Sir Gawain

Sir Gawain's Memory

Sir Gawain sees memory as many of the people during his time. Memory is what allows people to interpret who is around them. Memory gives everyone the understanding of who is honorable and who is not. The remembrance of a person gives you the understanding of who a person is. What they have done lets you know what kind of person they are.

Sir Gawain remembers his history well. He knows that to be an honorable knight he must be remembered as one. To do this he must honor the virtues of his fellow knights. Memory is important to Sir Gawain and for a year he must rely on his memory of the day he cut off the Green Knights head. On page 31, Arthur tells Gawain "Now, Sir, hang up your axe, which has adequately hewn." Gawain received the axe when he chopped off the knight's head. By Gawain displaying his axe, it served as a reminder to him and to others of All Saints Day. The axe triggers Gawain's memory of the day he cut off the knight's head and to others it tells the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Then on page 33, Gawain is reminded of his horrible feat he must go on. "While Michaelmas Moon, Was coming with winter's wage, Gawain then thinks full soon, of the task he must engage". The passing of seasons and winters arrival is reminding Gawain that soon he will venture out to the Green Chapel.

Sir Gawain makes two verbal agreements, also known as a covenant, one with the Green Knight and another with Bertilak. . When he cut off the knight's head he took a covenant with the Green Knight saying he will receive the same blow in one year from that day. The other covenant was with Bertilak and his terms for staying at the castle.

Sir Gawain does admit to changing/distorting memory when he admits to the Green Knight about the green girdle. On page 133, Bertilak tells Gawain how he had his wife entice him and persuade