Group A Post 10/28

I am interested in the guide's knowledge about the Green Knight. He knows that the Green Knight kills those to go to meet him, but the guard clearly does not get hurt so he shouldn't be scared to visit the Green Knight. Gawain passed the test the guide presented him with when the guard asked him if he wanted to go into hiding if the guard didn't tell anyone about it. Gawain stays true to his word about seeing the Green Knight. However, when it finally comes down to keeping his word, Gawain flinched when the blade was being brought down. I understand this should be the natural human response but it is what Gawain should have been expecting the whole time. Given the Green Knight's wide scope of power as the leader of the castle Gawain was staying at, I think that the whole thing was a lesson for Gawain to prove to him that he is a great knight, but he must keep his glory throughout the battle. For example, the Green Knight cutting Gawain's head off would have been the end of their agreement and Gawain should have been okay with that since he volunteered himself.
I am also very interested in the identity of the Green Knight. Perhaps he is a supernatural being or a non-human creature who can survive without his or her head.

Comments

  1. Jordan SilversmithOctober 28, 2018 at 6:33 PM

    I believe that the guide was simply instructed by the lord to tell Gawain this information about the green knight to further test his will. By playing up the damage that the Green Knight would do, the guide makes an effort to see if Gawain will back out of the deal. Also, I believe that Morgan le fay gave the green knight the ability to survive without his head with magic.

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