The backbone on which the medieval romance "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" was built is the code of chivalry. Chivalry, in a modern context, can resemble the simple practice of being courteous to women. In a medieval context, however, it is the basis of every action performed by a knight. Gawain is no different in this regard. He, like every other member of Arthur's court, is expected to uphold the strict code of chivalry to also defend his own personal honor and that of the court. The poet Gawain, however, presents the audience with a critique of chivalry through Gawain's final failure in the game of beheading with the Green Knight. Following Gawain's fall from his position as the “most noble knight,” the audience should understand that being perfectly chivalrous is an unattainable standard. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay During the first part of the poem, the author introduces the idea that chivalry is firmly based on reputation and outward appearances to the point of harm. In the second stanza the author says: "But the most regal of rulers in the royal line was Arthur, whom I heard was honored above all" (italics mine), making it clear from the beginning that hearsay plays a fundamental role in the concept of cavalry. . Since King Arthur's knights are “the most chivalrous and courteous knights known to Christendom,” their brilliant reputation is what attracts the Green Knight to court in the first place. And, when no one accepts his challenge, the first thing the Green Knight attacks is none other than their reputation. Although their “virtues ring out across the vast realms,” the Green Knight tells them he cannot find “the fortitude and courage” for which they are renowned. Rather than allow his kingdom to be slandered, King Arthur himself accepts the challenge when none of his knights do, willing to risk leaving his kingdom potentially bereft of a ruler to avoid tarnishing Camelot's reputation. A year later, after Gawain has accepted the challenge and prepared to leave Camelot in pursuit of the Green Chapel, the author spends an exorbitant amount of time describing Gawain's armor and the pentacle on his shield. The pentagram represents an interrelation of the virtues that Gawain possesses to be considered perfect. It is important to note that the pentangular is located on the outside of his shield, a conspicuous position that would be impossible for others to miss. Its perfection is literally found on the outside; his immaculate armor and pentangle are not necessarily indicators of anything chivalrous within him either. Furthermore, once Gawain reaches Bertilak's castle, he is treated with the utmost hospitality as he is "famous for valor and purity". His reputation precedes him in this situation, and it is because of what others have heard about him that they consider him an esteemed guest in their castle. Once inside the castle, he is dressed in fine clothing for the duration of his stay, similar to how he was outfitted in pristine armor before embarking on his journey. And, when he finally falls from grace in the final attack, Gawain has a visceral reaction to the idea of ​​his name being tarnished by his failure, not necessarily by the fact that he failed in the first place. He asks the Green Knight for a way to "clear his tarnished name" before anything else, proving once again that chivalry finds its basis in outward appearances. The fact that chivalry is so deeply rooted in outward appearancesfacilitates the idea that Gawain's Christian faith is also rooted in outward appearances. According to Donald Howard, “the ideal of chivalry was undoubtedly modeled on the Church's notion of perfection; yet chivalry was fundamentally a worldly institution.” As such, the knights' loyalty extended to their lord and even to God. However, since chivalry in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is mostly demonstrated through outward appearances rather than through introspection, one can argue that Gawain does not necessarily walk the path of his faith, so to speak. This is made evident after the Green Knight reveals Gawain's failure, when Gawain says “...man's crimes may be covered up but never made clean; once sin is entwined, it sticks forever.” This is a sentiment that directly challenges what is expressed in the Bible. In Hebrews 10:10 it says that “Our sins have been washed away and we have been cleansed because Christ gave his body as a gift to God. He did it once for all. Being a Christian knight, Gawain should be very familiar with the idea that Jesus was sent by God for the express purpose of forgiving man's sins. However, by saying something that so obviously contradicts what is taught in Christian theology, one can conclude that Gawain's faith is little more than a show he puts on to check a box on the list of chivalric values ​​he must uphold. He attends mass and prays throughout the poem, but these things only happen when he is in the company of other people or desires something from God. This does not demonstrate a genuine Christian faith, but rather a faith concerned with convincing others that it is genuine. Gawain's faith, much like the pentacle on his shield, is a superficial outward projection of his own chivalry. Furthermore, by claiming to be above forgiveness, Gawain is actually demonstrating a pride that, both as a Christian and as a chivalrous knight, he should not have. Once again, thinking that he is above the forgiveness of other knights and, more importantly, God, shows that Gawain does not take his Christian faith to heart. Proverbs 16:18 warns against this same behavior, stating that “Pride goes before destruction, and a proud spirit goes before a fall.” It seems that when Gawain fails in one virtue, he then fails in all of them. His “cowardice leads to greed and greed leads to deception,” suggesting “a sort of inverse connection between the vices.” Gawain's deception then leads to the demonstration of an inflated ego and a lack of faith in God, tarnishing his chivalric image even further. When Gawain returns to Camelot after failing to uphold the principles of the chivalric code, the reaction of Arthur's court is shocking. . This is because Arthur's court is a place where the most chivalrous and courteous knights gather; however, rather than rebuke or ostracize Gawain for his failure, he is welcomed back into the fold with open arms, and the green belt that is supposed to eternally represent his sin is adopted as a symbol of honor among the knights of the court. The fact that the knights react in this way and choose to adopt the belt as a symbol of honor when Gawain wears it as a symbol of failure is very significant. It is at this point in the poem that the author explores the failure of the entire court rather than just the failure of Gawain as an individual. As author Benjamin Utter states: “The problem at the heart of the poem is not that any particular sin has been perpetrated by an individual, but rather that the entire court is primed for a much greater sin and is not in the spiritual condition of recognize it." , even if one of,.