The Unnamed Wife in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay -- Sir Gawai

The Unnamed Wife in Sir Gawain and the Green sawhorse In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the green gymnastic horses married woman plays a pivotal engross in the stage. Yet, she is never given a name and it is unclear what motivates her actions. She could simply be following her husbands orders to seduce this visiting knight. She could be under the tutelage of Morgan le Fay. Or she whitethorn be acting under her own guidance and use her cozyity to carry out her own desires or gain power. In light of this uncertainty, the unnamed wifes role in the sleeping room scene is as well hard to decipher. As a woman she should be submissive, and yet it is Gawain who is forced to defend himself against her advances to which he eventually submits. The multiple readings of the wifes role also inform the notions of Christian and pagan in the story. Female power and sexuality are aligned with the wife, Morgan le Fay and paganism, eyepatch Gawain seeks protection and chastity from Mary and Christianity. Despite the power the wife may gain from pagan traditions, she could also be perceived in a Christian, patriarchal context as a sexual object who is summonsed by her husbands authority. As a result the green knights wife represents the duality of Christian and pagan and its prevalence in medieval society. In the bedroom scenes the wife appears to be playing the role of a submissive woman, but is in fact using her moorage to dominate Gawain, who is limited by his pledge to the Green Knight. The wife tells Gawain, My organic structure is here at hand, Your each wish to fulfill Your servant to command I am, and shall be still. Here the wife is literally submitting her body to Gawain to use as he desires. Yet, she is making this proposition in order to decoy him to... ...ere her true allegiance lies. On the other hand, her position in this story provides insight into medieval society. Her antics with Gawain in the bedroom scenes reveal that her po sition as lady of the house is superior to Gawains as a knight. This piazza further illuminates medieval gender roles especially when examining the ladys kinship with her husband. Even if he may use her as a sexual pawn, she is able to assert herself thought the tactics she uses to persuade Gawain to break his oath. She is also intrinsically linked with Morgan le Fay and pagan traditions. This bond is balanced by Gawains connection with Mary as a figure for guidance. The wifes position in this story epitomizes the dualities of medieval society. The conflicting tender and gender roles and Christian and pagan traditions are somehow able to plight in this complex society.