ' 2 % It k e e p s a

man from i d l e n e s s p r e v e n t i n g him from v l a b i d t i n g f i n his bed o r

i n h i s chamber , a t h i n g which d r a weth aen t o i m a g i n a t i o n s of

f l e s h l y l u s t a n d p l e a ~ u r e - ~ z * The fact that G a w a i n q s p a s s i v e

morn ing had more d a n g e r s k h a n had a b r i s k g a l l o p was n o t , t h e n ,

u n i q u e t o t h e p o e t a s p e r c e p t i o n ,

For a n a r r i v i s t e work ing h a r d a t p l a y i n g t h e lord o f t h e

manor, t h e c h a s e o f f e r s o p p o r t u n i t i e s f of u n f o r t u n a t e s o c i a l

blunder. Gawain, l e f t behind i n h i s b e d , d o e s rrot see t h e s e ; t h e

r e a d e r a l o n e has t h i s i n s i g h t i n t o B e r t i l a k ' s character-

B e r t i l a k is master i n what a p p e a r s t o b e a p r i v a t e g a a e p a r k ,

T h i s is i n d i c a t e d b y t h e f a c t he is t h e one w i t h t h e r i g h t t o

-*-----**--------

~ * A S Norman D a v i s s u g g e s t s a t p106,

d e c r e e management t e c h n i q u e s :

,,,the fre l o r d e h a d e d e f e n d e i n f e r ~ y s o u n t p e That ther schu3.de n o non aeue t o t h e sale dere-

(1 157-1158)

This is, accordicg to RasP,ez G a ~ e , appropriate; male deer are

s h o t i n summer c n l y , HooJever, B e r t i l a k may b e a l i t t l e l a c k i n g

i n p e r n i t t i n g t h e h u n t i n g of the b o a r a t t h i s s e a s o n ; master of G a m e s a y s t h e s e a s o n i s o n l y Holy Cross day i n September t o t h e 7-

F e a s t of S t , Rodrew, Bovember 3 0 - 3 0 In Gawain and t_hg Green

Knig& t h e d e e r is broken, but it is g u e s t i o n a b l e vhethes the - e l a b o r a t e ceremony of t h e b r e a k i n g of t h e deer was meant t o

a p p l y t o f e m a l e d e e r , and w h e t h e r in f ac t t h e h u n t i n g of fesale

d e e r is a n aris tocrat ic e x p l o i t o f t h e same calibre as s t a g

h u n t i n g - T h e manuals a l l d e s c r i b e t h e h u n t i n g and b r e a k i n g of

t h e s t a g - " '

The extent to which Bertilak's hunt is o u t of tune k i t h

prescribed aristocratic n o t i o n s of proper cereiftony i s shewn,

more than by a c t u a l b e h a v i o u r , by n a r r a t i v e wethod. Hunting is

supposed to be a n a r t ceremonial i n e v e r y step, In Sir s a w a h

and t h e G r e e n Knight the b r e a k i n g o f the deer is f u l l y _U - -- -- described, and t h e p o e t g i v e s great a t t e n t i o n t o t e c h n i c a l

t e x m i n o l o g p , 32

Use of such precise v o c a b u f a r y g a v e T r i s t a n a g r e a t d e a l of

preskige i n a f o r e i g n ccust vhere h e was unknoun, so t h a t h e was

marked as coming froa g e n t l e blood- The French Treeor 9 V e n e r i e

quotes t h i s ep i sode t o shov the importance of b e i n g aSle t o name

parts. 33

/ I n sir s w a i n %_he Green Knight o n e sees a n u n d e r c u t t i n g

of t h e ar is tocrat ic c e r e m o n y and B e s o r e throngh t h e n o i s e , row

a n d c o n f u s i o n of the hunt :

T h e hindez sere h a l d e n i n with h a y ? a n d war3 T h e d o e s d r y u e n wyth g r e t dyn t o t h e d e p e s iadez; T h e r myghL son se, a s t h a p s l y p t e , s l e n t y n g of arwes- A t u c h e wende v n d e r wande rapped a flone- T h a t b i g l y b o t e o n t h e b r o u n w i t h f u l brode heaez, What! t h e y Dragen , a n d b l e d e n , fii fsonkkez t h a y deyen,..,

(1 t 5 8 f f )

The s c e n e gives B o r e t h e i m p r e s s i o n of a melee t h a n it s h o u l d ,

T h e n o i s e of t h e h o r n s a n d t h e d i r t of t h e men create the

a t m o s p h e r e of a s l a u g h t e s h o u s e . J * Easter pf m= shows t e n steps

i n t h e h u n t o n l y t h e l a s t of which is t h e b r e a k i n g of t h e d e e r

a n d t h e f e e d i n g of the hounds, S e v e r a l s t e p s h a v e i n Gawaia

-----*---*------*-

32 { c e n t ?d ) SJThiebaux, ~ 2 6 1 ; D a v i s , p l l l , B o v e v e r , i n C h r e t i e n ' s !X&st& the e p i s o d e is e s s e n t i a l l y a f u n n y o n e , a s Cosman p o i n t s o u t , T r i s t a n t s tutor h a s t r a i n e d t h e h e r o rigorously i n t h e naming of p a r t s , b u t when h e comes t o d o t h e a c t u a l breaking of t h e c a r c a s s , he is too young and small t o budge the d e e r ,

34 T h e r e i s i n t h e f a z g u a g e a s l i g h t f o r e t a s t e o f the r o l l e d - u p s l e e v e s a t m o s p h e r e with which the g r e e n c x e a t u r e will l a t e x sharpen his axe for G a m i n :

, # h a t ! h i t v h a r r e d a n d w h e t t e , a s water a t a a u l n e ; What? h i t r u s c h e d and ronge, r a u t h e t o here,

1220 3-2204)

and the Green Knig49 been o m i t t e d or used i n p a r o d i c form o n l y , c- -- --- - F o r example , ir, --- Hastes -- o f -I--U Game t h e s t a g i s vaha rboured a t dawn

w i t h a dog; t h e r e i s no sign of t h i s ceremony i n _S& awpz& SKJ

the Green Knight- 3 5 I n s t e a d , t h i s p o e t casts + h e e n t i r e pack

loose p e l l - m e l l w i t h o u t a p p a r e n t ce remony o r , i n d e e d , s t r a t e g y ,

I n s t e a d of a c e r e a o n i a l g a t h e r i n g of t h e hunting p a r t y i n the

forest f o r an e l e g a n t atcal a t w h i c h t h e master h u n t s w i n must

d e s c r i b e e x a c t l y t h e q u a r r y , we see B e r t i l a k n e t e a sop

h a s t i l y f l l 3 5 ) n- I n Pfas2:er qf Ga@e o n e sees t h e r u s e s o f a s t a g

e s c a p i n g h i s h u n t e r , a ~ d t h e s t r a t e g y by which the h u n t e r

f i n a l l y o u t w i t s t h i s worthy opponent .36 I n s& =?;qG &&g

Green Knicibt t h e r e is ae re ly a s l a u g h t e r , T h e animals are n o t P

p r e s e n t e d a s v a l i a n t o p p o n e n t s b u t as v i c t i n s :

A t t h e f y r s t quethe of t h e quest quaked t h e wylde; Der d r o f i n t h e d a l e , doted for drede , , , ,

(1 l S O - l l 5 t )

The hunt is so p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s c r i b e d t h a t t h e r e a d e r i s i n v i t e d

to look f o r f l a w s a n d lack of mesure. I n general term, the

e n e r g y w i t h which both t h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e and B e r t i l a k a t t a c k

e v e r y problem and e v e r y game is d u p l i c a t e d ia the h u n t i n g

s c e n e s ,

fmprobak ly , g i v e n t h a t t h e s c e n e "kes p l a c e i n midwin t e r ,

six months from g r e a s e - t i m e , t h e d e e r a l l have least two fingers

36 Thiebaux ~268; Hast21 of Game 1. 390/138-

of grease, The emphasis i n t h e poem o n t h i s abundance suggests

t h a t t h e l a r d e r is t h e p r i m a r y r e a s o n f o r t h e h u n t , a n d n o t t r u e

s p o r t , T h e a b u n d a n c e m i g h t h a v e s t r u c k t h e o r i g i n a l a u d i e n c e as

g r o s s and ~ o i c t l e s s e x c e s s , l i k e Bi r ,ne r a s house beams bending a t

the roof f r o m t h e w e i g h t of t h e meat h a n g i n g t h e r e - Further,

t h e r e is no sense of p r i o r i t y among the h u n t e x s . E e r t i l a k i s n o t

s i n g l e d o u t a s t e i n g t h e best of them; t h e c h a s e is p e c u l i a r l y

denrocratic, H i s hunters, l i k e h i s s e r v a n t s , a p p e a s t o h a v e many

p r i v i l e g e s , a s t h o u g h B e r t i l a k were u n a b l e t o e s t a b l i s h p r o p e r

c o n t r o l a n d soc ia l d i s t a n c e - Thus t o a f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y

audience it aay well h a v e a p p e a r e d t h a t B e r t i l a k p r a c t i c e s t h e

h u n t as one who h a s l e a r n e d a few of i ts more o b v i o u s features,

w i t h o u t r e a l l y a b s o r b i n g the s u b s t a n c e o f its g e n t i l i t y .

A f u r t h e r c l n e t o B e r t i l a k ' s l a c k of h i g h p a r e n t a g e is t h a t

h e has a m e n t a l set, a n d s o m e t i n e s a v o c a b u l a r y , s u i t a b l e t o a

l a w y e r o r a n e n t r e p r e n e u r , The f irst i s a t i ts clearest w h i l e h e

still a p p e a r s as the g r e e n c r e a t u r e , i n the b e h e a d i n g scene,

when the r u l e s fo r the gomen are b e i n g hammered o u t . He n e e d s t o

be a s s u r e d that n o t h i n g h a s b e e n l e f t o u t , nothing left t o

chance. H e asserts t h a t t h e p a r t n e r ix! ' the game, whoever it Bay

be, may k e e p t h e qiserne : "1 q u i t - c h i m e hit f o r e u e r (193) ' a ,

Gawain h a v i n g a c c e p t e d t ke c h a l l e n g e , t h e c r e a t u r e e l a b o r a t e l y .

r e v i e w s t h e ternas of t h e a g r e e m e n t :

- 'Refourme we oufe forwardes, er we ferre p a s s e * F y r s t I e t h e t h e , h a t h e 2 , how t h a t thou h a t t e s T h a t thou me te l fe t r u l y , a s I t r y s t may- *

F u r t h e r , h e says:

, - , t h o u h a t z redily r e h e r s e d , bi r e s o u n f u l t r u e , C l a n l y a l 3 e c o u e c a u n t that I t h e k y n g e asked, Saf t h a t t h o u schal, s i k e s me, segge, bi t h i trawthe, T h a t t h o u s c h a Z s e e k m e thiself, where-so t h o u hopes I may be f u n d e vpon f o l d e , and f o c h t h e s u c h wages As t h o u defes me t o - d a y b i f o r e t h i s d o u t h e r y c h e , '

(392f f)

T h e m e r c a n t i l e metaphoh o f wages i s n o t e d - However, several of

t h e s e terms are the a r g o t of law: c o u e n a u n l , s i k e y , f o r u a r d e ~ ~

gait-claime. More i a p o r t a n t i s t h e l a w y e r l y a t t i t u d e s u g g e s t e d

by t h e r e p e t i t i o n and for l t la l p l e d g e , T o t h e l a w y e r , every

e v e n t u a l i t y must be p r e d i c t e d and f o r m a l l y p l a n n e d for , Be h a s

n o f a i t h t h a t t h e kynde of a knight g u a r a n t e e s h i s t r u t h t o t h e

s p i r i t of t h e c h a l l e n g e w i t h o u t s u c h formal a s s u r a n c e s ,

The p r e v a i l i n g a t t i t u d e toward t h e ~ r a c t i c e of law, like

t h e image of t h e knight, changed during the l a t e m i d d l e a g e s , By

the f i f t e e n t h c e n t u r y l a k , a t least l a s l d law, was c o n s i d e r e d a

nseful s t u d y f o r t h e sons of t h e n o b i l i t y - 3 7 I n t h e l a t e

f o x l r t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h i s p e r c e p t i o n had a p ~ a r e n t l y n o t y e t

d e v e l o p e d , T h r u ~ p r e p o r t s t h a t from the p o i n t of v iew of t h e

n o b i l i t y , a lawyer was a u t o m a t i c a f l y a c o m o n e r , No a a n of

r e a l l y good b i r t h would b e c o a e a man of law, s h e s a y s , c i t i n g a

R i c a r d i a n c o u r t o f c h i v a l r y i n which S i r B i c h a r d S c r o p e was

d i s p a r a g e d ; h e was s a i d to be "no g e n t l e m a n , b e c a u s e h e was a

j u s t i c e of the kingfl ,3a The m e r c h a n t s h a d r e a l i z e d froa a anch

earlier d a t e t h e v a l u e of knowing a t leas t t h e law t h a t

p e r t a i n e d t o t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n , a s a t h i r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y a d v i c e to

a young m e r c h a n t shows, The m e r c h a n t is a d v i s e d to study t h e law

so t h a t in h i s nercantife d e a l i n g s h e w i l l be a b l e t o plead

according to l aw when he h a s a suit a g a i n s t a n o t h e r man cf h i s

own class, 3 9

B e r t i l a k s s a e r c a n t i l e mental set s h o w s a g a i n i n h i s

p r o g o s a l f o r and e x e c u t i o n of t h e exchange of winnings game,

Once it is agreed t h a t Gawain w i l l b e a guest a t t h e castle f o r

t h r e e days, h e p r o p e r l y p u t s h i m s e l f at h i s host's d i s p o s a l ,

asserting t h a t h e will "at y o u r w y l l e / D o w e l l e , a n d e l l e z d o g u a t

y e d e m e n ( l 0 8 2 ) f l W Ber t i f ak shows more e x u l t a t i o n t h a n is

j u s t i f i e d by a s imple game:

*Ye han demed to d o t h e dede that I k i d d e ; Wy3. y e h a l d e t h i s hes h e r e a t t h y s uaez?*

(1 08 9- 10901

L i k e t h e Greea K n i g h t i n Camelot Bertilak i s insensitive to t h a t

natura l knowing which p e r m i t s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s arnong k n i g h t s

w i t h o u t t h e seed f o r vesba l e m p h a s i s , T h e r u l e s o f t h e exchange

of w i n n i n g s game are l a i d down u n i l a t e r a l l y by Ber t i l ak , A s i n

t h e b e h e a d i n g game, t h e p r o p o s a l seems tc the u n s u s p i c i o u s eye

a l l i n G a w a i n ' s f a v o u r , It w i l l o n l y be i n a c t u a l execution .

clear w h a t %he c o n d i t i o n s a n d costs are:

Ye s c b a l l e n g e i n your lofte, a n d lyghs i n y o u r ese To-morn quyle t h e messepuy2e, and t o mete uende When ye wyl, wyth my wyf, t h a t wyth yon s c h a l s i t t e And contfors: you w i t h c o q a y n y , ti1 I t o c o f t torn@..,,

f 1 0 9 6 f f )

Two r e a d i n g s of t h e s y n t a x see@ p o s s i b l e , one of them p e r i l o u s ,

Is Gawain s i a p l y t o e a 4 h i s weal with the wife, o r t o g o i n t o

b r e a k f a s t w i t h h e r ? I f the l a t t e r , it would seea Gana in s i g h t

h a v e known s h e would be c o m f o r t i n g h i m w i t h company in h i s own

l a f t while h e l a p a t h i s ease, B e r t i l a k c a n n o t be a c c u s e d o f

h a v i n g n o t met a merchan t" s i n i a u m e t h i c a l s t a n d a r d s ; t h e f i n e

p r i n t is there to read, i f C a n a i n w i l l -

F o r the p u r p o s e s of p l o t and s e n t e n c e i t is clear why

B e r t i l a k is rlaad~ t o go hunting, c o n v e n i e a t l y leaving his

a d u l t e r y - ~ i n d e d wife "he f r e e d o m of h i s r e c u p e r a t i n g g u e s t ' s

bedroom, The demands of p l o t a c c o u n t t o o for t h e f a c t t h a t

Gawain is d e s c r i b e d a s p h y s i c a l l y d e p l e t e d from h i s journey, s o

t h a t h i s lying i n bed w h i l e the h o s t h u n t s is a c c e p t e d a s

c r e d i b l e . B u t i f B e r t i l a k i s i a t e n d e d by the p o e t t o b e a

g e n u i n e c h a r a c t e r , and not silttply an o v e r l y w e l l - r e a l i s e d

c o n t r i v a n c e f o r t h e t e s t i n g o f G a v a i n ' s f i b r e , i t is l e s s

a p p a r e n t wha t B e r t i l a k ' s own p u r p o s e s i n the e x c h a n g e of

w i o n i r g s game are, T h i s i s t h e s e c c n d of t h r e e o c c a s i o n s oa -

which Gawain i s a v i c t i m b e c a u s e h i s c o d e of h o n o u r is

inadequate t o d e a l w i t h a s i t u a t i o n c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a

commonplace of the m e r c h a n t ' s w o r l d , t h e s e d u c t i v e sell, In t h e

F i r s t S t r o k e T o You b e h e a d i n g gaae, a s i n t h e Exchange of

Unequal U i n n i n g s game a n d the If You Won't Love Me a t L e a s t T a k e

This Token i n t e r c h a n g e , t h e b a r g a i n s s h o u l d have looked t o o good

f o r Gawain, If h e had a merchan tqs s h a r p n e s s , h e s h o u l d

e v e n t u a l l y h a v e r e c o g n i s e d t h e p a t t e r n and been warned, Z i v i n g

by t h e p e n t a n g l e v i r t u e s , h e has n o such s e l f - p r e s e r v i n g a b i l i t y

t o l e a r n by e x p e r i e n c e . R e a p p e a r s , l i k e a n g e l s , t o h a v e no need

for o r c a p a c i t y for l e a r n i n g ,

It i s p o s s i b l e to r e a d t h e exchange game { a l o n g n i & h the

behead ing b a r g a i n a n d t h e l o v e t o k e n b a r g a i n ) a s p a r t a n d p a r c e l

of Gawain's lesson, B r i e f l y s t a t e d , t h a t l e s s o n , d e v a s t a t i n g t o

t h e p a s a d i g a a t i c i m a g i n a t i o n , is t h a t i n human v i r t u e s a n d human

e x p e r i e n c e , n o t h i n g is a b s o l u t e l y good. B g o a l o r a t t r i b u t e nust

be v a l u e d i n r e l a t i v e terms, a n d judged d e s i r a b l e o r u n d e s i r a b l e

a c c o r d i n g t o what must be s a c r i f i c e d t o a c h i e v e it, C ~ g 4 y s g i n

t h e s e n s e of a n a v i d we igh ing and measu r ing i s v i t a l , The game

is o f f e r e d , p l a y e d a n d a n a l y z e d t h r e e times; Gana in h a s a chance

t o l e a r n t h a t to a c c e p t a p r o f f e r e d b a r g a i n w i t h o u t

u n d e r s t a n d i n g w h a t t h e t r a d i n g p a r t n e r h c p s t o g a i n i s t o make

a b l i n d promise , The s k i l l o f c h o o s i n g aaoog compet ing v a l u e s

may b e g i n w i t h making and p a y i n g for a p h y s i c a l b a r g a i n , yet

e v e n t u a l l y e x t e n d into t h e p h i f o s o p h i c a f and e t h i c a l a r e n a s . .

