The Unnamed Wife in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay

The Unnamed Wife in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the green knight’s wife plays a pivotal role in the story. Yet, she is never given a name and it is unclear what motivates her actions. She could simply be following her husband’s orders to seduce this visiting knight. She could be under the tutelage of Morgan le Fay. Or she may be acting under her own guidance and using her sexuality to carry out her own desires or gain power. In light of this uncertainty, the unnamed wife’s role in the bedroom scene is also 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†¦show more content†¦She also refers to Gawain as, â€Å"my captive knight†. This suggests that Gawain is in the submissive position, which is not typically how a powerful, male knight is perceived. Oddly enough, this is the case in medieval society. The lord is the master and the knight pledges loyalty to the lord and his lady. In this sense the knight is actually in a lower social position than the lady, and this problemitizes the typical gender roles. For instance, Gawain must tell the wife, â€Å"I am yours to command, to kiss when you please† in order to live up to the expectations of a courteous knight. His social role as a knight causes him to submit to this cunning woman. The lady is able to exert control over Gawain while still appearing submissive, because of Gawain’s conflicting social and gender roles. However, the gender roles and power relations between the wife and Gawain are further complicated when considering the wife’s loyalty to her husband. If she is merely following his orders and offering her body to whom ever he commands, then she is undoubtedly submissive. Clearly the wife’s actions are in line with her husband’s plans. In the end he tells Gawain, â€Å"And the wooing of my wife—it was all my scheme!† Despite this fact, it is uncertain wheatear the wife is forced to joinShow MoreRelated Essay on Games in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight1328 Words   |  6 PagesGames in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight   Ã‚  Ã‚   Many games are involved in the plot of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The Green Knight, Bercilak de Hautdesert, plays a Christmas game with Arthurs court at Camelot (line 283); Gawains hosts wife plays games with Gawain throughout the third section of the poem; Gawains sees his arrangement of mutual trade with his host as a game (line 1380); and all of the events of the story are revealed as a game of Arthurs sister, Morgan Le Fay (linesRead MoreWhat Does The Future Bring?913 Words   |  4 Pagespolitical battle like in Lanval in which he is wrongly accused by Guinevere, King Arthurs wife. 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