Essay Comparing the Role Models in Beowulf and Sir Gawain...

Role Models in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Excellence has always been a virtue revered by society. Writers throughout the ages have tried to capture the essence of excellence in their works, often in the form of a title character, who is the embodiment of perfection, encapsulating all the ideal traits necessary for one to be considered an excellent member of society. However, the standards for excellence are not universally agreed upon. On the contrary, one mans idea of excellence may very well be anothers idea of mediocrity. Yet, human nature is constant enough that by analyzing different literary heroes, one can discover the standards of excellence that are common to different peoples. The title†¦show more content†¦Thus, one can infer that the knights perceive themselves as earthly manifestations of God himself. With this perception comes the weighty responsibility of ensuring that the spirit of Christianity remains strong. This responsibility, along with the desire to conform to the chivalric code, is the driving force in Gawains life. Gawains interactions with the Green Knight distinguish him from his fellow knights, in that he is the only one brave enough to step to the plate and confront the giant. Faced with the specter of battle with the Green Knight, Gawain rises above all to defend the honor of his good king. Then Gawain at Guineveres side/ bowed and spoke his design: / Before all, King, confide/ this fight to me. May it be mine.(Gawain 336-339) In this scene, Gawain reveals himself to be a pillar of virtue. He is subservient to King Arthur, a loyal and devoted servant. He is so moved by the threat to his lords life that he is willing to put his own life on the line. D.S.