I f B e r t i l a k T s games a r e s e e n a s h a v i n g a t e a c h i n g

d imens ion , t h e r e a d e r nay r e c o g n i s e t h a t h i s i n s i s t e n c e cn

weighing r e l a t i v e v a l u e s , t hough h a v i n g an element of

s e l f - s e e k i n g , i s n o t s i m p l e aeanness- As a teaching mekhcd, t h e

game is subtle, and i n t h e j a r g o n of t w e n t i e t h c e r , t u r y

e d u c a t i o n , it will h a v e a l o n g closure time, Gawair t does n o t

u n d e r s t a n d e v e n t h a t h e is t a k i n g a lesscn a t t h e tine of t h e

game, and i f be e v e r u n d e r s t a n d s its full i m p l i c a t i o n s , it is

o n l y i n t h e f i n a l moments o f t h e poew. It is clear, h o w e v e r ,

t h a t t h e G r e e n ' s K n i g h t ' s l e s s o n c o u l a not h a v e s u c c e e d e d

w i t h o u t the e x c h a n g e o f winnir igs game, and t h u s B e r t i l a k a n d the

game p a r t i c i p a t e in the t e a c h i n g . In t h e e x c h a n g e scenes,

B e r t i l a k does not p u l l h i m s e l f out of h i s r o l e a s g a m e s p l a y e r t o

assuae a posture a s t e a c h e r o r c o m m e n t a t o r , A s a r e s u l t , it is

less a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e e x c h a n g e game h a s a t e a c h i n g f u n c t i o n

t h a n t h a t i t i s a way for B e r t i l a k t o demonstrate his k n i g h t l y

l a r g e s s e , o r a t least h i s p e r c e p t i o n crE w h a t l a r g e s s e is. when

t h e Green K n i g h t c l a a l l e n g e s G a w a i n ' s e x e c u t i o n of t h e b a s g a i e ,

h e d o e s so n o t on t h e b a s i s t h a t Gawain f l i r t e d w i t h h i s w i f e ,

b u t t h a t h e k e p t t h e green g i r d l e , which h e should h a v e t u r n e d

o v e r t o Bertifak a s a winning. S i n c e Gawain i s t o r e m a i n i n bed

i n t h e castle, it i s h a r d t o inaagine, w i t h o r w i t h o u t t h e

a t t e n t i o ~ s of t h e l a d y , what u i n n i n g s h e m i g h t e x p e c t t o make

t h a t are c a p a b l e of b e i n g passed a l o n g t o B e r t i l a k , Good

c o m ~ a n y , wi t t i o r w i t h o u t k i s s e s , or +he l i k e , a r e n o t

t r a n s f e r a b l e i n t h e i r essence, If t h e y were t r a n s f e r a b f e, they

a r e . 3 e r t i l a k ' s own g o o d s , a s h e points o u t i n t h e Green Chapel

s c e a e [ 23S8f f ) , B e r t i l a k ' s e x p e c t e d w i n n i n g s , b y c o n t r a s t , are

ansf

A

status

e r a b l e and a r e i n h i s g i f t .

p r i v a t e d e e r p a r k s u c h a s B e r t i l a k ' s was the supreme

symbo l o f t h e f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y * Game h u n t i n g was

p r e s e r v e d a s t h e spcrt of Landed gentry by such m e c h a n i s n s a s

t h e law of 7390 which made i l l e g a l the r u n n i n g of h u n t i n g packs

b y any l ayman who d i d n o t h a v e a good - s i zed h o l d i n g of land.*o

T h u s i n p r o m i s i n g Gawain t h e take frolrt a d a y ' s h u n t i n g i n

r e t u r n , i t ~ m l d seem, f o r n o t h i n g , Bertilak i s making a f ree

gift t h a t i s p a r t i c u l a r l y w e l l - c o n c e i v e d f rom t h e p i n t of v i e w

of ar is tocra t ic d i s p l a y , The giver shows that he is

i r r e p r o a c h a b l y fy% , To be e f f e c t i v e t h i s r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e

r e c e i v e r accep+ t h e g i f t astd afford t h e g i v e r the statns of

b e n e f a c t o r , ghen Gawaiz treats t h e l a d y ' s kiss as a winn ing , the

p a s s i n g o n of r ~ h i c h c o m p l e t e s an e x c h a n g f , there is a s e n s e i n

which h e g e % s t h e better o f B e s t i l a k - B e r t i l a k i s robbed of h i s

i n t e n t o f being m u n i f i c e n t , and g e t s i n s t e a d a r a t h e r bad

b a r g a i n . Bt this p o i n t , Bertilakr s b e h a v i o u r a p p r o a c h e s t h a t of

a t r a d e r v e r y i n t e r e s t e d , t h o u g h u n c o m f o r t a b l e a b o u t a d m i t t i n g

it, i n whether h i s b a r g a i n is good,

#hen o n t h e first of the t h r e e d a y s Bertilak passes o v e r to

Gawain his innurnera b l e d e e r , his v o c a b n l a r y o f payment and

p r i ce , a c c o r d and c o v e n a n t , i s o v e r r i d e n b y h i s r h e t o r i c a l -

q u e s t i o n s :

'How payez yow this play? Ha•’ I prys uonnen? Raue 1 t h r y u a n d e l y thonk t h u r g h n p c r a f t s e r u e d ? '

(1379- 1380)

T h e r e is smug s e l f - a p p r o v a l i n t h e t o n e , b u t if B e r t i l a k is

s a t i s f i e d w i t h , h i s OWXI largess, h e r a the r u n d e r c u t s it i r the

n e x t i n t e r c h a n g e . Gawain *s kiss, a s comely a s he c a n manage, is

no e q u a l b a r g a i n , t h e two a g r e e . Gawain refers t o t h e kiss as a

%hevisauncef i , The word means * t r a d e 8 a n d e u p h e a t i s t i c a l l y

* u s n r y 9 . T h e kiss i s not worth a 2 1 those fine f a t d e e r , and

B e r t i l a k r a t h e r i g n o b l y tries t o improve h i s b a r g a i n by

discovering p r u r i e n t l y whet h e r the kiss is from a p a r t i c u l a r l y

aeritorious source:

H i t may be s u c h h i t i s t h e better, a n d y e me bseue u o l d e Where y e wan t h i s i l k wele bi witte of y o r s e l u e n .

( 3333- 13 94)

Ganain ends by s t a a d i n g on h i s r i g h t s a s a t r a d e r ; no s u c h bonus

was c o n t r a c t e d for , h e a s s e r t s . B e f o r e bed, a s i ~ i l a f exchange

of w inn ings I s a r r a n g e d fo r the n e x t day, a g a i n i n t h e language

of t h e ~ a r k e t p l a c e :

And efte ir, h e r bolzrdpng t h a y b a y t h e n i n t h e rnorn T o fylle t h e same f o r w a r d f z t h a t h e y byfore maden: # a t c h a u n c e so b y t y d e z hor c h e u y s a u n c e t o chaunge , What nwez so t h a y none, at n a g h t qhen t h a y metten. Thay a c o r d e d o f t h e c o u e n a u n t e z b y f o r e t h e

c o u r t a f f e , , , . f 1404ff)

The second day, B e r t i l a k * ~ k i l l , one w i l d b o a r , is s t i l l .

e x c e l l e n t b u t less e x t r a v a g a n t t h a n t h e unnumbered deer of t h e

f i r s t day. Since Gawain is a b l e t o Turn o v e r two kisses, t h e

bargain h a s c o n s i d e r a b l y more equity t h a n the first day's,

B e r t i l a k n e v e r t h e l e s s cements t h a t a s a t r a d e r Gavain h a s great

promise :

T h e l o r d e s a y d e , * B i s a y n t C i l e , Y e ar t h e best t h a t I knowei Y e ben r y c h e i n a w h y l e , Such chaffer and y e drowe- *

f 16lrYff)

This c o n v e y s , n o t f r a n k a d m i r a z i o n a t Gauain 's b l a n d i n s i s t e n c e

t h a t he h a s met h i s terms, b u t , i n l a u g h i n g f a s h i o n , a n

a s s e r t i o n of t h e superiority of B e r t i l a k s s own largesse.

However, by g i v i n g s o c h p r o n i n e n c e t o the exchange , t h e p o e t

e m p h a s i z e s t h a t it is n a t u r a l for one s u c h a s B e r t i l a k t o have a

d e e p a n x i e t y o v e r t h e t r a n s a c t i o n e v e a of a ga&e,

On t h e t h i r d night, when Gawain c o n c e a l s from B e r t i l a k t h e

fact t h a t h e h a s e a r n e d t h e g r e e n girdle, h i s take h a s i ~ p r o v e d

t o three kisses, w h i l e Bertilak h a s caught nothing but a fox:

,.-I h a f h u n t e d al this day, and noght h a f I g e t e n Bot t h i s foule fox f e l l e - the fende haf t h e godez!- And t h a t i s ful pore f o r t o pay •’or e u c h e prys t h i n g e s As ye haf t h r y g h t me h e m t h r o , s u c h e thre cosses

SO gode.' f 1943ff)

a n l i k e the p r e v i o u s d a y s f game animals t h e fox is a c c o u n t e d

f o u l . It a p p e a r s t o s h a m B e r t i l a k e v e n t o p r e s e n t it t o Gawain;

t h e p o e t h a s him behave as though e v e n t h e t r i v i a l features of a

b a r g a i n must be kept . I f Gawain a d h e r e d t o t h i s e t h i c , he would

n o t t h i n k there was a n y g o s s i b l e e x c u s e for n o t presenting t h e

' s y a p l e i n h i t s e l f ' g r e e n g i r d l e , T h e host r e m a r k s t h a t unless

Gawain h a s p a i d too much for his kisses, h e ~ u s t have en joyed

c o n s u m m a t i n g t h e deal, ("Ye c a c h much sele/ I n c h e v i s a u n a e of

t h i s c h a f f e r , yif y e h a d good c h e p e z M 7938-1939)- H e i s n s i n g

t h e word c h = ~ g i n a n a m b i g u o u s f a s h i o n , Gawaia Raows t h i s , but

i s u n a w a r e t h a t B e r t i l a k a l s o knows, The p r i c e Gawain h a s p a i d

f o r escaping t h e l a d y m e r e l y w i t h k i s s e s , which are t o him mre

a d a n g e r t h a n a joy, i s h a v i n g a c c e p t e d , i n a manner h e w i l l

l a t e r calf c o v e t o t l s , a g r e e n g i r d l e which will n o t prove f i t for

t h e a d v e r t i s e d p u r p o s e of s a v i n g l i fe , ~ e r t i l a k w a n t s t o hea r

e v e r y word a b o u t t h e negotiations f o r the k i s s e s , G a n a i n

d e c l i n e s , s a y i n g "of t h e c h e p e n o c h a r g (7940) ", * 1 The p r a c t i c a l

au tco iae m u s t b~ that there i s n o e x c h a n g e , G a n a i n d o e s n c t pack

his winnings w i t h him on t h e way t o t h e Green C h a p e l ; tbe

a n i m a l s p r e s n m a b l y go i n h i s name t o t h e castle k i t c h e n s , B u t

t h e e a p h a s i s o n the t r a n s a c t i o n s of t h e game, for n h i c h B e r t i l a k

mus t t a k e c r e d i t as leader and h o s t , shows in him t h e c o ~ a e r c i a l

spirit t h a t h e , a s l o r d o f t h e atanor, is t r y i n g t o s u p p r e s s . The

jest of t h e f a s t t h r e e d a y s h a s d i s p l a y e d i n B e r t i l a k a keen

professional. i n t e r e s t i n the i a e c h a n i c s of m e r c a n t i l i s m , combined

with a n ambitior, t o be magnanimous a n d o b l i v i o u s t o self

i n t e r e s t , C h a r l e s M u s c a t i n e says t h a t o n e of t h e g r e a t s o u r c e s

of c o m i c i r o n y i n o u r l i t e r a t u r e h a s been:

, , , t h e l o n g c o n petition between g e n t i l i t y and materialism i n our b r e a s t , o r r a t h e r the l o n g masguexade i n which we h a v e t e n d e d t o p a s s o f f t h e e t h i c s of t rade, of o p p o r t u n i s m . ,.as C h r i s t i a n c h a r i t y , o r c o u r t 1 y

r-rT-rrr--rr-r-r-r

*%The pun i s merely modern,

n o b l e s s g , or as r e s t r a i n e d a n d r e f i n e d f e e l i n g , 4 2 - I n r e d u c i n g t o i m p l i c a t i o n the t e a c h i n g function of t h e exchange

s c e n e s while b r i n g i n g i n t o prominence t h e meaner s o c i a l e t r i v i n g

of fes*ilak, the p o e t allows h i s character wha* H a s e a t i n e m i g h t

d e s c r i b e as a f a i l e d masquerade, a n d which may af so be d e s c r i b e d

as t h a t m i x t a r e of mokives, imperfectly u n d e r s t o o d e v e n b y t h e

i n d i v i d n a l a c t o r , which marks p s y c h o l o g i c a l r e a l i s m ,

E e r t i l a k may n o t expect Gawain t o t r ea t h i s l a d y ' s k i s s e s

a s winn ings t o be p r e s e n t e d i n t h e e x c h a n g e game, H i s amaseaen t

when Ganain does i s n o t expla ined . . H e must, however, i n s e t t i n g

up the s e d u c t i o n s c e n e i n which h i s wife f i g u r e s a s s e d u c e r ,

know t h e r e w i l l be k i s s e s , ft is not, until t h e f i n a l fitt t h a t

t h e a u d i e n c e i s t o l d t h a t t h e l a d y h a s e n t i c e d Gawain o n the

i n s t r u c t i o n s of h e r husband, However, at t h e t h e t h e hunting

p a r t y i s a r r a n g e d , w i t h a l l B e r t i l a k ' s wen accompanying h i m , a

c e r t a i n obv i o u s n e s s of o p p o r t u n i t y exists, which the a u d i e n c e

s i g h t w e l l conclude o a s i n 3 e r t i l a b a s mind, I n naany f a b l i a u x ,

t h e h u s b a n d ' s i n d i c a t i o n t h a t he is about t o u n d e r t a k e a j o u r n e y

is a s i g n a l t o t h e wife t o b r i n g o n h e r l o v e r , * 3 In 5ii Gawain

and t h e G r e e n Kniqht i t is d i f f i c u l t no t t o b e l i e v e t h a t the I_ -- -I _L

o p p o r t u n i t y f o r s e d u c t i o n was s p e c i f i c a l l y i n B e r t i l a k l s mind-

*J@ C h e v a l i e r , 32 D a m e & Clerc i s a n example , I t is drawn f rom t h e se t o f f a b l i a u x P e r Nyksag c a l l s a c o c u b a t t u 22 c o n t e n t w h e r e t h e m o t i f of t h e h u s b a n d ' s t r i p is a c o n s t a n t ,

Xn r o n a n c e a l a d y e s coming t o a k a i g h t t s chamber bas a r o u t i n e l y

s e x u a l waning.

