Gawain and Heroes

Accepting problems and learning to make the best of tricky situations is an innate survival skill that must be perfected. Maybe that is why heroes, from the ancient times of Plato up through the more modern times of Alice in Wonderland, all accept life’s follies and learn from mistakes. Since everyone shares a basic human nature, they serve as examples and role models for us to aspire to.

Just as Sir Gawain prepares himself for his probable death at the end of the Christmas game deal with the Green Knight, so too do both the historical and the fictional heroes explored in our World Lit class accept their fate in life. Rama accepts his unfair exile without protest in the Ramayana, and Arjuna eventually decides to fight for Krishna after loving with detachment in the Bhagavad Gita. Jesus accepted his death to save humanity. And Socrates undertakes his death with eloquence in Plato’s Apologia. Alice, in Alice and Wonderland, also deals with her situation one she falls down the rabbit hole. Alice, however, questions why she has fallen and constantly desires to return home. The more modern tale of Alice in Wonderland may thus explore the weaker, and more natural, sides of heroes.

((Gawain suffers as he crosses rocky terrain like this))
The heroes then experience trials and initiation. Gawain suffers much and turns to God as “mony klyf he overclambe in contrayez strange” (Gawain 40, line 713), and “to Mary made his mone, // that ho hym red to ryde // and wysse hym to sum wone” (Gawain 42, line 737-9). Rama searches and battles for Sita, Alice deals with the shrinking and growing and the Red Queen, Jesus suffers on the cross, and Socrates upholds his beliefs.
In the end, though, the hero atones for any mistakes and returns home. Rama reunites with Sita, and Jesus dies for the sins of the world but then returns as a symbol of hope. Socrates does not live but makes a lasting statement about death that still holds meaning today. Gawain, meanwhile, encompasses the many aspects of our previously studied heroes, except has a more human touch. Sliced, but not killed, he receives a constant reminder of his dishonesty and natural fear of death.
((Even a chivalric knight such as this one makes mistakes))
Although Gawain receives the garter through dishonesty, it makes sense that the order of the green knight is the highest of honors in the United Kingdom. Inscribed, upon the Garter, “Honi soit qui mal y pense,” or “Shame on him who thinks evil of it” (or on someone who makes mistakes), the motto reminds us to that although someone may seem perfect, everyone makes mistakes. Sir Gawain learns that he is essentially a physical being who ultimately cares most about his own life. When he accepts the Girdle from the Green Knight’s wife and flinches at the axe swing, he finds that he is capable of error despite his chivalric values. After all, “mon may nedez hit were wyle I may last’’ (Gawain 140, line 2511).

The phrase on the girdle thus reminds me of humbleness and forgiveness. I know that I can easily be turned off to people after they say something rude or offensive (especially when I first meet them), but I later become good friends with that person. The phrase, therefore, tells me to give second chances and try to not judge others mistakes. Like John, it also reminds me to not get too comfortable or cocky with grades or a special program. Everyone has both merits and faults. And the way our heroes deal with such faults strike me with their universality across cultures.