role of women in sir gawain and the green knight
...ware of his flaws, or faults. Initially, throughout the three chamber scenes the hostess is more actively pursuing and attempting to seduce her husband’s guest, Sir Gawain. Up until the point where the chamber scenes commence, an emphasis has been placed on the faith and importance in the chivalric code instilled in Gawain. This code defines a man as perfect, which Sir Gawain appears to be, that is, until he accepts the green girdle from the lady and makes a contract with her to tell no one about the gift she has given him, “…but on his honour hide it from her husband; and then he agreed/ that no one ever should know, nay, none in the world/ but they” (Lines 2765-2767). By engaging in this contract Sir Gawain has just broken the previous contract he made with the host of the castle, resulting in his loyalty to the host also being broken. Through an active role seducing Gawain, the hostess is able to detract his loyalty, thus causing him to fall short of the chivalric code and eventually culminating in the realization of his own faults. Next, Morgan Le Fay, Sir Gawain’s aunt, constructs a plot to test the nobleness and chivalry of Camelot and its’ knights, but more specifically, Sir Gawain. Near the end of the play it is made known that the contracts Gawain participates in with the Green Knight, the host, and the hostess were all part of a plan put forth by the old respected lady of the host’s castle, who has now been identified as Morgan Le Fay. When Gawain realizes the time he has spent in the castle has been an assortment of tests, whether it be of his loyalty, chivalry or character, it is now very clear to him the faults he has committed, “I confess, sir, here to you/ all faulty has been my fare” (Lines 3286-3287). Upon the confrontation from the Green Knight, now revealed to be the host, Gawain can reflect on the tests he has been though and the level of success or failure each has brought him. So, while Morgan Le Fay does not directly have a hand in the seduction ...