A p e r s o n h o p i n g t o j o i n a soc ia l g r o u p is n e c e s s a r i l y less

a n a r e thao the group's members of w h a t e v e r e v a s i o n s and

h y p o c r i s i e s e a y e x i s t , Unless Bertilak i s p r e s c i e n t - a n d h e is

not p r e s e n t e d a s such-- he cannot know t h a t Gawain w i l l pass t h e

c h a s t i t y p o r t i o n of h i s test, T h e r e f o r e B e r t i l a k must be a s s u ~ e d

t o h a v e taken the r i s k of b e i n g c u c k o l d e d , o r e v e n t o h a v e

i n v i t e d t h i s outcome,

The r o l e of t h e c u c k o l d is n o t o n e tfraf, c h a r a c t e r s i n

e i t h e r romance o r f a b l i a u c a n b e s a i d t o a c c e p t l i g h t l y , The

shame of being c n c k o l d e d i s s o p o w e r f u l t h a t s i t u a t i o n s o n l y

f a i n t l y similar to t h a t of h a v i ~ g an a d u l t e r o u s wife bear much

t h e same s t i g n a , I n C h r e t i e n ' s L a n c e l o t a damse l is a b o u t t o be

r a p ~ d , and L a n c e l o t is ashaaed and a n g e r e d to see t h e b e g i n n i n g

of t h i s a s s a u l t t h o u g h q*it is not jealousy h e feels, nor w i l l he

be made a cuckold b y him"," S i n c e it is c l e a r t h a t t h i s is a n

unknown damsel, not a wi fe , it seenis an o v e r s t a t e m e n t of t h e

o b v i o n s to ment ion c u c k o l d r y u n l e s s i t c a n occur when a woman

related t o t h e threatened man i n ways o t h e r t h a n marriage is

i n v o l v e d , I n Chre ' t i en ' s P e r c e v a l Gawain i s l e f t b y G u i g a l a b r e s i l s

a t a c a s t l e w i t h h i s sister, and t h e y make l o v e , T h e b r o t h e r i s

dishoaoured d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h e s ister is n o pqgeue ; it

becomes n e c e s s a r y f o r a wise vavasos t o d e f l e c t t h e b r o t h e r ' s

w r a t h b y s e n d i n g Gawain o f f o n a q u e s t p e r i l o u s . *s The

b r o t h e r ' s a n g u i s h i s not c a l l e d a c u c h o l d g s b u t i t i s treated a s

coming f rom t h e same e m t i o n a l s o u r c e . ft would a p p e a r that a

Pan may b e shamed by a n o t h e r man's s e x u a l s u c c e s s w i t h wcmen n o t

t h e victiln's w i f e who are w i t h i n h i s k e n or s u p p o s e d c o n t r o l , Im

the A l l i t e r a t i v e Host=, Gawain ca l l s t h e Rottian e n p e r o r

" c u k e w a l d e withe c r o u n e n * 6 as p a r t of a g e n e r a l c u r s e i n which

h e is sa id t o be c h o o s i n g t h e norst epithets h e knows of, I n

Ealory, A r t h u r is o n l y a b l e t o avoid p n n i s h i n g t h e q u e e n and

L a n c e l o t a s l o n g a s h e i s able not B o knew f o r s u r e a b o u t t h e i r

a d u l t e r y . T h i s I s a r a re a n d l a t e case of a h u s b a n d ' s c l o s i n g

eyes to o r o t h e r w i s e a c c e p t i n g h i s ro le as c u c k o l d , B r s h r r is

there aware t h a t much more t h a n h i s m a r r i a g e o r his s e l f - r e s p e c t

w i l l f o u n d e r if h e is forced t o act- I n the fabliaux, t h e r e i s

one t h e m e w h i c h a p p e a r s t o p r e s e n t a n a c c e p t i n g c u c k o l d but

a c t u a l l y does cot. T h i s is the t h e m e Per Wykrog c a l l s 'the

c u c k o l d b e a t e n and c o n t e n t t , Here, the cucJco3.d i~ c o n t e n t only

b e c a u s e , h a v i n g b e e n beaten b y h i s wife w h i l e d i s g u i s e d as a

would-be l o v e r , he b e c a ~ e s c o n v i n c e d of t h e u n a s s a i l a b l e v i r t u e

of the w i f e , * ?

It is v i r t u a l l y u n i v e r s a l i n t h e L i t e r a t u r e of the p e r i o d

t h a t t h e c u c k o l d i s a f i g u r e of shame a n d loses s e l f - r e s p e c t ; no

huskand would u s e his w i f e ' s sex w i l l i n g l y a s p a r t of a test or

game, If t h e Gavain p o e t is not t o be seen as having s i r n ~ l y ~ o t

worked out this p a r t of t h e p l o t , some e x p l a n a t i o n must be

sough t , One p o s s i b i l i t y i s t h a t B e r t i l a k h a s t a k e n h i s i d e a s

about r e l a t i o n s between m a r r i e d l a d i e s a n d k n i g h t s f ram rorrrance,

o r from Andreas C a p e l l a n u s , a s K i t e l e y says h i s l a d y h a s done,

4 8 Hasbands i n these s o u r c e s are a e a n t fox c u c k o l d i n g ; t h e i r lot

is never p r e s e n t e d a s u n d e s e r v e d l y p a i n f u l , Per Nykrog pcints

out t h a t while i n f a b l i a u x , a knightly lave t r i a n g l e focuses

r e a l i s t i c a l l y on t h e r e l a t i o n s be tween husband a n d wife, i n

romance, the focns is o n t h e c o u r t l y l o v e r s , T h e husband is

a l w a y s a v a y e figure, a b s e n t o r otherwise not d r a l a a t i c a l l y

menacing- 4 9 I f B e r t i l a k h a s , a l o n g w i t h h i s l a d y , s t u d i e d

romances or Andreas as s o c i a l histcry, h e may be c o n v i n c e d that

t h e r o l e of c u c k o l d i s normif for t h e husband. T h i s p o s s i b i l i t y

is enhanced by the s u g g e s t i o n s i n the poea that t h e lady h a s a 1

p r e f a b r i c a t e d concept of Gawain l e a r n e d f rcm romances. She 1 aiatches t h e Gauain s h e has p inned i n t o h i s bed a g a i n s t t h e

Gawain of r e p u t a t i o n and , defining c o u r t o i s i e n a r r o w l y a s 1

fin'aatour f i n d s t h e p r e s e n t Gauain l a c k i n g (1,1282- l 3 0 1 ) , ---,I

K i t e l e y s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e lady is t r y i n g t o p a t t e r n h e r s e l f

after t h e l o v e r in Andreas, b u t aakes some m i s t a k e s , s u c h a s

b a l d l y o f f e r i n g h e r body , o f f e r i ~ g a r i n g a s l o v e token, aci!

a s k i n g t h a t Gawain act a s h e r auctor i n m a t t e r s of l o v e - 5 0 T h e s e

are errors of 1 i t e r a l - w i n d e d n e s s o r o v e r - e a r n e s t n e s s i n which

t h e leazner is too g o a l - o r i e n t e d a n d d o e s n o t seem t o u n d e r s t a n d

that a n t A c i p a t i o n a n d ce remony are s u p p o s e d t o be a m a j o r p a r t

of t h e p l e a s u r e , I f s u c h l i t e r a l - n i n d e d n e e s i s less c l e a r l y

p r e s e n t i n B e r t i l a k t h a n i n h i s l a d y , it i s still. r e a s o n a b l e t o

a s s u m e t h a t he h a s h i s c o n c e p t of Gawain f rom t h e saae s o u r c e s

t h a t s h e does. If t h e r e is t o b e f i n * a m o u g , there must a l s o b e a

d e c e i v e d h u s b a n d , a n d B e r t i l a R absents h i m s e l f t h e better t o

play t h i s rc le , a s well as, Bore o b v i o u s l y , t o s h o w h i s g rowess

as a hunter w h i l e Gawain l o u n g e s unknightly i n bed,

I n m o s t p i c t u r e s o f the knight s e e k i n g herber i n a ca s t l e ,

t h e h o s p i t a l i t y aoes n o t a p p e a r to have strings attached, I n

sorne tales, the k n i g h t ' s s i m p l e p r e s e n c e is an h o n o u r t o be

s o u g h t a f t e r , with the k n i g h t irritably r e f u s i n g t o t a k e h a r b o u r

l o a ~ e r a t t h e ~ e t i t i o n e r * ~ castle. I n C h r e t i e n ' s P e r c e v a l t h e

d u m m l i n g - k n i g h t v i o l a t e s custoa by a c t i n g a s t h o u g h h e w i l l h a v e

t o pay for h i s lcdging i n a v a v a s o r ' s h o u s e by l i s t e n i 3 g to t h e

v a v a s o r ' s c o n n s e l , which h e d o e s not e x p e c t to b e t o h i s profit.

The Gawain poet makes clear t h a t there is t r a n s a c t i o n i n v o f oed

i n t h e l o d g i n g g r a n t e d ; t h e k n i g h t - e r r a n t paps fo r h i s Icdginy

with e n t e r t a i n m e n t t h r o u g h i n s t r u c t i o n o r tales o f his

a d v e n t u r e s , Re gay be simply making o v e r t a f e a t u r e that is

g e n e r a l l y i m p l i c i t - - in itself, a r a t h e r i l l - b r e d a c t i o n ,

While the lady *s desire t o h a v e Gavain as ent tor is

e m p h a s i z e d , it i s less remmbered t h a t t h e entire c o u r t has a

similar hope. On a r r i v a l a t Rautdesert, as soon a s the g u e s t i s

warmed a n d f e d , h e identifies hirase l f t o B e s t i l a k and h i s men,

The r e a c t i o n i s i n s t r u c t i v e :

Yhen t h e lorde b a d e lerned t h a t h e t h e l e u d e bade, Loude l a g h s d h e t h e r a t , so lei h i t hyar t h o g h t , And a l l e t h e men an t h a t mte maden ~ u c h joye T o a p e r e i n h i s p r e s e n s e p r e s t l y t h a t tyme, T h a t a l l @ prys a n d p r o n e s and pured t h e w e s Apendes t o hps persoun, and prayred i s euer; Byfore a l l e men vpon molde his a e n s k is t h e mst,

( 9 0 8 f f )

Gawain is welcolaed not out of s i m p l e h o s p i t a l i t y or l a r g e s s e , a s

a lraight among k n i g h t s t o whom the acts of f e l l o w s h i p are due ,

b u t a s a s u p e r i o r , indeed a u n i q u e b e i n g - I@ a n o r m a l guest-host

r e l a t i o n s h i p , the flow o f b e n e f i t should be from h o s t t o g u e s t ,

Here, however, t h e r e is ?he clear sense t h a t Gawain w i l l . pay,

a n d p a y well, for h i s s h e l t e r , T h e members of the h o u s e h o l d

speak their pleasure n o t t o Gawain, b u t g n i e t l y t o each other,

The s e n t i m e n t t h a t Gawainrs visit is a p r i z e is t h e r e f o r e

gennine, n o t mere gracef uf conlplirnent :

vch segge f u l s o f t l y sapde t o h i s fere: *Mow s c h a l we s e m l y c h se s l e g h t e z of t h e w e z

95

And the t e c c h e l e s termes ~f t a f k y n g n o b l e , U i c h s p e d e is i n s p e c h e u n s p u r d may we lerce, Syn we h a f fonged t h a t f y n e f a d e r of n u r t u r e ,

( 9 1 5 f f )

The word fonqeg had i n t h e f o u r t e e n 5 h c e n t u r y a much b r o a d e r

w a n i n g t h a n t h e bas ic " s e i z e d " u s e d i n a context o f battle, but

t h e l a d y ' s u s e a p p e a r s t o r e v i v e t h e o r i g i n a l s e n s e . P i n n i a g t h e

h a p l e s s Gawain i n his bed a n d s a y i n g she h a s t a k e n him p r i s o n e r ,

t h e l a d y s h o w s a s e n s e t h a t an u n u s u a l a d v a n t a g e h a s b e e n gained

a n d must be e x p l o i t e d ; a s imi lar s e n s e i s f o u n d i n t h e wsngs

l a n g u a g e . T h e i r n p l i c a t i c n s of t h e term * f a d i r of n u r t u r e 8 may be I*

t h a t Gava in is what he,\,not, by n u r t u r e b u t kynde ; h e is t h e

p a t t e r n froa which n u r t u r e i s &awn, t h e origin of p a t t e r n s of

b e b a v i o u r which a r e c u l t i v a t e d by o t h e r s a s n u r t u r e , I n a n y

case, Berti lak and h i s men b e h a v e a s o n e i n t h i n k i n g of Gawain 's

s tay as a n opportunity for g a i c i n g n u r t u r e , t b e f i n e p o i n t s of

manners. T h i s is a court w h i c h fancies i t knows t h e b a s i c s of

n u r t u r e b u t i s a m b i t i o u s t o improve- T h e p a s s a g e as a u h c l e

stresses t h e soc ia l s t r i v i n g i n Bertilak's c o u r t and i t s s e n s e

T h e c o u r t l i n e s s of Gawain a n d t h e c o a r s e n e s s of B e r l i l a k

are p e r h a p s nowhere c l e a r e r t h a n i n t h e i r s p e e c h a n d rtlotion.

Gawain ' s speech is marked by m e a s u r e a n d u n d e r s t a t e m e n t , w h i l e

B e r t i l a k is e x t r a v a g a n t of e x p r e s s i o n , much g i v e n t o e x p l e t i v e s

a n d s a p e r l a t i v e s , B e r t i l a k is t h e e n e r g e t i c newcomer s t i l l t o o

close to the r e a s o n s for h i s f i n a n c i a l success t o be blase and

languid a n d this shows i n h i s e n t h u s i a t i c s p e e c h and p h y s i c a l

f o r c e f u l n e s s - G a w a i n s s r e p o r t t o B e r t i l a k on t h e nature of h i s

e r r a n d i s a model of m e a s u r e d s p e e c h i l - 1050-1067). T h e r e is no

b o a s t i a g of t h e ~ a r v e l s h e h a s seen o r t h e privations the p o e t

h a s so g r a p h i c a l l y shown him t o h a v e u n d e r g o n e - H e tells o n l y a s

s u c h as he ~ u s t fo r c o u r t e s y and t o g e t the i n f o r m a t i o n h e

himself n e e d s . H i s one e x p l e t i v e ("By g o d d e s s o n " ) is n o t

g r a t u i t o u s b u t a p r o p e r o a t h of a s s u r a n c e . G a w a i n o s s y n t a x is

s i a ~ l e and clear, I n t h i s s p e e c h h e i s r e o i e w i r g a t r a v a i l . and

nnst use action v e r b s , but t h e y tend t o b l a n d n e s s , O f a b c u t

t w e n t y - f i v e v e r b s i n the p a s s a g e , most are v e r y common, Only uot

aid w a d e n e g h (1054) and b e h o v e s ( 1065) are rare o r n o n - e x i s t e n t

i n modern EngZish. B e r - t i l a k 8 s s p e e c h of respnse is o ~ l y h a l f

t h e length o f Gauain's:

T h e m e l a g h a n d e q u o t h t h e lorde.81?ow l e n g e the byhoues , F o r I s c h a l t e c h e yow t o that terme bi t h e t y m e z ende, The g r e n e c h a p a y l e spon grounde g r e u e yow n o more; Bot y e s c h a l be i n yowre bed, b u r n e , a t t h y n ese, Q u y l e f o r t h d a y e z , a n d ferk on t h y f y r s t of the y e r e , And cum to t h a t ~ e r k a t mydmorn, t o make g u a t yow l i k e z

i n s p e n n e , Dowel lez whyle Hew Heres d a y e , And r y s , and r a y k e z t h e m e , Mon s c h a l yow set te ic waye, H i t i s n o t two ayfe henne,*

( 1 068ff)

X t uses, however , t h r e e s u c h v e r b s , b e h o v e s ( 9068) f e r k f 1072) and

r a i k e s 11076). The p u r p o s e of t h e s p e e c h is t o p e r s u a d e Gawain

t o r e m a i n , o r t o insist: t h e s y n t a x v e e r s , sotne verb f o r m s

b e i n g a p p a r e n t s u b j u n c t i v e s , some s i m p l e f u t u r e s , s o a e

i m p e r a t i v e s , T h e series d a w e l l e z - r y s - r a y k e z is p a r t i c u l a r l y

ragged. It is u n d e r s t o o d t h a t Middle E n g l i s h is o f t e n

s y n t a c t i c a l l y looser t h a n modern-5% But GawainVs s y n t a x is not

l o o s e , I n t h i s poem it would seem t h a t s y n t a c t i c Zoosene~s is

purposeful, C e c i l y Clark asserts t h a t B e r t i l a k ' s s p e e c h is

less a r c h a i c and c o a v e r s t i o n a l , aore r a c y , c o l l o q u i a l . a n d

v i g o u r o u s , t h a n t h a t o f t h e o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s w , 5 2 She considers

words which do not appear e l s e w h e r e i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e , and which

can o n f p be glossed iron d i a l e c t d i c t i o n a r i e s , t o have been

c o l l o q u i a l , and s h e n o t e s c o l l o q u i a P i s m s and n o r t h e r n i s ~ s i n t h e

s p e e c h of B e r t i l a k .

B e r t i l a k a l so l acks physical g r a c e - Eoth Benson. a n d Marie

B o r r o f f remark on what t h e former calls h i s f renzied energy-

E x a e p l e s i n c l u d e w f ~ f l y a l o f t l e p e s ful sftM ( 9 8 1 ) and "bent

h i g h l y of h i s hade and on a spere hengedH 4983) .. Ganain. g f i d e s

e x c e p t u n d e r t h e worst of m o r a l and p h y s i c a l stress, The idea l

is e l e g a n t action unmarked b y urgency of u n g a i n l i n e s s , Bornstein

d e s c r i b e s o n e af t h e i d e a l s of k n i g h t h o o d as as, a n t i - w o r k e t h i c .

