Sir Gawain the Fair and Medieval Misogyny
Sir Gawain, son of Lot, King of Orkney I’ve just been listening to a new translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – one of the central tales that’s come down to us from the ‘histories’ of King Arthur’s court and the Knights of the Round Table. These are romantic legends that, in western culture, we’ve been brought up with. They surround us with a comforting account of the ethical codes of loyalty, courage, chivalry and purity that belong to a supposedly golden age of society, where men were men and could be relied on to defend a damsel in distress, rescuing her from demons and dragons and swearing eternal love and fidelity. Fair Sir Gawain is a perfect example of this kind of chivalry. A gentleman of honour. Good so far? A medieval imagining of the Round Table But I’d forgotten about the ending. In line with the rules that govern folk tales, Gawain must endure three trials in his quest for the mysterious Green Knight he’s promised to meet. Wandering in the wilderness in search of
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