Gawain the Medieval Abraham

During Medievel times, the majority of England's population was god-fearing, yet uninterested in history and illiterate. I believe the oral tales of King Arthur and his Knights served to reinforce the moral lessons of the Judaic religions. As the poet says before beginning his tale, "if ze wyl lysten pis laye bot on littel quile,/I schal telle hit astit, as I in toun herde, with tonge"(30-32). Here he confirms the oral tradition ("if you will listen... i shall tell... as I in town heard... with tongue").


Bards were Medieval storytellers. The original author of Gawain and the Green Knight cannot be traced because the story was told (and probably altered) by so many bards.

There are a few differences in the situation and character of Prophets and Knights, but I believe this was chiefly in order to allow for the masses to relate to the Knights and easily continue the oral tradition. Through comparison of character, reaction, and situation of Abraham's Sacrifice and Gawain and the Green Knight we can identify this correlation.

Abraham was asked by god to sacrifice his son as a symbol of utmost trust and dedication. As Abraham remorselessly takes a knife to his son's throat, an angel replaces his son with a sheep, and he slays the sheep instead. God commends Abraham on his loyalty and faith, and all is well.



An Angel stopping Abraham from taking his son's life.


Similarly, Gawain's mission was naught but a trial. There is no real danger involved; simply the illusion of it. He who is good and honest is always saved. This alludes to the idea of Heaven and Hell. He who is good will be rewarded.

One key difference is the initial reactions of Gawain and Abraham. Abraham, completely trusting of God, does not fear the consequences of God's requested actions or what he must do to complete his trial. Gawain, although he too trusts in his own goodness and follows the code of Chivalry (aside from the girdle deception), fears for his life. During his journey, Gawain "fonde nozt hymn byfor pe fare pat he lyked"(694), and was clearly upset, nervous, and worried about his encounter with the seemingly magical Knight.


Although he is afraid, Gawain nobly confronts his fears.


This fear was ultimately what caused the desperation that led him to deceive the King and keep the Morgan Le Faye's girdle. Here, we must note that this was an oral tale, and perhaps these flaws in character were developed over time. This made Gawain more relateable. This minor flaw relates back to Heaven and Hell. Those who commit minor sins can be forgiven and still permitted to enter Heaven. This characterization is more comforting to the common man than the Abraham's flawlessness.

Another method of making Gawain more human was when Gawain himself ruled out the possibility of magical aid, stating "paz my hede fall on pe stones,/i con not hit restore"(2282-83). The Green Knight initially picked up his own severed head, which Gawain knew he would not be able to do.




The Green Knight, riding off with his severed head and worrying Gawain.


Upon leaving Camelot, "greythed is Gawayn Gay/and laght his launce right thore/And gafe hem all good day,/He wende for evermore"(666-669). Basically, Gawain prepared for death, yet did not flee from his destiny.

The final piece of evidence that I believe confirms this religious parallel is the factor of the trial-maker's motivation. God had a reason to test his prophet Abraham's loyalty and goodness. The tale of Gawain and the Green Knight indicates no real motivation for the Green Knight to test Gawain's goodness. I suppose Kings get bored, too? The Green Knight does display god-like qualities. "Hit is a figure pat haldez fyne poyntez... and ayquere hit is endelez"(627-9). He is shown to be reasonable, fair, and "endless". In his punishment of Gawain (the small nick on the neck), he once again exhibits the quality of fairness. Overall, the idea of a divine or magical trial is an unrealistic one. In The Believer (2001), Danny commits random acts of violence against those with a religious appearance. As he beats an innocent man in a deserted subway, he yells, "You think this is a trial?! You think God is testing you? This is NOT a f***ing trial! This is real! Where is your God now?"



Danny, played by Ryan Gosling, following a Jewish man into a deserted subway to commit a heinous hate crime and test god himself.


This accentuates the viewpoint of a religious skeptic or realist. Only in religious texts are the ideas of salvation, goodness, and forgiveness displayed. Thus we can conclude that the role model of Gawain closely shadows that of Abraham.