T h e s t y 1 i s a t i o n o f E a u a i n *s a c t i o n s , e v e n the spare t r e a t a e n t o f

t h e bulls and boars and etans o f t h e jouxaey , would seen i n t o n e

w i t h this, T h e opposed m e r c a n t i l e e t h i c o f working and winning

shoos i n B e r t i l a k ' s c a s u a l a c t i o n s no less t h a n i n h i s major -

e n c o u n t e r s with h i n d s , b o a r s and f o x e s - Tu the o r i g i n a l audience

of a Gawaig 31 Green K n i g h t , B e r t i l a k would n o t h a v e

seemed b o r c to h i s r o l e ,

W h i l e it is a p p a r e n t t h a t Gawaia a t first takes Bertilak a t

face v a l u e , t h e r e seems some e v i d e n c e o f i m p a t i e n c e w i t h t h e

g r o w i n g i m p o r t u n i t i e s o f the l a d y , t h e e n t h u s i a s m s of t h e l o r d ,

and t h e e f f r o n t e r y of t h e s e r v a n t . However, h e does no* c o n n e c t

H a u t d e s e r t w i t h She g r e e n c r e a t u r e . T h i s h e l p s t o e x p l a i n h i s

e x t r a o r d i n a r y shame when r e c o g n i t i o n comes. R e h a s b e h a v e d t o

B e r t i l a k w i t h o u t a k n i g f i t t s c o d e of h o n o u r b e c a u s e h e d o e s n o t

c o n s i d e r E e s t i l a k a k n i g h t . H e would n o t h a v e been s o d i s m i s s i v e

o f t h e g r e e n c r e a t u r e , a n d had hie known t h e two were o n e , m i g h t

have preserved h i s honour. O r , e o f t h e s i n s h e t a x e s h i n t s e l f with

is wcouetyse . . . tha+. v e r t u e d i s s t r y e z - (237r)-2375)". T h i s i s

p u z z l i n g i f covetousness is t h o u g h t of i n t h e n a r r o w sense of

having longed for a s p e c i f i c a a t e r i a l good , as i t is s a i d t h a t

C a w a i n ' s taking of the g r e e n girdle r e l a t e d no? t o its value,

but t o i ts power as a charm t o p r e s e r v e h i s l i f e , However, t h e

word Gawain uses t o c h a s t i s e h i m s e l f is n e t so p u z z l i n g i f it is

r e l s e n b e r e d t h a t t h e RED shows it h a s a b r a a d meaning o f c r a v i n g ,

an urge t o c h a n g e a s i t u a t i o n , a n d t h a t g r a s p i n g a c q u i s i t i v e n e s s

and a v i d i t y is t h e p a r t i c u l a r sin of t h e ~ e r c h a n t , t h e

p a r t i c u l a r s i n of Vynaere , T h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c is closely l i n k e d

w i t h a r o u t i n e a s s e s s m e n t of r e l a t i v e wor th , T h e k n i g h t l y e t h i c

s h o u l d h a v e s a v e d Gawain f r o n s u c h Reap w e i g h t i n g s of v a l u e s a s

t h a t i n v o l v e d in s a v i n g his l i f e though it. cost him h i s honour;

it has not, and Gawain's occupa t ion ' s gone.

V, Some Literary Antecedents and A f f i n i t i e s

F o r an o r i g i n a l a u d i e n c e , t h e major n o v e l t y of t h e peln m y

well h a v e been t h a t G a u a i n is a l l o w e d to learn, and t h a t t h e

source o f his new wisdom is a n u p s t a r t whoa t h e ~ o e t does n o t

d i s p a r a g e - However, sucb a n a u d i e n c e m i g h t well. h a v e b e e n

prepared f o r sarne s u c h c h a r a c t e r t o p r o v i d e a more l i n t i t e d sort

of a d v i c e to a k n i g h t , B e r t i l a k s s c h a r a c t e r a s a r r i v i s t e h a s

been c o m p a r e d e a r l i e r Lo t h a t of C h a u c e r s s C a n t e r b u r y TaTa character the F r a n k l i n . It w i l l be m a e r n b e r e d t h a t C h a u c e r ' s

c r e a t i o n is s o c o n c e r n e d w i t h the n a t u r e a n d p r a c t i c e of

g e n t l f l e s s g t h a t i t i s concluded he is not h i i n s e l f o f gentle

birth, b u t i s t r p i c g t o create h i ~ s e l f a n d his son i n t h e i m a g e

of the g e n t r y - H i s e s s e n t i a l i d e n t i t y is t h a t of t h e successful

b o u s g e o i s , C h a u c e f ca l l s h i s c r e a t i o n a ' w o r t h y v a v a s o r , goy

P e a r c y i n n C h a u c e r 9 s F r a n k l i n a n d t h e L i t e r a r y !lavasourn slnovs

t h a t it i s f a i r l y common i n romnce and f a b f i a u t o f i n 4 a

s i g n i f i c a n t i n 2 e r c h a n g e b e t w e e n a k n i g h t e r r a n t and a v a v a s o r .

T h e l i t e r a r y v a v a s o r a s d e s c r i b e d by Pearcy n o t o n l y resembles

Berti lak i n style a n d p e r s o n , but a l s o fi l ls a r o l e of

r e m a r k a b l e s i m i l a r i t y - The i n t e r c h a n g e of t e n i n v o f v e s t h e

v a v a s o r i n g i v i n g the k n i g h t a d v i c e . Pearcy sees i n C h a u c e s * ~

F r a n k l i n t h e g e n t l e i r o n y o f a n i n d i v i d u a l with p r a c t i c a l roots

i n a " f o u r t e e n t h - c e n t u r y c i v i l - s e r v a n t ' s u o r l d q 9 who * w i s t f u l l y I

assert[ s] s p i r i t u a l a l l e g i a n c e w i t h a n a n t i q u e c h i v a l r i c wor ld

whose v a f ues a re r a p i d l y becoming a n a c h r c n i s t i c g * , 2 Thoagh he

t h i n k s i n s t i n c t i v e l y i n l e g a l i s t i c a ~ d m a t e r i a l i s t i c tertes a n d

s u f f e r s " u n r e a l i z e d y e a r n i n g s f o r a t r a n s f i g u r e d l i few, h e is

n o t a h y p o c r i t e , but t h e " s t o l i d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of an

i n c r e a s i n g 1 p u f bane a n d m e r c a n t i l e s o c i e t y who r e a c h e s after t h e

shade of a n e x q u i s i t e c o c a t l y s e n s i b i l i t y l o s t w i t h G u e n e v e r e i n

t h e ruixas of Camelot", 3 R e r t i l a k , no w i s t f u l c a r i c a t u r e of the

n o b i l i t y , i s p r e s e n t e d as aware of t h e i ~ p o s s i b i l i t y of k n i g h t l y

t r a u t h e , aad y e t n o t a t a l l immune t o the a p p e a l of t h e gore -- c o m f o r t a b l e asFects of g e n t i l i t y , s u c h a s service t o l a d i e s and

material s p l e n d c r , P e a r c y bas e x a m i a e d a l a r g e number of F r e c c h

r o m a n c e s a n d f a b l i a u x a n d some M i d d l e E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s of

them, a n d has c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e v a v a s o r is by c o n v e n t i o n used

as a d e v i c e f o r e x a m i n i n g t h e c o d e b y which t h e k n i g h t e r r a n t

l i v e s , Whi l e the k n i g h t e r r a n t l i v e s a m e d i e v a l a r i s t o c r a t i c

l i f e o n l y t h e m a t i c a l l y , p u r s u i n g c o u r t e s y , t h e v a v a s o r Ly

c o n t z a s t li v e s t h e l i t e r a l aspects of m e d i e v a l a r i s toc ra t i c l i f e

i n terms of p h y s i c a l s t y l e .

By c o ~ t r a s t w i t h t h e r o m a n c e v a v a s o r , t h e v a v a s o r r i ~ ;

f a b l i a u a n d r e f a t e d f o r m s c l a s h e s with t h e k n i g h t , What i s i n

r o m a n c e d i g n i f i e d o l d a g e , a n a t t a c h m e n t t o t h e l a n d a n d f a m i l y ,

and a r e v e r e n c e f o r o l d - f a s h i o n e d virtues including those of t h e

k n i g h t , beccmes i n f a b l i a u t h e s h r e w d o p ~ o r t u n i s m of a g e ,

h a r d - t e a d e d p r a c t i c a l i t y , a n d an a t t a c h m e n t t o m a t e r i a l

p o s s e s s i o n s , I n f a b l i a u , the s e l f - i n t e r e s t o f v a v a s o r s ogposes

t h e v a l u e s of k n i g h t s , Pearcy c o n s i d e r s t y p i c a l t h e c l a s h i n *tLe

C h e v a l i e r a l a Robe Veraeille", where k n i g h t a n d vavasor are

l o v e s and husband r e s p e c t i v e l y of t h e saae l a d y , The k n i g h t , h e

q u o t e s , "rode a11 o v e r the wor ld t o win honour a n d fame, so t h a t

e v e r y b o d y h e l d him i n esteemti, T h e j u r i s p r u d e r r f , v a v a s o r is

c r i t i c i z e d because h e " t o o k care of h i s a f f a i r s i n a d i f f e r e n t

n a p , for h e had a tongue t r a i n e d t o s p e a k well and w i s e l y , and

he r e a l l y knew how t o d e l i v e r a n a r g u m e n t n , 5 The l a d y ' s n o b l e

b r o t h e r , i m p e t u o u s l y g e n e r o u s , g i v e s h i s r e d c l o a k to t h e

v a v a s o r , b u t t h e m m e a n - r p i r i t e d v a o a s o r e n g a g e s i n a l e g a l i s t i c

q u i b b l i n g a s t o t h e exact p o i n t where good B a n n e r s end and

c o v e t o u s n e s s b e g i n s - n 6 I n g e n e r a l i n t h e w o r l d of f a b l i a u

c h i v a l r i c ideals h a v e * * r e g r e t t a b l y l o s t t h e i r r e l e v a n c e , e i t h e r

d i s a p p e a r i n g t h r o u g h default o r b e i n g impatiently re j ec tea in

f a v o u r of a b o u r g e o i s materialismw, 7

P e a r c y does n o t d e s c r i b e a n y v a v a s o r who i s a u c t o r t o a

knight f o r a p h i l o s o p h i c a l o r o t h e r w i s e c o m p l e x l e a r n i ~ g , H e

describes none who, l i k e B e r t i l a k , b o t h contributes t o t h e

breakdown of t h e c h i v a l r i c i d e a l and r e c o g ~ i s e s its b e a u t y - H e

d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o r e c o g n i s e t h a t Bertilak i s a v a v a s o r , b u t

s i n c e h i s p a p e r is l i m i t e d t o F r e n c h l i t e r a t u r e , p e r h a p s would

n o t m e n t i o n t h e fact i f h e h a d nade t h i s f i n d i n g , If h e were t o

do ;so, h e might be ha rd p u t t o d e c i d e whet he^ B e r t i l a k i s a

r o n a n c e s a v a s o r or a f a b l i a u v a v a s o r , C r i t i c s h a v e d i s c u s s e d t h e

a f f i n i t i e s o f 2s g a u a i n w i t h romance, and i n a n y c a s e t h e poet

h i a s e l f claims h i s s o u r c e i s t h e "best@ boke of roenaunce 42527)" -

8 L a r r y S k l u t e c o n s i d e r s Ws& a r o m a n c e i n i r o n i c Eode,

where e v e r y c h o i c e Gawain might h a v e made is wrong, and t h e

a u t h o r is e x a m i n i n g "a world o f e t h i c a l l y a m b i g u o u s a n d t o him

i r r e s o l v a t f y c o n f l i c t i n g nosms." 9

8J. F i n l a y s o n , *#The E x p e c t a t i o n s of Romance i n sir Gawain gqq t h e Green ftniqhg ", Genre X I 1 f 1973) no, 1, p2, F i n l a y s o n p o i n t s -- -- o u t t h a t m o s t cr i t ics h a v e assumed S G G K i s a romance, a n d h a v e l o o k e d f o r f u l f i l l a e n t , modif icat ion or r e j e c t i o n of r o m a n c e values. E v e r e t t a n d Plarkman s a y it is a romance of testing; Benson s a y s it i s a romance c r i t i ca l of f b e v a l u e s of e f f e t e - c h i v a l r y ; B e r c a v i t c h s a y s i t is a n a n t i - r o a t a n c e which v i t a l i z e s o r a f f i r m s romance v a l u e s , Schnyder s a y s i t e x p l o i t s romance a s a v e h i c l e f o r r e l i g i o u s a l l e g o r y .

*"The A m b i g u i t y of E t h i c a l Noras i n C o u r t l y Romancen, Genre XI{1978) no-3, p331.

f o r n o t b y romance t r a d i t i o n p e r se b u t by t h e i n t e r a c t i c n

between r cmance and f a b l i a u - Mykrog p o i n t s o u t t h a t i t i s n o t

p o s s i b l e for a trne roBaace t o be hostile to vowen. ' 0 fn t h e

f i n a l s c e n e s t h e hero, i f n o t so s u s e f y t h e poem, shows such

h o s t i l i t y . D e c l i n i n g h a s t i l y t o a g a i n v i s i t t h e young and o l d

l a d i e s ,

,,.That on and that a the r , myn honoured l a d y e s , T h a t thus hor knyght vyth h o r k e s t han

k o y n t l y bigyled,., , (2409-24 10)

he a s s e r t s t h a t it is a law of nature +hat women nake focls o f

men, Nykrogqs major thesis is t h a t f a b l i a u i s a b u r l e s q u e of

courtly Z i t e f a ) , u r e and i s i n t e n d e d f o r t h e same a u d i e n c e , Hark

. E, Amsler r e m i n d s u s that g e n r e s a r e mu2ual ly influential, / -

C h a u c e r a s "'Elill er ' s Talets, f o r example, e x a m i n e s the **parodic

r e l a t i o n s h i p between romance and f a b l i a u , a r e l a t i o n s h i p which

r ea t i nds u s ,,,that genres e x i s t n o t i n i s o l a t i o n b u t within t h e

sys te ln of a l r e a d y r e a l i s e d or p o s s i b l y r e a l i s a b l e forms. * * s t

V i t a l t e n s i o n between rcmance and fabliau Eay ~ r o d u c e a

l i t e r a t u r e on a continuu~ between two p o l e s , r a t h e r t h a n two

i s o l a t e d bodies, Plot i t e n s from o n e form nay be transformed in

the other, as happens in the wMillerqs Taley*. O t h e r e l e r n e n t s iitay

Literary Theory and t h e Genre s o f R i d d l e English L i t e r a t u r e m , Genre X I I I f F a l l 1980), p335,

be d i f f e r e n t l y used ir each form- S k l u t e spoke of e t h i c a l

a m b i g u i t y i n rcmance; P e a r c y a r g u e s t h a t i f ? f a b f i a u a b a s i c

s t r u c t u r a l f e a t u r e is a m b i g u i t y of message a n d m a n i p u l a t i o n of

l o g i c a l f a l l a c y , For example, a m i n s t r e l who h a s been pfcmised

an o b j e c t t h a t Mcost" a hundred s o u s is d u p e d by be ing given a

sore r a b b i t s k i n t h a t "costm the loss of a hundred-sou horse i n

t h e h u n t i n g . 1 2

Hykrog makes d e t a i l f d r e f e r e n c e t o a n Anglo-Norman t a l e

which h e c o n s i d e r s a f a b l i a u , though t h e a u t h o r u s e s t h e word

roinanz , i n which t h e t e n s i o n between t h e two f o r m s is v e r y

clear, T h i s kale i s t e Cheva l i e r , Dame C l e r c , '3 This

t a l e begins i n a n e x a l t e d mi l i eu . W v i r t u o u s and nob le l a d y

a g r e e s t o a s i a g l e t r y s t w i t h a clerk b e c a u s e t h e r e a s o n he is

pi&' ing and d y i n g i s h i s unfulfilled l o n g i n g for he r , A t t h i s

p o i n t the husband, as is common i n a d u f t e r o u s c o u r t l y rontaace,

is nowhere i n evidence, After t h e a g r e e a e n t between the clerk

and t h e l a d y , ~ i l i e u and f o c u s s h i f L The husband , now a t t h e

centre of c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i s a le r ted and a p p e a r s d i s g u i s e d , a o t

too e f f e c + , i v e I y , a s t h e clerk, T h e wife l o c k s h i a i n a room,

c o ~ ~ l e t e s t h e tryst with the clerk, a a d has t h e d i s g u i s e d

husband beaten a s a b o t h e r s o m lecher, T h e clerk l e a v e s t h e

country and t h e l a d y r e sumes h e r v i r t u e , T h i s is t h e m a t f r i a l - o f

*--*--*-------1111

rzftoy P e a r c y , n I n v e s t i g a t i o n s into t h e P r i n c i p l e s of F a b l i a u Strhctnre", G e n r e 1 X : Y p348,

t h e f a b l i a u thenae "Le Coca B a t f u et C o n t e n t M d i s c u s s e d e a r l i e r -

Rykrog is irritated by t h e juncture between f a b l i a u a c d

romance c o n v e n t i o n s , which h e c o n s i d e r s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of

Anglo-Norman u r i t e r s . Y e noted ear l ie r t h a t i n 2x3 Gawajn t h e

' s e d u c t i o n ' s c e n e r e q u i r e s t h a t the husband know of and c o n n i v e

i n t h e l a d y *s s o s s i b l e adulkexy-a s i t u a t i o n provoked b y t h e

f o c u s on t h e husband o n l y f a b l i a u n o r m a l l y p r o v i d e s , w h i l e t h e

a c t u a l p a r t i c i p a n t s s p e a k more or less t h e l a n g u a g e of c o u r t l y

romance, T h i s a p p e a r s t o be a more s u b t l e o v e r l a y of romance and

f a b l i a u t h a n is s e e n i n t h e Anglo-Normar, %ale. Teach ing Gawain

t h e i m p r a c t i c a l i t y o f k a i g h t l y t r a u t h e w h i l e showing

a p p r e c i a t i o n of r e l a t e d f e a t u r e s o f t h e k r i g h t l y world, Ber t i l a k

behaves p r e d i c t a b l y f o r a v a v a s o r i n a t a l e n e i t h e r t o t a l l y

romance n o r totally f a b l i a u ,

Rolnance v a v a s o r s i n P e a r c y ' s c o r p u s a r e i d e n t i f i e d C y t h e i r

h ~ ~ ~ i t a l l t y t o k n i g h t s , The aost i ~ p o s t a n t meac ing of

h o s p i t a l i t y i n t h e s e tales is magnificent food. Gawain arrives

a t X a u t d e s e r t a u s i n g %he p r e - C h r i s t m a s f a s t , a p p a r e n t l y , since

h e is f e d alone, a f t e r mealt ime, For t h i s s o l i t a r y b i t e h e is

p r o v i d e d w i t h fia c l e n e c l o t h t h a t clere guyt scheved , / Sanap,

and s a l u r e , and s y l v e r i n sponeza (885/6), s e v e r a l " h a t h e l e s n t o

s e r v e him, and a d i n n e r t h a t , f a r from l o c k i n g l i k e hastily -

as sembled l e f t o v e r s , i n c l u d e s "'fele kyn f i s c h e z , ) ' Sunme baken i n

bre4, snmme brad on t h e g ledez , , , ," (890/893), Gawain c a l l s it a

feast; t h e r e t a i n e r s b r a g that t h e y w i l l d o better later= **This

p e n a a n c e now y e t a k e , / R n d e f t i t s c h a l arnende- 1857-%98)q*, 1 * One

is r e m i n d e d of the s c e n e i n the 4Zlterative Morte where Arthur

awes the Roman a m b a s s a d o r by a p o l o g i z i n g f o r a feas t w h i c h

r e q u i r e s F a g e s t o d e s c r i b e ; it i s winter, h e says, a n d his is a

p o c r country, I n t h e Borte, t h e p u r p o s e of t h e s c e n e is t o show

