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Essay / Color Symbolism in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
Table of ContentsIntroductionColors in Sir Gawain and the Green KnightGoldRedGreenSummaryWorks CitedIntroductionSir Gawain and the Green Knight is about Sir Gawain, a knight of the Knights of the Round Table, who accepts a game from a mysterious man called the Green Knight who asks the knights if a knight will hit him with his ax if they will accept in return a strike from him in a year and a day. Afterwards, Sir Gawain accepts the challenge, then goes through a journey fraught with trials and morally incorrect temptations before going to the Green Chapel where he will abide by the Green Knight's agreements and those he has made. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay To illustrate the universal themes of his medieval tale, the poet Gawain uses elements outside of dialogue. In particular, the subtle use of colors expresses the values that impact Sir Gawain throughout the poem. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the colors gold, red and green are used to symbolize prosperity, passion and nature. Colors in Sir Gawain and the Green KnightGoldThe color gold represents Sir Gawain's prosperity, not that of wealth, but that of his strong character. and a resolute moral fiber. Initially, gold appears in the composition when the narrator describes: "When he wore armor, his harness was noble;/The smallest lace or buckle was shiny with gold.../And everything was adorned in red with richest gold nails. » (Peter 44). The narrator describes the armor that King Arthur made so that Gawain could fight the Green Knight. The protection is meant to reflect the knight himself, who has a heart of gold. The warrior may be young and inexperienced, but his willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good proves to be a worthy skill that sets him apart from others. Likewise, the hue seems to reinforce Gawain's ideals when the speaker notes: "Then they showed him the bright gules shield,/with the Pentangle of pure gold depicted thereon." The chronicler details the exhibition of the shield, marked with the sacred Pentangle. While most recognize money as the ultimate sign of wealth, true enlightenment is the indication of Sir Gawain's wealth. By coloring the gold of the Pentacle, it illuminates the richness of the knight's divine principles. The Bead Poet seeks to proclaim that a strong religious backbone has increased value over its monetary value. Furthermore, the speaker attests to the warrior's character when he observes: "Gawain had the reputation of being good and, like well-refined gold,/He was devoid of all malice, of all manifested virtue/In this matter ". The narrator compares the young man to gold, explaining that the noble and the rich color both have a pure quality. Sir Gawain qualifies for the Green Knight's quest because he retains an invaluable aspect that has no equivalent in the court of King Arthur: his virtuous moral code. His pure devotion to the righteous doctrines of the world makes the patrician an asset to the noble court, which is why the king and his people mourn heavily the thought of Gawain's death. RedRed illustrates the knight's ardor, which serves as motivation for many of his actions. Primarily, the crimson hue appears first in the novel when the storyteller explains: “The fair head fell from the neck, hit the ground,/And the people threw her away as she rolled,/Blood gushed from the body , shining on green. » . The narrator depicts the beheading of the Green Knight by Sir Gawain. One of the hero's minor flaws is his passionate mind, which pushes him to make rash decisions. His great loyalty.