Temptation is evidently a common theme that appears throughout medieval writing. Reasons for this frequency likely reside in the influence of the Christian church—the clergy’s emphasis on humanity’s sin and shortcomings to create for the church dependency and revenue through indulgences. It could also be representative of the value system at the time. Knights were the gentlemen of the age, and with the knightly title or aspiration, there was certainly an accepted way in which these men properly composed themselves–a set of values that drove them all toward the same vision of knighthood. Chivalry. Courtly love. The manner in which Lady Bertilak attempts to seduce Sir Gawain in the Pearl Poet’s Sir Gawain and the Green Knight reflects three temptations that commonly result in human downfall—lust, greed, and self-preservation. The manner in which Sir Gawain responds to her allure demonstrates the value systems of knighthood, and also that all men, whether the most chivalrous knight or the most lowly plowman, are susceptible to temptation and destruction.
The first attempt of Lady Bertilak’s seduction is tailored to man’s animalistic desire for lust and physical gratification. She appears at his bedside “so lovely and alluringly dressed” (1760). The descriptive imagery in this passage represents the humanity of the topic as if lust itself is personified and the doer of the actions described. Sir Gawain experiences “A passionate heat [that] takes hold in his heart” at the sight of the beautiful woman (1762). Lust grabs at his heart, but it does not prevail. The reason and will within the heart of every man is capable of refusing such a lure, as Sir Gawain demonstrates to the readers. His refusal shows a virtue of chivalry—purity, and a decision not commit adultery, especially with the wife of a friend and a trusted host.
Lady Bertilak’s second attempt presents Sir Gawain with another common temptation—greed. She offers him a priceless gold ring set with jewels. “The stunning stone set upon it stood proud, beaming and burning with the brightness of the sun” (1818-19). The diction in this passage exemplifies the behavior of an individual who would wear such an item, again appealing to the nature of pride within mankind. Yet, Sir Gawain again refuses the offer, demonstrating the superiority of willpower and another virtue—humility. In the third attempt to allure Sir Gawain, she presents him with her green girdle which, in this story, represents protection. She calls it a “lesser thing to gain,” yet it is what the knight finds most attractive due to the fear of death within his heart (1829). This temptation is self-preservation, and he falls prey to it at the cost of the final virtue—courage. In an attempt to spare his own life, Sir Gawain compromises, showing that even the most chivalrous and virtuous man, who had overcome such great temptation, is still susceptible as well. Nothing can exempt mankind from imperfection.
In this section of the text, the Pearl Poet defines three temptations. The imagery and diction within it suggest that while Sir Gawain was ultimately overpowered by self-preservation, each one is an equally enticing temptation that affects humanity at large. Along with the enticements, he alludes to three knightly virtues as well. It appears that the premise of the story aligns with an idea that no one is exempt or perfect, and there is much to learn from every downfall. Some men will fall for lust, greed, or self-preservation, but the opposing virtues—purity, humility, and courage—will always be upheld in humanity, and are often the result of learning from shortcomings in the outlined areas of temptation.
September 10, 2018
Works Cited:
The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol A, 9th Ed. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York. 2012.