A r t h u r ' s acumen a s a p s y c h o l o g i c a l warrirrr; i n s i r Gawain

t h e Green 5-5 +he s i m p l e r p u r p o s e i s t o stress t h e a a t e r i a l 3_ -- f r a u n c h i s s o f the h o u s e h o l d e r - It will b e r e m a b e r e d t h a t i a - A r t h u r * ~ c o u r t i n t h i s poem, t h i s k i n d o f f r e e h a n d e d n e s s is

t a k e n f o r g r a n t e d and s c a n t l y d e s c f i b e d ("no want t h a t t h e r

e e r e * * ( 1 3 1 ) ) w h i l e a d i f f e r e n t s o r t o f b o u n t y i s shown b y a l o n g ,

but still p a r t i a l , l ist of n o b l e g u e s t s .Il,103-115)-

P e a r c y ' s r e s e a r c h e s a l s o s u g g e s t t h a t B e r t i l a k ' s d w e l l i n g

i ? n the m i d d l e cf t h e forest i s a naark o f t h e v a v a s o r who, by

c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e k n i g h t errant, is sooted i n a remote l o c a l e

and e x p e r i e n c e s a s o c i a l i s o l a t i o n e n f o r c e d by ( o r p e r h a p

d e r i v e d iron) h i s p h y s i c a l i s o l a t i o n . P e a r c y g e n e r a l i s e s t h a t

v a v a s o r s " o f t e n l i v e i n a c l e a r i n g i n t h e forest, i n a h c n s e

s u r r o u n d e d by a high, thick hedge."'5 Be quotes a s p r o t o t y p e fox

a l l s u c h i s c l a t e d a n d e n c l o s e d d w e l l i n g s t h e house of t h e

v a v a s o r Mynoras i n a n e p i s o d e of the B i d d l e E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n

----111----1----*-

& * D a v i s P o i n t s o u t t h a t a s i a i l a r f i s h feas t i s described i n John R u s s e L l ' s Eoke gf N c r t u r e (Davis, p l O l ) The use o f ~ u r t u r e b o o k s a s an a i d to s o c i a l m o b i l i t y h a s bee@ e l s e w h e r e described.

l5 F e a r c y , p35,

T h i s f o r e s t e r s p l a c e was s t s o n g e afid well c l o s e d wieh d e p e d i c h e s f u l l of water, a n d was e n v i r o n e d w i t h g r e t e o k e s , a n d t h e r - t o t o it u a s s o t h i k k e of b u s s h e s a n d of t h o r n e s a n d b r e r e s t h a t noon u o l d e haue wende t h a t +her hadde b e e n y ha bitacionr6

I n P e a r c y * s examples , the good welcome o f t h e h o u s e c a n o n l y be

achieved a f t e r penetration of the forest and t h e o u t e r defences

of the house , T h e j o u r n e y i s n o t g e n e r a l l y realistic a n d d o e s

n o t mark or a f f e c t t h e k t i g h t , As a r e s u l t Pearcy's comment t h a t

' * the d w e l l i n g s of v a v a s o r s c r e a t e p o c k e t s of r e a l i t y i n t h e

f a i r y f o z e s t * * d e s c r i b e s t h e p h y s i c a l a s p e c t s o f forest and

dwel l ing . 17

However, i n the s e c t i o n of Sir G a m i n si $& gree2 Kniqht

marking t h e p a s s a g e of t h e h e r o f rom the f o r e s t t o the house of

B e r t i Z a k , realism i s p r a i s e u o r t h y , Minute o b s e r v a t i o n is t h e

first o f i t s b e a u t i e s . ["bore okez f u l hcge a hundreth t o g e d e r ;

t h e hasef a n d t h e h a g h t h m n e were h a r l e d a 1 sarnen, w i t h roghe

r a g ~ d mosse... {743/45)", The p o e t ' s o m n i s c i e n t e y e n o t e s t h e

c h i l l i n g e f f e c t of the raw l a n d s c a p e on the "Bony b r y y d e z

unblytke upon b a r e %wygges/ t h a t p i t o s l y t h e r p i p e d f o r Fyne of

t h e c o l d e n (746/47) Then, b y s h i f t i n g p o i n t of view s l i g h t l y ,

t h e p c e t allow^ Gawain to a d m i t o n e k i ~ d of d i s t r e s s ("Carande

f o r h i s c o s t e s , lest h e ne keuer schulde/ To se t h e s e r u y s e US

t h a t syreqi) - The p o e t d o e s n o t force Gazaain t o a d v e r t t o h i s I

I

p h i s i c a l m i s e r y , b u t h a s him c o n t i n u e t o g l i d e a l o n g o n

G r i n g o l e t , a n d the e f f e c t of t h i s j u x t a p o s i t i o s i s t o erashasize

G a w a i n 9 s r e f u s a l t o g i v e r e c o g n i t i o n t o i t ,

By c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e a i s e r a b l y realistic f o r e s t , Hautdesert

is o b v i o u s l y , b e c a u s e o f its a p p e a r a n c e and t h e manner of i t s

e v o c a t i o n , magic, T h i s i s t h e r e v e r s e o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n

romances P e a r c y s t u d i e s , where t h e movement i s f roin u a r e a l

f o r e s t t o f e a l v a v a s o r ' s house. The k n i g h t e r r a n t h a s c o m p l e t e d

a prayer for a r e f u g e where h e can, a s h e p u t s it, # 'he re massew

(35et) , H e crosses h i m s e l f :

Nade h e seyned hymsel f , segge, b a t t h r y e , E r h e watz v a r i n t h e wod of a won i n a mote,

T h e r e o c c u r s a t t h i s laoment e i t h e r a iaa rve i of changed

p e r c e p t i o n or a marve l of provenance , The c a s t l e s imp ly a p p e a r s ,

withont t h e k n i g h t * s c h a n g i n g v i e w p o i n t , and w i t h o u t c o n t i n u e d

e f fo r t , The effect of enchantment is s t r e n g t h e n e d by t h e o v e r a l l

d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e castle t h a t "shemered and schon t h u r g h the

[now') s c h y r e okezn (772) The d e t a i l s of t h e cast le are

r e f e r a b l e , a s h a s b e e n d i s c u s s e d e a r l i e r , t o a real i ty of a

k i n d , b u t the g e n e r a l i m ~ r e s s i o a i s of enchan tmen t , The magica l

d w e l l i n g set i n a t r a d i t i o n a l , t h o u g h u n u s u a l l y w e l l - e t c h e d

v a v a s o r ' s forest migh t a l e r t t h e a u d i e n c e t h a t t h i s w i l l not be

a n o r d i n a r y f a i r y c a s t l e nor y e t a n ordinary v a v a s o r ' s house ,

Pearcy's zesearch i n t o t h e v a v a s o r shows t h a t i f h e h a s

grown d a u g h t e r s , a s is f r e q u e n t l y t h e case, t h e k n i g h t t o whom

h o s p i t a l i t y h a s k e n o f f e r e d becoBes the object of their

f l i r t a t i o n s a n d s o n e t i w e s t h e i r love- I r the King L o t e p i s o d e of

H e r l i n , "the B a v a s o u r s trso d o u g h t r e s b e - h i l d e s i r Gawein

t e n d e r l y * ' . 8 8 En Yva in , t h e d a u g h t e r s k i l f u l l y d i s a r m s and robes

t h e k n i g h t , a n d , a l o n e , t a k e s hin to s i t in a f i e l d where h e

wfound h e r so e l e g a n t , s o fair of s p e e c h , a n d so well i n f o r m e d ,

of s u c h p l e a s i n g m a n n e r s a c d c h a r a c t e r , that it was a

delight .. .* " 1 9 The f l i r t a t i o n s are g e n e r a l l y b u t n o t af nays

i n n o c e n t - In a3 e p i s o d e of S e r l i n , M e r l i n r i d i n g e r r a n t i n a

f o r ~ s t is made t o f a l l i n l o v e w i t h a v a v a s o r ' s d a u g h t e r Numiane

a n d to t e a c h h e r " t h e m o s t e p a s t e o f h i s witte a n d c o n n y n g e by "-

force of nygrauncye." 2 0 Wives of v a v a s o r s are generally

c i r c a a s p e c t . I n an e p i s o d e of B e r l i n i n v o l v i n g King Ban, t h e

wife is "a noble woman and a feire and goode t o g o d and t o t h e

worldn, w h i l e on t h e f a c e o f t h i n g s %here i s thus n o p a r a l l ' e l :r>

be drawn between v a v a s o r * s d a u g h t e r c o n v e n t i o n s a n d S i r Gawain

a n d t h e G r e e n Kniqht, R e r t i l a k * ~ wife i s i n e n o u g h r e s p e c t s l i k e -- -- -- a d a u g h t e r i n the h o u s e h o l d that she may be s e e n as f i l l i n g this

role, T h e most i m p o r t a n t i n d i c a t i o n of this is t h e relative ages

a n d and t h e r o l e s p l a y e d by t h e members of B e r t i l a k ' s h o u s e h o l d ,

Bertilak h i m s e l f i s of f lhyghe e f d e e w - - " i n t h e p r i m e of l i f e "

(M-oraan Davis) o r wof a d v a n c e d a g e w [ B , J - R - B a r r o n ) o r '*of

mature agew (3.T. Jones). 2 * T h e wife by c o n t r a s t i s mach t h e

same age as her young m a i d s i n w a i t i n g :

Thenne come ho of h i r closet with nony c ler burdez . Ro watz t h e f a y r e s t i n f e l l e , of f l e s c h e and of l y r e ,

(942- 943)

fn t h e l a d y *s f l i r t a t i o n with Gawain, s h e f a n t a s i z e s the r o f e

n u t o n l y cf a courtois w i f e c o n s i d e r i n g a p o s s i b l e l o v e r , b u t

a l s o a leaid i n v o l v e d i n . t h e commerce of j ~ i c k i n g a s p o u s e ('"~nd I

s c h u l d e chepen a n d c h o s e to c h e u e me a l o r d e (127 1 ) i g ,

T h e " a u n c i e n f l w i t h t h e b l a c k b rows , a "mensk l a d y t * , f i l ls a

r o l e i n t h e h o u s e h o l d t h a t is n e v e r c l a r i f i e d , However, s h e ,

commands r e s p e c t and a p p e a r s i n some ways 20 b e t h e chatelaine.

She leads "bi tke l y f t hondefl (947) t h e young l a d y , as a m o t h e r

m i g h t a s h y d a u g h t e r meeting g u e s t s , and a t ~ e a 2 t i m e , the young

one c e d e s p r i d e o f p l a c e t o the other: " t h e o l d e a u n c i e n wyf

h e g h e s t ho s y ' t t e z " [ I D O t ) . Es a r e s u l t , t h e young l a d y a s s u m e s a

p o s i t i o n vis-a-vis Gawain t h a t much r i e s e a b l e s that of t h e

v a v a s o r t s d a u g h t e r i n o t h e r s o a a n c e s , s t r e n g t h e n i n g the

s v p ~ o s i t i o n t h a t B e r t i l a k s h o u l d be read a s a v a v a s o r ,

P e a r c y has d i s c o v e r e d t h a t the r o f e of v a v a s o r as a l i m i S e d

---*----*------*--

* t E i c k i S u z u k i n o t e s i n * * A Note on the Age of t h e Green Knightm, WH 7 8 , p-30 , t h a t i n C l a n n e s s (1.656-7) a similar l o c u t i o n c l e a r l y refers t o o l d age-

sort o f teacher t o the knight e r r a n t i s comaon i n r o a a n c e ,

t h o u g h n o t i n f a b l i a n , P e a r c y says t h a t i n A - f t h u r i a n romances ,

v a v a s o r s h a v e * * s o m e t h i n g of a p a s t o r a l p u n d i t q u a l i t y ,

s i n i ~ l i c i t y and c l e a r - s i g h t e d n e a s c o n b i r i n g with l o r g years of

v a r i e d e x p e r i e n c e t o make t h e m t r u s t w o r t , h y a n d wise,'* Ln

P e r c e v a l Gawain and a l a d y had p u r p o s e l y m i s u n d e r s t o o d h e r ---f

brother G u i g a s b r e s i l s s i n s t r u c t i o n s t o h o n o u r each o t h e r fo r h i s

sake, a n d make l o v e instead, T h e b r o t h e r is a f f r o n t e d , rtUns

sages s a v a s o r s f l s u g g e s t s t h a t i n s t e a d o f k i l l i n g Gawain, the

b r o t h e r r e p a i r his h o n o u r by s e n d i n g Gawain on a q u e s t for a

l a n c e '*donS: l a pc i rn te lerwe/ L e saac t o t cler f6?66 /67) ,

a f i n a l f ~ a t u r e of t h e r o m a n c e v a v a s o r a h i c h may be s e e n a s

e n r i c h e d i n a Gawain _and Green: Rrr iqh t is t h e role cf t h e

sons, P e a r c y notes t h e f r e q u e n c y w i t h which v a v a s o r s h a v e g r o w

s o n s , o f t e n new k n i g h t s o r s q u i r e s , who are " e x c i t e d a t t h e

presence of a k n i g h t - e r r a n t i n t h e i r h o u s e , listen a v i d l y zo a n y

account he may f u r n i s h of h i s e s c a p a d e s , and sometimes accomgany

himH i n his c u z r e n t ventur"e.22 F u r t h e r , t h e v a v a s o r ' s s o n s

f r e q u e n t l y do p e r s o n a l . s e r v i c e t o t h e k n i g h t e r r a n t . I n t h e King

Lot e p i s o d e of B e r l i n , t h e savasor's s o n s w e l c o a e the t r a v e l l e f s

a n d see p e r s o n a l l y t o the h o r s e s a n d s e r v e the t r a v e l l e r s theis

wine, B e r t i l a k h a s no sons i d e n t i f i e d a s such, b u t b e c a u s e of .

a m b i g u i t i e s i n the r o l e cf some members of h i s c o u r t who m i g h t

be s e r v a n t s , and t h e s e r v i c e r o l e n o t e d above of v a v a s o r s * SOI~S,

it Bay s o l v e some p u z z l e s i n _sir Cawain _the Green K n i u h t t o

assume t h e role of s o n is b e i n g o c c u p i e d by unzanked r enkkez ,

F i r s t n o t e d is the g u i d e p r o v i d e d b y B e r t i l a k f o r Gawainss trip

t o t h e Green Chapel . The g u i d e p r o v i d e s a test of Gawain 's good

f a i t h b y o f f e r i r g i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e fierce n a t u r e o f t h ~ keeper:

o f t h e Chapel , and o f f e r i n g t o keep mum i f Gawain shirks, P a u l

Defaney n o t e s Mabel D a y t s a s s e r t i o n t h a t s i n c e t h e g u i d e c l e a r l y

knows of the Green k n i g h t ' s p l o t , h e o u g h t n o t t o b e thought a

c h u r l , a s i t would be i n d e c o r o u s t o p u t a c h u r l ia s u c h a

pos i+ , ion of m r a f s u p e r i o r i t y t o w a r d s Gawain. 23 Delaney assumes

t h e g u i d e , whose b e h a v i o u r toward Ganain is una rguabfy insolent

f o r a c h u s 2 , i s aware of t h e d e t a i l s 09 G a w a i n q s s i t u a t i o n ,

i n c l n d i n g the f ac t that Gawain is wear ing t h e p f o t e c t i v e g i r d l e ,

and s o is p r o p e r l y con temptucus of Gaud in ' s p a t r o n i z i n g emphasis

on h i s own mora l i ~ p e r a t i v e s and t h e g u i d e q s l a c k of them- Both

t h e g u i d e ' s p re sumpt ion and his a p g a s e a t a w a r e n e s s of B e r t i l a k ' s

plot are e a s i l y e x p l a i n e d i f ?he g u i d e i s s e e n a s occupying a

r o l e l i k e t h a t of v a v a s o r t s son , Re in fo rcemen t f o r t h i s r e a d i n g

o c c u r s i n t h e b e h a v i o u r o f t h e never-named q * h a t k e l e s " a n d o t h e r s

who c l e a n u p G r i n y o l e t and h i s nuday master, T h e " p o r t e r pure

p le saun tw who i s Gawai;ar s first, human c o n t a c t a t f l a u t d e s e r t ,

-*-------I- ------- t 3 P a u l Delaney, "The R o l e of t h e Guideq', Donald R . Howard and C h r i s t i a n Z a c h e r ( eds - )Cr i . f : i cad g t u d i e s a Sir gawain a n 4 Green E n i q h t , Motre Dame a n d London, U n i v e r s i t y of Notre Dame Press, 1968, p228,

d o f goir?g "nyn ernde. , .herDer t o c r a v e w t o t h e lnaster a s

Gawain a s k s 181 1/01 2) welcomes Gawain OE h i s own i n i t i a t i v e , The

k n i g h t s a n d s q u i r e s t a k e h i s a z n o u r f r o m h i m , a n d "renkkezlr

b r i s g h im f r e s h c l o t h i 2 g 1863)- With t h e caste d i v i s i o n s now

c o n f u s e d , t h e i n c l u s i v e words men, qgh sew8 a re nsed t o

d e s c r i b e t h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s who a re d e l i g h t e d with G a m i n ' s

p r e s e n c e :

Uch s e g g e f u l s o f t l y s y d e t o h i s fere, 'Now s h a l we s e m l y c h se s l e y t e z of t h e w e z And t h e t e c c h e l e s termes of t a l k i n g n o b l e . '

(917/919)

It is n o t o n l y t h e l a d y who h o p e s t o make Gawain her t u t o r ; t h e

entire h o u s e h o l d t h i n k s t h e same, The h o u s e h o l d seems less

l i k e l y t o b e cowposed e i t h e r o f c h u r l s who p r e s u m e i n t h i s way

or honoured k n i g h t s t h a n t o b e the r i c h p r o v i n c i a l houseboLd o f

a v a v a s o r peopled b y t h e v a v a s o r ' s k o i g h t - w o r s h i p p i n g sons.

