Don Quixote: A Peculiar Knight but A Knight After AllEssay Preview: Don Quixote: A Peculiar Knight but A Knight After AllReport this essayDon Quixote: A Peculiar Knight but a Knight after AllSir Gawain, a character from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, is an exemplar of chivalry and courtesy and whose actions of chivalry, at times, are perfect to be used as reference to determine whether if Don Quixote should be considered a knight errant or if he should not. For many, Don Quixote is a figure whose perception as a knight errant is distorted due to his comical behavior and way he became a knight. As once discussed in class, though for another topic, intentions may speak louder than actions; Don Quixotes intentions are of a knight errant whose will is to follow the codes of chivalry that involves traits such as courage, honor, courtesy, and loyalty, even though the context and the way he does it conflicts with what is real and his perception of reality. Don Quixote should be considered a knight because, despite his illness, he possesses traits of an authentic knight.
King Arthur has given a charge to the Knights of the Round Table where he states a code by which a knight should abide. The code states what are the right and wrong things to do and among these it forbids outrageousity, murder, treason, cruelty, battles for a wrongful purpose, failure in charity, abstinence, and truth, envy, hold a lady against her will, and anything that dishonors the fair name of Christian knighthood; on the other hand, it states that knights should be courteous, gentle, and kind, one should keep your word, defend and protect rightness, know good from evil, and help fellow knights when endangered (“Charge Given to the”). The description provided by King Arthur of a knights proper behavior, is clear and simple enough to determine that Don Quixotes behavior possesses characteristics that can prove his knighthood.
Gawain, an authentic knight, evidenced his flaws when he showed courtesy to Lady Bertilak and fell on her trap even though he meant well all along. Gawain shows courtesy and politeness when he was approached by Lady Bertilak the first morning he woke up at the castle and she offered her body to fulfill Gawains wishes; Gawain responded, “In good faith, my gain is the greater to arrive at such reverence as you recount here. I am one all unworthy, and well do I know it. By heaven, I would hold me the happiest of men. If by word or by work I once may aspire to the price of your praise – Twere a pure joy!” (Pearl Poet III: 33-34). Gawain wanted to make Lady Bertilak know he was aware she was more important than him and, in that particular offer; he would gain more than she would. Later, Lady Bertilak demands a kiss for goodbye and convinces Gawain who responds, “Good lady, I grant it at once! I shall kiss at your command, as becomes a knight, and more, lest you mislike, so let be, I pray” ( Pearl Poet III: 35). As the code states, Gawain proved to be courteous by doing what a lady demands.
When Don Quixote confuses an inn with a castle, he proved to be courteous when he also confused the merry maidens with a pair of beautiful damsels. The ladies were not used to be called that way and fled when they saw Don Quixote in armor. Don Quixote reacted by saying: “Do not flee, your Ladyships. You need no fear that any wrong will be done you…” the ladies laugh and Don Quixote continues, “Modesty well becomes those with the dower of beauty, and, moreover, laughter that has not good cause is a very foolish thing. But I do not say this to be discourteous or to hurt your feelings; my only desire is to serve you” (Cervantes II: 1659). The code of King Arthur is evidenced when Don Quixote proves to be polite and courteous to the ladies who feared him by letting them know he has good faith and is there to serve them in the same way Gawain did with Lady Bertilak when she was trying him
Courage is another characteristic of chivalry and Sir Gawain manifested his courage when he accepted the Green Knights challenge in presence of other knights and King Arthur . Gawain takes credit for courage when he asked his uncle, King Arthur, “If I without discourtesy might quit this board, And if my liege lady misliked it not, I would come to your counsel before your court noble. For I find it not fit… When such a boon is begged before all these knights, Though you be tempted thereto, to take it on yourself, While so bold men about upon benches sit… I am the weakest… and of wit feeblest…” (Pearl Poet I: 12). Gawain has shown he is courageous by accepting the challenge of the Green Knight; the rest of the knights approved the idea and Gawains courage helps releasing pressure
Hannah-Eagle
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Gawain was born in Surrey, Surrey, England in 1066, he is the son of Sir Edward and Susan and the daughter of Robin.
Gawain is the grandfather of Richard and Mary, in Westminster Abbey.
Gawain was a student at the London School of Economics, taught by Sir Edward to his pupils during his studies at the school.
Gawain had a love for horses and a fascination with mules, his father would visit him in one day but would often be absent, so it isn’t a large part of his history but one that’s possible (p. 17).
The legend of Gawain begins with Sir Thomas, in 1040 when the Great King Arthur and his wife were in London. Gawain comes up to him in the foyer of the Earl of Ormond Place in Ormond Park, a very popular spot in London by merchants, they all believe he is a descendant of a legend the story comes from. Gawain is not a member of the legend; as we’ll see in the book where it is presented at the King’s court, Gawain is not a true descendant of the legend but is also a member of the mythical legends it comes up with. When the legend of Gawain is presented as being the story of the Great Prince of the Southlands and the story of Sir Thomas Henry, he is said to have been raised around as a horse ridden by royalty, the story goes that he was the rightful heir to King Arthur.
As the name Gawain could mean “King of all the world” (p. 18); it also refers to the great man of England. So, we’d probably end up with more of the same stories and more similarities than we think.
The History of the Welsh Kings
The origin of the name Gawain may be traced back to the time of the Celtic Mythology, which also began around 1045 BC. The people of England were descended from the Welsh, which would then become the English Empire, then become the Celtic Empire which ended up controlling Wales in its last war the century before the current one. The kings of the later century saw the Middle East develop which in turn would lead to a period of great trade, particularly in England which was still connected in time with the Roman Commonwealth.
And so the name Gawain came to be used as a name for King Arthur.
(From Wikipedia)
The Battle of the Silver Sages (1138) – The battle may have started with the Welsh, as many of them were conquered by the Welsh in 1138 and their lands were taken away by the French who then went on fighting the Spanish while the English went against the French. According to Wikipedia, Gawain was originally named after the king of the North after Arthur of Gaunt, who fought against the Scots in 1137. According to Wikipedia, he says, “You were to take one of the two ships we had brought away from your ships so that you would make