How Did He Do It?

               The one question that remained unanswered throughout the entire story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight for me was HOW THE GREEN KNIGHT SURVIVED HAVING HIS HEAD CUT OFF?? Was that belt truly magical? If the belt was magical, he could actually (try to) chop Gawain’s head off and he would have lived. Then we would have known that that’s why the green knight lived as well. However, the green knight only nicks Gawain’s neck, and then explains the entire test to him. Because he doesn’t actually cut his head off, I couldn’t be 100% certain that the belt was magical at all! Maybe she just said that the belt would make him invincible as a test and he failed. It seems just as likely as a belt actually giving him invincibility.

                Aside from this issue, I did really enjoy the story. The test that the Green Knight came up with was pretty ingenious. Not only was it entertaining for the court, but it gave a very true test of Gawain’s honor. As a knight he is supposed to honor all agreements, and in this test he actually makes two. Now why someone would agree to be decapitated in a year, I have no idea. But Gawain does fulfill all parts of both agreements, except for the final day with the King. By keeping the belt he hopes to survive his execution. Unfortunately, this fails his test of honor.

                The craziest part of the whole story though is the ending. Sir Gawain returns to the court wearing his belt to remind himself of his failure. Next thing you know, everyone is doing it! Green belts are IN, they represent HONOR. If there was any lesson to be taken away from the story, this ending kills it. It’s a Disney ending to me, everything has to end perfect and happy ever after. This story had me right up until that ending, but the ending was just terrible. Yes I understand that the court was doing it to make him feel better, but did he really need to feel better? It’s just a reminder that he’s human and needs to focus on doing better in the future. That’s a lesson everyone should carry with them in life. That’s how I would have ended this story.

A Bitch, a Fool and a Beheading

So... Who else was highly disappointed with the end of The Knight of the Cart? I know I was, "here ends the romance of Lancelot of the Cart." This was like the series finally of Dexter that left everyone hating the writer.

Next, lets talk about that last battle for a moment. Meleagant definitely got what he deserved, I just wish he had put up more of a fight. For such a "strong" knight he went down so fast. On a side note, I binged Game of Thrones last week and Meleagant kind of reminds me of King Joffrey. He thinks very highly of himself, and things are his way or the high way. His father though is quite the honorable, chivalrous man that drew the short straw when he had children.

Thirdly, pardon my word choice, Guinevere is a BITCH. This valiant knight has travelled so far to save her from capture and puts his honor on the line to fight for her and she's like, " Sir, in truth he has wasted his efforts. I shall always deny that I feel any gratitude toward him." (Pg. 151) So, he leaves to find the man she does want to see Gawain and in the process gets kidnapped. To which she gets sad and expresses that she was joking earlier, and does love Lancelot.  I have a couple of problems with this scenario. First, you played mind games with a man that would go to worlds end for you and cross a sword bridge to free you. Secondly, YOU ARE A MARRIED WOMAN!!!!!!! Therefore, Queen Guinevere, I am putting you on bitch notice. I won't go on anymore about my feelings about this vile woman.

Lastly, I will say that it is admirable to try and strive to be a chivalrous knight that follows the tradition of Courtly Love, as Lancelot does. With that said, Lancelot is a FOOL.  I completely understand that you love the aforementioned woman but that doesn't mean you have to be whipped. YOU CAN'T EVEN TOUCH HER. she's MARRIED.

All in all. I appreciate the literary work, but in my own opinion whomever was commissioned to write this Romance should be taken out back and walled up in a tower for writing such a irking story.