Eertilak's t e a c h i n g o f G a u a i n is c e r t a i n l y not t h e

r e l a t i v e l y s i m p l e m t t e z of s o l v i n g a n e t h i c a l dilemma o r

s e ? t i n g a q u e s t . I n f a c t B e r t i l a k ' s t e a c h i n g i s t h e m a t i c i o a

way n e i t h e r P e a r c y 8 s r e s e a r c h a o r n y own h a s shown i t t o be in

a n y other v a v a s o r c h a r a c t e r , C l e a r l y , i f this c h a r a c t e r has i ts

r o o t s i n the v a v a s o r t r a d i t i o n , t h e Gawain p o e t h a s n o t ~ e r e l y

~ ~ ~ t b e l l i s h e d , b u t t r a n s m u t e d , his naterial. 1 n sum, P e a r c y ' s work

z * I f t h i s i s n o t t h e t r u e e x p l a n a t i o n , and t h e apparent r e r v a n t s are t r u l y servants, B e r t i l a k is n o t a p p a r e n t l y i n c o n t r o l of his h o u s e h o l d - T h o s e who o f f e r t h e meal, a c d e s p e c i a l l y t h e g u i d e , o t h e r w i s e b e h a v e i n a manner not p r o p e r l y s u b s e r v i e n t . T h i s a c c o r d s wi th t h e t o o - g r e a t democracy no+,ed i n t h e b u n t s c e n e s .

suggests t h a t $0 an aud ience v e r s e d i n Preach l i terature , a

ntediated romance i n which a vavasor-f3ert i la)r upheld t h e humanly

possible f e a t u r e s of romance values while testing t o d e s t r u c t i o c

their impracticalities, may not h a v e been totally without

precedent , Whether R e f t i l a k is s e e n a s inside or outside t h e

vavascr model, Gawain h a s a chaace t o take s e r i o u s l y , a s

p o t e n t i a l e a r n e s t , t h e o f f e r i n g s of Bertilak t h a t come i n t h e

form of game.

VI, Conclusion: The Counsel of Imperfection

L a c k i n g that c e r t a i n a u t h o r i t y which b e i n g gggl a n d

h a v i n g a g r e e n c o m p l e x i o n a n d a s e l f - h e a l i n g neckbone give t h e

g r e e n gome, B e r t i l a l r sees h i s Eessoa a b o u t t h e n e e d t o g i v e

w h o l e h e a r t e d a t t e n t i o n t o c h o o s i n g o n e ' s v a l u e s g o l a r g e l y

u n n o t i c e d b y Gawain, T h e lesson will be g i v e n a g a i n by t h e Green

Knight, H e a r i n g t h e G r e e n C h a p e l , t h e p o e t p r e s e n t s a Gaua in

whose p e r c e p t i o n s a r e v e r y much d i s t o r t e d by his f e a r s , The

l a n d s c a p e a p p e a r s t h r o u g h i m a g e r y a s menac ing a s it was i n h i s

earlier s e a r c h , when if, h i s e x h a u s t i o n h e p r a y e d f o r k g r b e r , a n d

fouod H a u t d e s e r t , Now, h e sees 'rughe k n o t l e d k n a r r e z w i t h

k n o r n e d s t o n e / l h e skwez of t h e s c o ~ t e s s k a y n ~ d hym t h o g h t

w ( 2 1 6 6 - 2 1 6 7 ) - Despite +,he f a c t t h e p o e t s a y s more o b j e c t i v e l y

t h a t the G r e e n C h a p e l i s t o o f e a t u r e l e s s t o d e s c r i b e , "ncbot a n

ofde c a u e , / O r a c r e u i s s e of a n o f d e c r a g g e n [ 2 1 8 Y ) , Gawain sees

it as a f i t p l a c e fo r " t h e wyghe w r u x l e d i n grenew t o d e a f %is

d e u o c i o u n o n t h e d e u e l e z wyseas ( 2 191-21 92) - Buch t h e s a n e

distorted p e r c e p t i o n m a r k s G a w a i n 9 s a c t u a l meeting w i t h t h e

w y ~ h e . First, the eneifty is a n o i s e "as o n e vpon a g r y n d e l s t o n

h a d e g r o u a d e n a syt 'heq* [ 2 2 0 2 ) , a n o i s e suitable f o r c h u r P * s work-

He is o n t h e b a n k e n (2217) r a t h e r t h a n a c o n c r e t e b e i n g , H e

has t fe s u p e r i o r l ocat i o n (nakouen o u e z h i s hedeq* (2237) ) , a

v i o l e ~ t action ("wh y r l a n d e o u t of a wro" (2222) ) , and a c u t t i n g

(**a f e P l e weppen,/A denez ax nwe d y g h t n

p r o t e c t i v e g i r d l e , wha t G a u a i n focuses on is

no lasse bi t h a t lace t h a t lewd ful bryg i1+ ,~~(2226) , G a u a i c ' s

a l t e r e d p e r c e p t i o n s are c l e a r l y responsible for i ts size, T h e

c r e a t u r e is p h y s i c a l l y d e s c r i b e d o n l y v e r y b r i e f l y . H e i r " g e r e d

as f y r s t , / B o t h e the I y r ~ a n d t h e l e g g e z , l o h k e z a n d

berdet* ( 2 2 2 7 - 2 2 2 8 ) - Beyond t h a t , h e is d e r i s i v e l a u g h t e r ,

a c c u s a t i o n a n d jndgment. The p o e t h a s made n o s p e c i a l m e n t i o n of

those q u a l i t i e s w h i c h i n t h e first f i t t made t h e g r e e n creature

an enigma composed of churlish b e h a v i o u r a n d clothing t h a t migh t

almost h a v e b e e n p r i n c e 1 yo

O r a l p o e t r y i s more i n t e n s e l y linear t h a n t h a t v h i c h i s

w r i t t e n and s t u d i e d on t h e p a g e a t l e i s u r e ; t h e p i c t u r e cf t h e

green c r e a t u r e i n the f i r s t f i t t was p o s s i b l y , t o the hearer as

t o Gawain, well b l u r r e d by t h e f o u r t h f i t t , Thus , t h e Green

K n i g h t is, a t the point of the judgment a n d a b s o l u t i o n , a l m o s t

p u r e chorl, n o i s y , u n d i s c i p f i n e d and u n k n i g h t l y, --making ~zoise,

c a r r y i n g t h e wrong weapon, u n d i s c i p l i n e d , and u n k n i g h t l y , His i s

t h e battle weapcn of t h e a n c i e n t s , t h e Danes, b e f o r e t h e h i g h

p o l i s h of f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y m o d e r n i t y took p l a c e , G a w a i n g s

iaagination h a s developed c o n s i d e r a b l y since t h e Camefot

---*----*-*------I

l s t o d d a r d M a l a r k e y a n d J, Barre Tofken s u g g e s t t h e l i n e he read i n t h i s way i n W a w a i n a ~ d t h e Green G i r d l e f * , Howard a n d Z a c h e r , C r i t i c a l S t ~ d i f ~ Of gawaip aria Gneen K n i g h t , p239. -I__-- - - -

s e c t i o n . H e proiuised w i t h o u t dfead t o a c c e p t a n a x e - s t r o k e from

this creature b e c a u s e he e x p e c t e d the creature t o be k i l l e d

before t h a t e v e n t , He e v i d e n t l y f a i l e d to n o t e t h a t a c r e a t u r e

who is green may be p e c u l i a r ia o t h e r r e s p e c t s a l s o ,

At the Green Chape l , the g r e e n creature i s even less

c o u r t l y t h a n b e f o r e , I n d i s c a r d i n g h i s h o r s e , h e has d i s c a r d e d

h i s most v i s i b l e claim t o b e i n g c a l l e d a k n i g h t , He t u r n s

h i a s e l f i n t o a comedy ficjure w i t h t h e a b z u p t p r a c t i c a l i t y with

which, r e a c h i n g t h e c r e e k , n h e wade nolde,/Fie h i p p e d over o n h i s

axc, , . .w(2231). The u n g a i n l y a c t i o n a n d the u n e x ~ e c t e d use a s

v a u l t i n g pole o f t h e " f e l l @ to l ew h e i s e x p e c t e d t o u s e

presently for b e h e a d i n g is a i s m i s s i v e b o t h of the c e r e ~ o n i a l

c h a r a c t e r e x p e c t e d i n k n i g h t l y b a t t l e , and of G a v a i n 9 s feel i ~ g s .

Bad enough t o he qqhadded with an a l v i s h monw; worse t o have used

on hila a n a x e s o r e c e n + , l y u s e d for a n unfit purpose , Soon a f t e r ,

t h e c h a r a c t e r traits o f the c h a r 1 begin t o a p p e a r ia Gawain,

while i n t h e green c r e a t u r e t h e y u n d e r g o a s t r a n g e a a e l i c r a t i o n .

The k n i g h t begins t y p i c a l l y enough, w i t h a m e t h o d i c a l

c a l c u l a t i n g r e v i e w of what h a s been p romised and what i s owed-

And t h o u h a t z tytned thy t r a u a y l a s ttuee man s c h u l d e , And t h o u kaowez t h e c o u e n a u n t e z k e s t v u s bytwene.. . -

(224 1-2242)

H u m i l i a t i n g l y , Gawain then h e a s s h i s o p ~ c n e n t ' s pe r fo rmance .

rev iewed:

I hyght t h e a s t r o k and t h o u h i t h a t z , h a l d e the we1 payed ;

I relece tte of t h e remnaunt of s y g h t e s a l l e o t h e r .

Iif I d e l i n e r h a d bene, a boffet p a r a u n t e r , I c o u t h e w r c t h e l o k e r ha• ’ waret, t o t h e h a f w r o g h t a n g e r .

(2341 ff)

It is f u r t h e r i n f u r i a t i n g and h u m i l i a t i n g t o h e a r the green

c r e a t u r e p a t r o ~ i s i ~ g l y a p p r o v e G a w a i n t s own f i d e l i e y :

F y r s t 1 ma~sed t h e mury ly w i t h a ~ i n t one , And r o u e t h e wyth no f o f - s o r e , w i t h r y g h t 1 t h e p r o f e r e d f o r t h e f o r w a r d e t h a t we fest i z t h e f y r s t n y g h t , And t h o u t r y s t y l y t h e t r a w t h e and t r w l y me haldez, A 1 t h e gaynf thow me ge f , a s god mon schu lde ,

12345ff)

The p o i n t - c o u n t i n g , l a w y e r - t a l k i n g g ree r , c r e a t u r e ia this

p a s s a g e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y shows t h a t what h e lacks i n s t y l e of

g e n t i l l e s s e , R e wakes u p for i n b e i n g g e n u i n e l y @ t o u s . 2

F u r t h e r , it is i n this p a s s a g e t h a t Gawain becomes aware, its t h e

a u d i e n c e h a s been fo r p e r h a p s two f i t ts , t h a t t h e g a m e - p l a y i n g

B e r t i l a k whoa Gawaia h a s c a v a l i e r l y d e f r a u d e d i s t h e same a s t h e

g r e e n gorne whose game h a s been for Gawain GO gawe, but a matter

o f l i f e a n d d e a t h , T h e p i n t of t h e g l i d i n g down of t h e g r e e n

creature's s t f c k e t * s c h r a n k e a l y t e l w i t h t h e s h u l d r e s f o r t h e

scharp y r n e ( 2 2 6 8 ) " is t h e m o s t d r a m a t i c moment i n Gawain ' a

me+,amorphosis from one-dimensional . romance k n i g h t .to whora a l l

v i r t u e s a r e e q u a l a n d i n v i o l a b l e , t o h u ~ a n b e i n g whose ccncern

to p r e s e r v e h i s l i f e i s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f h i s a b i l i t y t o a s s e s s

and t o we igh r e l a t i v e v a l u e s , h i s f a l l i n t o t h e real wor ld :

**-*---*----------

zBurrow s a y s i t is i m p o r t a n t t o t h i n k t h e Grees K n i g h t n o v l d h a v e k i l l e d Gawain i f t h i n g s had g o n e worse i n t h e castle, (~'137) b u t if t h e w i n n i n g a n d no% t h e a d u l t e r y is h i s i n t e r e s t , how could t h i n g s h a v e goae worse?

'Thou a r t n o t S a w a i n , ' q u o t h t h e gome, ' t h a t i s so gonde h a r d e n ,

T h a t n e u e r a r g h e d f o r n o here b y h y l l e n e b e vale, And nou t h o u f les for f e r d e er t h o u f e f e harmez! S u c h c o w a r d i s e of t h a t k n y g h t c o w t h e X n e u e r he re .

(227Of f)

T h i s i s the seccnd o c c a s i o r , on which the Gawair of r e p u t a t i o n

h a s been d i s t i n g u i s h e d from t h e Gawain of t h e poem, Ear l i e r t h e

l a d y has a r g u e d t h a t t h e G a n a i ~ s h e knows of would n e v e r h a v e

l e t a l a d y l a n g u i s h u n k i s s e d ; G a u a i n h a s s a i d t h a t , i n d e e d , h e

is n o t t h a t Gawain. Here, the green k n i g h t i s m e r e l y g o a d i n g ;

l a t e r , he w i l l make i t clear t h a t c a r i n g f o r o n e ' s l i f e i s n o t

i n a p p r o p r i a t e , t h a t t h e manly @an s e e a s t o him b l a m e l e s s , t h e

h a r d y man sctgehcw inhuman, 3 But now, the c r e a % u r e f l a u n t s h i s

own b r a v e r y , t h o u g h it m u s t b e t h e p r o d u c t of H o r g a n ' s gift of

r e c o v e r y :

Nawther f y k e d 1 n e f l a g h e , f r e k e , quen t h o u m y n t e s t , Ne kest no k a u e l a c i o n i n k y n g e z h o w ArLhor-

(2274-2275)

Gawain c a n h a r d l y see, a s the a u d i e n c e mus t , t h a t t h i s i s h o l l o w

coming from a c r e a t u r e wi+,h a s n a p o n head. In h a v i n g Gawain

g i r d his c o u r a g e f o r t h e next stroke which w i l l p r o v e t o be

n o t h i n g more t h a n a f e i n t , t h e p o e t g i v e s u s a Gawain s o s e w h a t

redeemed, a s he was when, a f t e r a c c e p t i n g t h e g r e e n g i r d l e In a

**-e-..------------

JAR i d e n t i t y c h a l l e n g e a p p e a r s to b e comnron i n Gawain stcries, A d r a m a t i c exa tnpfe i s f o u n d i n ' the a s s g gg B a n c e s P e t i t e s e p i s o d e of C h r e t i e a 's P e r c e v a l where a v a v a s o r ' s eldest d a u g h t e r accuses Gawain cf not b e i n g a k n i g h t , of h a v i n g a l a n c e , horse and d e s t r i e r to which he , a s s u n e d by h e r t o b e a m e r c h a n t , is n o t e n t i t l e d ,

g u i l t y a t t e m p t t o save his l i f e , h e r e f u s e s the g u i d e ' s cffer of

a sa fe e s c a p e , Here is Gawain w i t h t h e r u s h of t h e a x e i n h i s

ears 'stil3.e a s a s t o n e , o r a shrube other f (2293). T h e

difficulty w i t h which he suinmons h i s c o u r a g e is o b v i o u s . "nhy

t h r e s h on , t h o u thro man, thee t h r e t e s t c Longw (2300). It i s

i g n o b l e to t h r e a t e n u i P h o u t a c t i o n ; it is i g n o b l e t o " t h r e s h m ,

Here t h e wora seems t o mean a g r a c e l e s s , u n g a i n l y b e a t i n g ,

u n k n i g h t f y and w i t h o u t a r t , T h i s is Gawain a t his w o r s t i n

r o m a n c e terms, b a r s h - s ~ c k e n , i m p a t i e n t , +unk t o i n s u l t i n g h i s

i n f e r i o r s . It is also Gawain a t h i s inost recognisably h u m n -

When G a u a i n h a s s t o o d his blow and seen h i s own blood i n

t h e snow, a n d then "'braydez o u t a b r y g h t awordeqf t2318) , t h e

c r e a t u r e m e r e l y l e a n s on his axe, assesses h i s p u p i l benignly, l

and s u g g e s t s h e be less " g r y n d e l " a n d , s i c c e n o one h a s s o f a x

behaved *un aanerly" , r e s t r a i n h i s own ungentle manners , Za

short, the creature h a s s u c c e e d e d i n r e v e r s i n g the r o l e s Gawain

e x p e c t e d they would e a c h p l a y ; Gawain i s the c ~ o ~ L , t h e

i l l - n u r t u r e d c h i l d , t h e u n c i v i f i z e d p u p i l f o r c e d t o c i v i l a c t i o n

by the benign s n p e r i o r i t f of t h e c r e a t u r e h e t h o u g h t o f , o n l y

i n s t a n t s b e f o r e , a s u t t e r l y l a c k i n g i n c i v i l i t y ,

A l t h o u g h t h e l a n g u a g e t h e G r e e n Knight uses i n e x p l a i n i n g

G a w a i n e s limits a n d s t r e n g t h s is o b v i o u s l y t h e l a n g u a g e cf t h e

c o n f e s s i o n a l , t h e t e a c h i n g is not e s s e n t i a l l y r e l i g i o u s , The

f u n c t i o n of m e t a p h o r is t o e x p l a i n t h e u n f a m i l i a r by seeing it

t h r o u g h a screen formed by t h e f a m i l i a r - * In t h i s s i t u a t i o n ,

f a i t h i s t h e f a m i l i a r u n i v e r s e . I n r e l i g i o n it was well

u n d e r s t o o d t h a t " s e v e n times d a i l y the good man sinnethr* I n

romance, honevez, i t i s ra re ly recognised c h a t there could b e a

limited p e r f e c t i o n w o r t h s e e k i n g , It is fcr t h i s reason, and not

b e c a u s e of r e l i g i o u s i n t e n t , t h a t t h e g r e e n a u c t o y c h o o s ~ s t h e

(1 progress: I

1 h a l d e hit 3ardily h o l e , t h e harme t h a t I hade. Thou art c o n f e s s e d s o clene, be tnowen of thy Hiysses, And h a t z t h e penaunce a p e r t o f t h e ~ogn?: of myE egye, I h a l d e t h e p o l y d e d of t h a t p l y g h t , and p u r e d as clene A s t h o u hadez neuer f o r f e t e d sythen thou watz f y r s t borne.

