10/1 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (#5b)

Games
Games represent the testing of men's civility and bravery. The Medieval culture expected men, especially men of noble birth, to behave in a manner above reproach and with the highest honor and courage. Men had to be courteous and the perfect gentlemen as well as strong in body and mind. The nobles and knights had as their main pass-times hunting and partying, along with the occasional war. Games were an interlude to these events to see if a man was really up to par and able to sacrifice himself to become the perfect gentleman. The first game had Gawain allow his head to be chopped off. Gawain flinched and pulled back in order to preserve his life. At the second test, Gawain kept back his expensive gift that had received, a magical belt, from his host, Bertilak. However, no one knew until the end of the holiday festivities. There was another test where Gawain had to resist his host's wife while his host was off hunting for three days. This he was able to do with a lot of mental strength. This test took just as much strength as the first test and Gawain saved himself with his verbal dexterity. When he was brought to King Arthur, he confessed to withholding his gift of the belt and to not allowing the axe blade to fall. He fell short of the perfect model was supposed to live up to and proved that he was human. Bertilak, the green knight, recognized that he was only human and did not fault him for this.

Testing
Gawain is tested physically through the first test. He has to submit himself to an axe coming down on his neck without moving. He fails this test by flinching in order to save his own skin. On the second test, he has to prove his social skills by giving his host the gift that he received during the celebrations. He fails this test by keeping the gift a a magical belt with protective abilities. Again, this shows Gawain's want of self-preservation. The third test was mental and had Gawain resist the temptation of his host's wife while his host is out on a three day hunting trip. He passes this test, showing his string mental strength. His human, sinful nature prevails since he does what is necessary to save his own life rather than what is necessary to be a perfect model knight/noble in King Arthur's court.