Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - 1078 Words

Throughout one’s life, a person will go through numerous changes, both physically and mentally. These continuous changes in life are a few of the steps to maturing, which also helps build a person’s identity. In the romantic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by Pearl Poet, the hero, Sir Gawain goes through a passage which develops his perspective on adulthood leading to his maturity. Gawain’s knight errant mentality is what drives him to mature during the adventures he takes on. While on his journey to adulthood, he passes three major tests. First, he shows courage and initiative when he volunteers to take the place of Arthur and accepts the challenge the Green Knight had demanded. Second, he shows discipline, self-control and honor†¦show more content†¦He also displays both courage and initiative when he says, â€Å"I am the weakest, I know, and of wit feeblest† (Kline stanza 16 line 12). When Gawain says this, he tells the Green Knight t hat he is weak because he wants him to think that he would be able to win, but in all reality Gawain would be able to fight back because he is actually very robust. He shows that he is courageous by protecting and remaining loyal towards King Arthur. Another example of Gawain’s courageousness is when he says, â€Å"and roughly he reached out, where the ranks stood,/ latched onto his lovely head, and lifted it so† (Kline stanza 19 line 16-17). During this scene, Gawain takes on the Green Knights request by taking a blow to his head, which shows his courage to take on this game the Green Knight had demanded. It also displays that he is courageous because in this game, he then in return had to take the same blow by the Green Knight a year and one day later. Overall, Gawain displays his great heroism and courageousness by protecting his King just as a true knight should. Gawain demonstrates numerous characteristics such as discipline, self-control, and honor when he refus es the temptations of Lady Bertilak. Lady Bertilak was said to be â€Å"the fairest in feature, in flesh and complexion,/ and in compass and colour and