The Green K n i g h t ~ a k e s t h e preamble t o t h e t h i r d blow t h e ~ C m m t

f o r a r e m a r k that may e x p r e s s t h e poem's sentencg. J o h n E u r r o u

h a s shown t h a t Gawain * s pen t a n g 1 e r e p r e s e n t e d an i n c o n s i s t e n t

Set of v a l n e s which pnt i n t o s i m u l t a n e o u s a c t i o n would each test

the other t o d e s t r u c t i o n . Ne p o i n t s o u t that i t i s i ~ p o s s i b f e

for Gawain t o m a i n t a i n h i s S a u t h e i n action, Rensan makes a

similar point t h o u g h h e c a l l s G a v a i n S s l o s t v i r t u e h i s los-

when the green knight p o i n t s to t h e lace t h a t Gawain has kept

f o r h i m s e l f , h e a c c n s e s Gawain of lacking a l i t t l e l e a u t e -

G a u a i n ' s s e l f - a c c u s a t i o n is i n c l u s i v e :

F o r care of t h y k n o k k e c o w a r d g s e me t a g h t , Tc a c o r d e we with c o u e t y s e , my kynde t o f o r s a k e , T h a t is larges and leute t h a t l o n g e z t o k n y g h t e z - N o w am I fauty and fafce, a d n ferde ha•’ ben euer O f treacherye a n d v n t z a u t h e : bothe b i t p d e s o r g h e

f2379ff)

The fact is that G a u a i n , i n t h i s state of e m o t i o n a l d e s h a b i l l e ,

t e l l s more about h i s inner life a n d his c o d e of k n i g h t l i n e a s

than his f o r m a l pentangle d i d . H e c o n s i d e r s h i s v e r y b e i n g

d e s t r o y e d , t h a t l a r g e s s a n d l o y a l t y t h a t belong t o k n i g h t s . g h a t

d i s t i n g u i s h e s k n i g h t s from lesser creatures i s n o t simply a code

of b e h a v i o u r , a s u p e r i o r s o r t of R u r t u r e , It i s a c t u a l i a h e r e n z

fibre which a p p e a r s t o i n v o l v e one" character and a l l those

features of the individual which are n o t g e n e r a l 1 y subject t o

d e b a s e m e n t t h r o u g h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , T h u s many d e s i r a b l e qualities

are not a a a t t e r of a c o n s c i o u s s e a r c h fcr v i r t u e . Though She

act t h a t loarks Gawain ' s sin is t h e c o n c e a l m e n t of t h e g r e e n

g i r d l e , it i s ~ c t clear what Gavain thinks the sin is. As a

p e r s o n a l garment, it may mark t h e f a c t h e was t e m p t e d t o be t h e

l o v e r o f t h e knight's l a d y . As a w i n n i n g , it nay seem a species

of theft, t haugh Gawain does n o t seem t o h a v e p h y s i c a l

p o s s e s s i o n of h i s own w i n n i n g s , t h e game a n d fur- As a charm

a g a i n s t d e a t h , it may h a v e ~ a d e him aware of t h e fear o f death

h e cal ls cowardice,

As f o r the G r e e n Knight, h e t h i n k s t h e si3 was a l i t t l e

matter, a small lack o f fidelity t o a b a r g a i n made and s e a l e d -

His role is t o s h a t t e r G a w a i n l s u n r e a l i s t i c e x p e c t a t i o n s a b o u t

h i s own virtue and i n a d d i t i o n h i s inflated o p i n i o n of t h e

i m p c r t a n c e o f h i s own s i n . H e i n t e n d s him t o u n d e r s t a n d

s o m e t h i n g new a b o u t t h e kynde of knights:

'So, now t h o u hatz t h i her@ h o l l e , h i t t e me b i h o u s - H a l d e the now the hyghe hode that Arthur t h e r a g h t , And kepe the k a n e l a t t h i s k e s t , y i f h i t k e u e r may-'

(2296f f)

Gava in h a s h i s heart whole, T h e word h e a r t was f o r t h e

f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y a s for t h e t w e n t i e t h b r o a d i n mean ing , the

BED shows, T h e r a n g e i n c l u d e d t h e c o n s c i o u s se l f , the t rue self

as opposed t o t h e o u t w a r d p e r s o n a ; i t i n c l u d e d c h a r a c t e r and

purpose o r %ill, T h e h e a r t was t h e ceztre of l i f e o r v i t a l i t y o r

e n e r g y . It was e q u a t e d w i t h the s o u l , t h e c e n t r e of s p i r i t u a l

l i f e a n d n to ra l v i r t u e s , It naeant mind o r i m a g i n a t i o n , and

several o f t h e i n w a r d wits: conscience, memory, and instinct,

S i n c e whcleness meant h e a l t h o r p e r f e c t i o n , the whole h e a r t is a

c l e a r l y

to h a v ~

H i s B D t

pcsiti v e l o c u t i o n , In Cf a n n e s mad N e b u c h a d n e s s a r is sa id

a n unwhole h e a r t :

hert h e l d e t u n h o l e , h e hoped n o n c ther a b e s t t h a t h e be, a bol o t h e r an oxe.

(I68 7-21

Elsewhere i n Clannes, t h e t r a n s c e n d e n t v a l u e of a whole h e a r t i s

emphasized: God knows o n e ' s wishes even b e f o r e they are framed

as thoughts, a n d reacts t o f i n d i n g a n i n d i v i d u a l with a w i l l t o

g o o d n e s s :

There R e f y n d e z a l fayre a freke w y t h i o n n e , Wyth h e r t h o ~ e s t a n d hol, t h a t hathef h e h o n o u r e z ,

(594-595)

The meaning i n mgne_s s u g g e s t s a n integrity and a mental h e a l t h

basfa not o n a s t y l i z e d set of v i r t u e s s u i t e d o n l y to the world

of roaance, but on a w i l l to b e h a v e as well as o n e can a t the

maent- The "gropande god*', t h e supreme tester, values t h e

to he perfect aad t h e labour of t r y i n g tc a c h i e v e p e r f e c t i o n :

n a t u r e and n u r t u r e a re therefore u n i t e d , Neither God n o r the

more mundane tester i n SGGK e x p e c t s one t o achieve p e r f e c t i o n in

action,

While it c a n n o t b e s a i d t h e g r e e n k n i g h t ' s l e s s o n ahout t h e

need for w e i g h i n g the r e l a t i v e n o r t h of v i r t u e s is w e l l e t a k e n bY

Gawain, h i s care f o r h i s l i f e i n s t a n d i n g sti l l o n l y f o r *he one

true blow r e q u i r e d by t h e c o v e n a n t is e v i d e n c e he is actfag on

it- But h e c a n n o t be comfortable wi2h +he l e s s o n , and h e cannot

accept t h e tone o f t h e Green K n i g h t who p r e s u m e s to t e l l h i @ h e

is almost u p t o t h e nark

Bat h e r e you l a k k e d a l y t t e l , s i r , a ~ d lewte yow wanted, Bot t h a t watz f o r no wyfyde werke, ne wowy~g n a u t h e r , Bat for ye l u f e d y o u r lpf; the lasse I yow b lame- ' I

(3266f f)

The small s i n c o n c e r n i n g t h e green g i r d l e is a s i n a g a i n s t *he

Gree~ K n i g h t , a n d i t i s i n h i s g i f t t o f o r g i v e , T h e j u d g a e ~ t of

the g r e e n c r e a t u r e i s g e n u i n e l y magnanimaus, u a l i k e t h a t of

C h a u c e r ' s P r a t k l i n * s l i t e r a r y c r e a t i o n s , However, it a s s e r z s the

r i g h t of the green creature t o act t h e r o l e of judge. ~ a f d - n ,

t r a i ? e d t o feel t h e r i g h t n e s s of t h e h i e r a r c h i c a l society

w i t h o u t q u e s t i o n , a s s u m e s t h a t a l l g i f k s a re the n o b i l i t y ' s t o

g i v e a n d a l l j u d g m n t s flow downward- T h u s h i s mere superficial

g r a c e i n r e f u s i n g the Green K n i g h t ' s o f f e r of t h e f u r t h e r

h o s p i t a l i t y o f H a a t d e s e r t azld t h e two l a d i e s there- What, Gawain

s h o u l d have l e a r n e d , o f c o u r s e , is that there is no s u c h t h i n g

a s t h e kynde that l o n g e t h t o k n i g h t s , n o s u c h t h i n g as v f r t u e

t h a t d o e s n o t have t o be l e a r n e d , f o u g h t f o r a n d u o r k e d a t ,

V i r t u e is a matter of c o n s c i o u s effort a n d i t is n o t t o te

ex~ected t h a t e v e n t h e bes t o f t h e k n i g h t s of Camelot be exeapt

from the a p h o r i s w t h a t seven times e a c h d a y t h e good man

s i n n e t h . Burrow p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e d o c t r i n e of t h e inherent

s i n f u l n e s s of man i s o n e of t h e c h i e f s o u r c e s of m e d i e v a l

l i t e r a r y r e a l i s m - 6 Donald Howard i n Thg T h r e e W t a t i o ~ shows

that t h e p u l l of t e m p t a t i o n was c o n s i d e r e d t h e i n e v i t a b l e

c o n s e q u e n c e o f o r i g i n a l s i n , but t h a t t h e r e was a n ' ' e s s e n t i a l

d i g n i t y i n mans z s t r i v i n g for. -. l i m i t e d , e a r t h 1 y g o a l s ' ? , an

' q i r r e d u c i b l e wor th i n man's e f f o r t s on h i s own b e h a l f n , 7 T h e

r e s u l t was t h e n o t i o n o f t h e l i ~ i t e d perfection, a c h i e v e d i n

g r a d e s , a t t a i n m e n t of which d i d n o t prevent v e n i a l s i n .

A great p a r t o f t h e s u b t l e t y and pleasure of Sif Gawain gifi

t h e Green f t n i q h t l i e s i a S h e d e f t n e s s with which the poet h a s -- _II

h a n d l e d t h e matter of s y m p a t h i e s - The presentation of t h e Greea

K n i g h t v a r i e s greatly a c c o r d i n g t o t h e n e e d s of t h e scene of the

? P r i n c e t o n , P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 7966, p300,

moment, The r e a d e r sees i n him t h e g r o t @ s q u @ of t h e Camelo t

s c e n e , t h e g e n i a l but r a the r c o a r s e c a s t e f a n of t h e s e c o n d a n d

t h i r d f i t t , a n d f i n a l l y the b e n i g n b u t i r r i t a t i o g ~ U G ~ Q Z o f t h e

f i n a l fit+,, G a w a i n ' s idealism and h i s f a l l into wisdom a re

t r e a t e d n o t a s o b j e c t i o n a b l y pompous n o r a s a s 2 a n d a r d f u l l y

w o r t h e m u l a t i n g , T h e r e a d e r is l i k e l y t o finish t h e poem f e e l i n g

r u e f u l b u t e n l i g h t e n e d ; t h e Gawain who c o u l d n o t q u i t e l e a r n t h e

lesson +,he readu: saw c l e a r l y is s t i l l a s y m p a t h e t i c character.

T h e ethos of t h e poem seeins f i n a l l y t o be n e i t h e r e x a c t l y t h a t

o f t h s G r e e n Knight, n o r p r e c i s e l y t h a t of Gawain, G a w a i n 8 s e t h i c

h a s l e d him t o feel fear o v e r t r i v i a s u c h a s f a i l i n g t o s p e a k

w e l l , and a too-great s e n s e of l o s s o v e r s ~ a l l t h i n g s . The Green

K n i g h t , b y c o n t r a s t , l e a d s a material l i f e w h i c h imitates t h e

leas t u s e f u l a n d most e x t r a v a g a n t f e a t u r e s o f knighthood,

F u r t h e r , h i s a c c o u a t - k e e p i n g i s h a r d l y l a r g e s s e . However, i t i s

i n some w a y s u s e f u l , a s for d i s t i n g u i s h i n g between i m p o r t a c t

v a l u e s a n d m i n o r v a l u e s v i o l a t e d i n m i 3 o r ways, F u r t h e r , i t d o e s

not o v e r r i d e scme real g e n e r o s i t y , r o r the u s e f u l o e s s of

b o u r g e o i s p r a c t i c a l i t y i n t h e world o f t h e poem, where t h e

w e a t h e r can b e a more d r e a d f u l enemy t h a n b e a s t s acd wodwoses.

If Gawain will n e v e r a g a i n l i v e i n c o m f o r t i n Camelo t , h e i s

s u c h better fitted fo r t h e w o r l d of t h e E ~ g l i s f i u p p e r c l a s s .

f o u r t e e n t h c e n t u r y .

. #any c o m m e n t a t o r s on S& Cawain acG tfie Greeg Rniqhs assume

that t h e a u t h o r hiaself was a n a r i s t o c r a t A,C. S p e a r i n g i n rhg

Gawain P o e t - A Cri t ica l Study: s a y s ? h e p o e t knows c o u r t l y l i f e -- A - --- - t h r o u g h axd t h r o u g h and is o f f e r i a g *$no debased view of

a r i s t o c r a t i c l i f e f g , 0 Derek P e a r s a l l i n cld E n d i ~ ~ and M i d d l

E n s f i s h P o e t r y s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e purpose of a l l i t e r a t i v e poems 31

which, l i k e a g Ggwain giJ $hf Green Kniuht, a re n o t o v e r t

s o c i a l criticism, i s t o d i s p l a y a " k i n d of o s x e n t a t i o u s

Icnowledgeableness,, , w h i c h s u g g e s t s s o c i a l a s p i r a t i o n : ttere is

n o t h i n g i n m e t r o p o l i t a n c o u r t p o e t r y t o c c r r e s p o n d with t h e

e l a b o r a t e l y s e l f - c o n s c i o u s c o r r e c t - r e s s of the h u n t i n g a n d

f e a s t i n g scenes i n Gawainm, 9 However, b o t h t h e s e o b s e r v e r s b a s e

t h e i r c o a m e n t s on t h e a s su i ap t ion t h a t the d e s c r i p t i o n s would

have been seeE by t h e o r i g i n a l a u d i e n c e as d e s c r i p z i o n s of

p e r f e c t i o n , d e s c r i b e d wi th a p p r o v a l , T h i s a s s u m p t i o n i s

q u e s t i o n a b l e , Thus t h e i d e a t h a t the p o e t was #*a ' j a n t y l s a n *

w r i t i n g for ' jaotylmen* --fully i d e n t i f i e d u i t h t h e a r i s t o c r a t i c

s o c i e t y for which h e wrotew t o is a s u s p e c t c o n c l u s i o n , A g a i n s t

this c o n c l u s i o n c a n be set Auerbach" c o a a e n t on Chaucer t h a t

s i n c e h e uses l a n g u a g e which i s " v i b r a n t uith reality and reacts

with p r e c i s i o n t o i n n u a e r a b l e shadings of e x p e r i e n c e a n d

f e e l i n g m h e is w r i t i n g f o r a n a u d i e n c e which is n o t " h u m a n i s t i c

and c u l t u r e d b u t . . , s o c i a l l y h e t e r c g e n e o u e , s h a r p - w i t t e d and

9 London, R o u t l e d g e a n d Kegan P a u l , 1977, p176,

• ’ 1 C h a u c e r ' s p u b l i c , he t h i n k s , p ra l l e l s t h e

a u t h o r , o z a t f e a s t t h e a u t h o r i a l s t a n c e i n t h e poems.

The b a s i s o n which a n a u t h o r d i s p l a y s a s o c i e t y t o an H

a u d i e n c e of h i s own s o c i e t y i s somewhat l i k e t h e Frocess of I mculding a s c u l p t u r e : The niould i s e x a c t l y t h e o p g c s i t e cf w h a t

a p p e a r s i n the f i n a l s c u l p t u r e * T h a t which i s u t t e r l y f a e i l i a r

a n d u n c o n t r o v e r s i a l is n o t a matter o f i n t e r e s t t o t h e s e r i o u s

artist, a n d t h a t which is i n a c c e s s i b l y s t r a n g e will n o t f i n d a n

a u d i e n c e , # h a t p o e t and a u d i e n c e a l i k e w i l l be e x c i t e d by is t h e

incompletef y u n d e r s t o o d , o r t h e imperf e c t l y real ised i d e a l , o r

t h e p e r f e c t i o n no l o n g e r a v a i l a b l e , T h e r e f o r e genuine l u x u r y i s

of i n t e r e s t m a i n l y 20 t h o s e who a s p i r e ta it o r a r e insecure i n

their p o s s e s s i o n of it, B u r l e s q u e l u x u r y , o n the o t h e r h a n d ,

would be o f interest t o those whose s e c u r e p o s s e s s i o n o f it

e n a b l e d t h e m t o see that there are o t h e r values w o r t h a s g i r i n g

to, If t h e a n d i e n c e were t h e n o b i l i t y , t h e y c o u l d not be those

under f i n a n c i a l t h r e a t ; if from t h e u p p e r m e r c h a n t class, t h e y

wonld have t o be of a g e n e r a t i o n w i t h o u t memor ies of p r i v a t i o n .

T h e Gawain p o e t ' s a u d i e n c e was n e c e s s a r i l y a n e d u c a t e d one,

i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e s u b t l e e x a m i n a t i o n of m o r a l c o n u n d r a , I t was

an a u d i e n c e c a p a b l e of s e e i n g t h a t a p e n t a n g l e of v i r t u e s

represents g e n u i n e n o b i l i t y o f a s p i r a t i o n , but i s i n h u m a n l y .

d i f f i c u l t t o a c h i e v e , It could h e a r a p a r o d y of g o r g e o u s n e s s

with a smile for the worldly values of wealth and status, T h e

goern prescribes the replaceinent of both t h e romance values of

Eraunchise and the real i s t ic v a l u e s of chev i saunce with a --- secular e g n i v a l e n t of the religions concept of the limited

perfection, neither neurotically d i s t a n t nor narrowly grasp ing .

T h e poem i s reinarka blp h e a l t h y by t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y standards;

it has i t s heart whole,

B i b l i o g r a p h y

C r i t i c i s m

Auerbach, E r i c h , L i ~ t e f m ~ Lancruaqe a u && P u b l i c &i Late L a t i n Antiquiry g& R i d d l e Acres, R a l p h Banheira ( t r a n s , ) , -- N e w P o r k , P a n t h e o n , 1965,

Amsler, Hark E,, % i t e r a r y Theory a n d t h e Genres o f f l i d d l e E n g l i s h L i t e r a t u r e e , Genre XI11 ( F a l l t980) , 389-398,

B a r b e r , Richard, K n i q h t qql! C h i v a l r y , N e w P o r k , ~ h a r P e s S c r i b n e r ' s S o n s , 1970,

Benson, L a r r y D,, Art a a T r a d i t i o n Garaain arm gfig Green Knighh, New Brnnswick, Mew J e r s e y , R u t g e r s U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , -- 1965.

B l a c k , Hax, l~~q_defs P l e t a ~ h o r s , N e w York, 1962,

Borns te in , Diane, Birrors of C o u r t e a , Hamden, Connecticut, Archon Books, 1375,

Borzoff, Barie, Gawain and &the Green K n i g h t ; 4 S t y l i s t i c a n d Re t r i c a l S t u d t , New Haven a n d London, Yale U n i v e r s i t y -- ---- Press, 1962,

Brown, R, Allen, F n q l i s h fledieval Castlesr London, Batsford, 1954,

Erown, Raymond L a a o n t , A n t i q u e s Journal xx [I9741 , 10- 1 3 ,

Buslia, Robert B., "The A r t of C h a u c e r v s Frankl inf i , N e o p h i l 51(1967) , 55-73,

Burrow, J . A . , Reading a $& Gawain ag4 G r e e n Kniqhb, N e w York, Barnes a n d Noble, 1956,

Cockcraft, Robert, Y a s t l e H a u t d e s e s t : P o r t r a i t o r Pa t ch ro rk?" , Weophif 62 ( l 9 ? 8 ) , 459-477-

Cosman, F lade le ine P e l n e r , The E d u c a t i o n of the H e x 0 & A r t h u ~ i a n Romance, Chape l H i l l , U n i v e r s i t y o f Worth C a r o l i n a Press, 1965,

Curtius, E r n s t Rober t , EuEppeaq L i t e r a t u r e 2nd 2& L a m Middle &ep Willard R, Tirask ( t r a n s , ) New York, Pantheon , 1953,

Davenpor t , W - A - , == Brt of Gawain PoeL London, A th lone , 1978,

D i a m o ~ d , A r l y n , "Sir Gawain and t h e G r e e n Knight: An A l l i t e r a t i v e Ro@ancew, PQ 55: 10-29.

Dooh, P e n e l o p e E , R I , Neb~1chadnezzagLg C h i l d r e n : C o n v e n t i c n s of Madness jg Aiddle E n q l i s b Literaturg, New Haven and Locdon, ---u

Yale University Press, 1974,

E a d i e , J,, f i # o r g a i n La f ~ e and t h e CoacLusion of Sir Gawaic and t h e G r e e n Kn iqh t I t , Neoph i l 5 2 ( 3 9 6 8 ) , 299-304. -- __.-

Evans, V , O , , T h e case f o r S i x Gawain Re-opened8*, BLR 68:721-733.

-----------. n C o ~ t a y ~ y e i n a i d d l e English, S e d i e v a l Studies {Toron to ) 2 9 (1357) , 143- 157,

Fo ley , Michae l fl,, "Gawain* s Two C o n f e s s i o n s Reconsideredu, ChauR 9 [ f 9 7 4 ) , 73-79,

Ferguson , A r t h u r EL, The I n d i a n Suamer qf Fn43is4 C h i v a l r y : S t u d i e s & ffec3.i.m y ~ q T r a n s f o r m a t x o n of C h i v a 3 . G ~ --- f d e a l i s g , Durhaw , Morth Carolina, Duke U n i v e r s i t y Press, 1960,

Priedaann, A l b e r t B., "Morgan le Pay i n S i r Gawain and t t e Green Knight" , Spec. 35 ( 1 960) , 260-274,

G a y l o r d , Alan I., "The Promises in t h e F r a n k l i n t s Tale", ELR 31 (196V) , 331-365,

Geronld, G o r d ~ n Hall, "The Social S t a t u s of Chaucerqs Franklin" PHLB 41 [1926) , 262-279.

G i l s o n , E t i e n n e , Thg S p i x i t of M e d i e v a l g h i f osovhy , A-H, C-Downes [ t r a n s , ) , N e w York, C h a r l e s Scriboer's Sons, 1940,

H i l l , A r c h i b a l d A,, *The Green Knight $ s C a s t l e a n d t h e T r a n s l a t o r s q t , C a n a d i a n J o u r n a l O f L i n g u i s i t i c s 17 (1 972) , 740-158,

Green , R i c h a r d A,, %auain's S h i e l d a n d the Q u e s t f o r Perfection1(, ELB 2 9 {1962) , 121- 139-

Holmes, G - A , , x& Estates qf the Hiqher H c b i i i t y & f o r n e e n t h C e n t u u B n s l a n d , C a a b r i d g e , C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1957.

I

Howard, D o n a l d R., T h e C o n c l u s i o n of t h e H a r r i a g e Group: C h a u c e r a n d the Human C o n d i t i o n 1 * , FJlP 57 (1960) , 223-232.

Halvesson, d c h n , "Template C r i t i c i s m : S i t Gawain and t h e Green Knight ' ' , EIF 67 f 1963) , 133- 139. 1

--*-w*----e---m----- a,ad C h r i s t i a n Z a c h e f (4s.) , C r i t i c s & S t u d i e s oE Sir Gawag giJ t h f G m e 2 KnigG, Notre Dame a n d -- London, U n i v e r s i t y of N o t r e Dame Press, 1368.

---I---IIII --- The T h r e e T e r a p t a t i o n s : H e d i e v a l Egg &Q Search of - -&he norla, P r i n c e t o n , Princeton U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1986.

Hughes, D e r e k W,, "The Problem of R e a l i t y i n s g Gawair~ the Green gniqht ", UTQ 40:217-235- ---

J o n e s , R.T. , T h e B e d i e v a l gi&n, M e w York, Narcourt Brace, 1959 4 1 9 5 a r

K i t e L e p , 3, F,, "The gs Arte f i o n e s t e A mandg of A a d r e a s Capef l anus a n d t h e C o n c e p t of C c u f t e s y i n a Gamin gad_ _the g=_een Kni~hLf : ", A n g l i a 7 9 [ 1 9 6 1 ) , 7-16,

Kra Fpe, A - f i , , "Who was the Green K 207-215,

night?", Spec- XI11 11 9381,

Kura th , Hans a n d Sherman B. Kuhn ( e d s - ) , Pliddle Enq&&g& Dic t ion= , Ann Arbor , U c i v e r s i t y of H ich igan Press, -- l956---,

L e f f, Gordon, Redie v a l Thouqh_$d S a i s t A u q u s t i n e 32 Ock hgg, Chicago , Q u a d r a n g l e , 195%.

T h e D i s s o l u t i o n of e i e v a P Ou t look , N e w York, New - - . . -- ----3-c.--

York U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1976-

Loomis, Roge r Sherman, B r t h u r i a n T r a d i t i o n 2nd Cbretien dg Troyes , N e w York and London, Columbia U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , - 9949,

Leach, HacEdward fed,) , S t u d i e s & Medieva l L i t e r a t u r e 4p Honour of P r o f e s s o r Bfbert Crolf BauQ, P h i l a d e l p h i a , u n i v e r s i t y of 3- - - - - - - s u e

P e n n s y l v a n i a P r e s s , 196 1.

Love joy , A r t h u r 0, , The Great Chain 2s a i g z A S t u d y ~f g s H i s t o r y of an I d e a , Cambridge, Ha rva rd O n i v e r s i t y Press, -- 1951 ( 1 9 3 6 ) -

Lumiansky, R, B, , he C h a r a c t e r a n d Pezf ormance o f Chaucer* s Frankl in1* , DTQ X X f l 9 5 l ) , 3Y4-356,

McAlindon, T,, nCo~edy and Terror i n E i d d l e E n g l i s h Literature: T h e D i a b o l i c a l Gamen, HLR 60 f t 965 f , 323-332.

Hann, L i n d s a y a,, w G e n t i f l e s s e and the Frackfin's T a l e w , SP63[1966) , 10-29.

B e t c a l f , A l l a n A,, * 'S i r Gawain a n d Yone, ChauR 5:165-178,

14loarman, Charles, A &yg& These gas: z& Xvoluti~n of 2&g Knight ig Literaturf , L e x i n g t o n , U l i v e r s i t p of Kentucky - Press, 1967,

f l u s e a t i n e , C h a r l e s , Poe%rp ma Cris ig 22 s$s & Bqe ofu_cer, Notre Dame and London, U n i v e r s i t y o f Mutre Dame P r e s s , 1972-

-----------mThe S o c i a l Background o f t h e Old Frencfi F a b l i a u x t * , Genre IX(1976) no. 1, 1-19,

Eyers, AIR,, & the &ate Bidd3e h ~ e s , London, penguin , 1952.

Oakden, J,P,, Alliterative P o e t r X in R i d d l e Enq1i&, Brcbon Books, 1968.

O r m e , N i c h o l a s , E n g l i s h S c h o o l s Sg t g idd l e &%s , London, Met huen, 1 973.

Owst, G.R., Literature and P u l p i t & H e d i e a h gnsland, Oxford , Bas i l B l a c k w e l l , 1966 (1 933) .

Pace , G e o r g e B,, V h y s i o g n o ~ y and S i r Gawain Green Rniqh tVq , ELN 6: 76l-l6S, ...

P e a r s a l l , Dsxek, *The Eeve lopment of t h e H i d d l e E n g l i s h RomanceH, BS(Toron to )27{1965 ) , 91-116-

P e a r c y , Roy 4- , ' **Chauce r*s P r a n k 1 i n and the L i t e r a r y VavasourH, ChauR 8 [1973) , 33-59,

*-------.*----- "Investigations i n t o t h e P r i n c i p l e s of f a k l i a u S t r u c t u r e n , Genre I X EO. 4, 345-378.

Ross, James Bruce, and BcLaughl in , Elary Martin (eds-), %&f P o r t a b l e Medieval Reader, N e w Pork, Vik ing , f 949- - I - -__I_ ----

S c a t t e r g o o d , V,J,, "The Debate Between N u r t u r e and Kynd: An U n p u b l i s h e d Middle E n g l i s h Poeian, N Q 17 ( 1970) , 244-246,

Sklnte, L a r r y MI, "The Ambigui ty of Ethical Moms i n C o u r t l y Romance*, Genre X I (1 978) t 3 , 315-332-

S i l v e r s t e i n , Theodo re , "Sir Gawain i n a DilenraaW, MP 75 {1977), 1-1 7,

.------..---------- " S i r Gawain, Dear Brutus, and B r i t a i n ' s F o r t u n a t e Bounding: A Stndy i n Comedy a n d C o n v e n t i o n w , MF LXII (I 965) , 789-20 6 ,

S p e i r s , John, f l e d i e ~ a l E n q l i s h Poet.,rY; z&g Bon-Chqucer ian T r a d i t i o n , London, 1957, HLR 62 (1967) 3-13, ----

S p e a r i n g , A-C., Thg G a w a i n z g s & Cri t i ca& S t u d y , London, C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1970.

Stsohm, P a u l , **The t l e a n i n g of f l i d d l e English RornauEce ", G e n r e X # t f1977) , 1-28.

S u z u k i , E u c h i , H A Note on the Age of t h e Green Knightt*, N e u p h i l nittel 78 (1977L, 27-30-

T a y l o r , P.B., mCominerce acd Comedy i n S i r GawainH, PQ 50, 1-15.

T h i e b a u x , RarcelPe, T h e M e d i e v a l CP,asew, S p e c 42 I 1 %?), 260-274,

Thrupp, Sylvia, !I%= t l e r c h a n t Class pf M e d i e v a l London, C h i c a g o , D n i v e r s i t y of I l l i n o i s Press, 1948.

T u r v i l l e w P e t r e . T h o r l a c , J&e AUiterat jve R e v i v a l , Cambr idge , D-S-Brewer , 1977-

Rhite, Lynn, fledieval T e c h n o l o g Social Chanqg, Hew ~ o f k am3 London, Oxford D n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 7962.

White , Robert B, Jr l , " A Note on t h e Green K n i g h t ' s Red E y e s w , ELN 2 (1 965) , 250-252,

Whiting, 3-J , , *Gabfain: His R e p u t a t i o 3 , H i s C o u r t e s y , a n d R i s A p p e a r a n c e i n C h a u c e r g s Sguirees T a l e f * , B e d s t u d XX (1947), 189-234.

Woo& aargaret, z& E n g l i s h Mediaeval House, London, Phoenix House, 1965,

E d i t f ons of f i i d d l e E n g l i s h Texts Cited

Andrew, HalcoZm and R o n a l d Waldsoa l e d s - 1 , T& Poems of fhe P e a r l MaauscrQz, London, Edward Arnold, 1978, - ---1

Baugh, A l b e r t C, ( e d , ) , C h a u c e r * , ~ Pcet sy , Eng lewood C l i f f s , P r e n t i c e - N a l l , 196 3,

Brock, Edmund, & Borte arthure, Lcndon, Tribner, 1871, (EETS ( 0 s ) no, 8) .

Chret i en d e T r o y e s , & Rcman de Percevaf, J& C o n 2 G s a a l , Pillialti Roach fed.), Ceneve, Dfoz, 1959-

C h r i s t i n e d e P i s a r , , EPttes gf Araes a ~ d C h y v a f s y e , William C a x t o n ( t r a n s , ) , A,T,P, B y l e s fed, ) , Fondon, Oxford u n i v e r s i t y Press, 1932. (EETS ( 0 s ) '189) ,

Day, Babel a n d Robert S t e e l e , [eds,) , $38 383 Sothsggggg qaa R i c h a r d t h e R e d e l e s s London, O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y Press, 1936. -- ,, --,,I

(EETS {OS) no, 1 9 9 ) - D a v i s , Mor~lan (ed,) (Second e d i t i o n ) , Gawain 2~ th-e_ Sreen

K n i a h t , J,F?,R, T o l k i e n a n d E. V,Gordon { o r i g i n a l e d i t o r s ) - Oxford , Clarendon, 1967,

Purnivaff , I!-3, (do), zf Babees* Bp&g , N e w Y o r k , Greenvood P r e s s , 1969 (1868) .

Edward Duke 0% York ( t r a n s . ) , Master & Game, Bai l l i e a n d Grohman ( e d s , ) , EETS, 1309,

Gof fancz, S i r Israel jed,) , &mere Sastourg, Cambridge, D,S. B r e w e r , 197 iZf l921) .

n a c r o b i u s , Commen%ary on 2 s Dzeaa gf S c i ~ i o , William Harris S t a h l ( t r a n s , ) , New York and London, Columbia University Press, 1952,

William o f Ockham, P h i f o s o p h i c a l Writ inqg, P h i l o t h e u s Boehner (trans, ) , Londor,, 1957,

Wheat ley , H e n r y B, l e d , ) , Merlin, 22 $&$ E a r l y g3stor~ ~f (&g. A r t h u r v o l , I I - B e w Park, Everyman, 1914 (reprinted 1963,) ----