Sir Gawain is the most faithful and prestigious knights of King Arthur’s round table. He is the nephew of the King and next in line to the throne. Gawain represents the good of all good. As the green knight comes to challenge someone to a battle, Gawain takes Arthur’s place and sacrifices his life. The deal with the green knight is Gawain can take one chop at the green knight’s neck with an axe if one year later the deed may be returned. Although terrified Gawain accepts because that is what a proper knight would do.

For the purpose of a moral Gawain is represented as holy and perfect. But later we fine out that he is not as perfect as he thinks. However, this part of the story is more entertaining than moralistic. By showing the knight participating in a sort of deadly and dangerous game.

And Gawain, said the good host, agree now to this: Whatever I win in the woods I will give you at eve, And all you have earned you must offer to me; Sweat now, sweet now, to swap as I say, Whether hands, in the end, be empty or better (SGGK, ll1105)

e story Gawain sets of to see the green knight. He encounters many obstacles which he easily surpasses, however one will prove the faults he did not believe he had. On his journey he staysat a castle with Bertilak of Hautdersert and his wife. During his stay Bertilak offers him a deal, which is:

First I flourished with a feint, in frolicsome mood, And left you hind unhurt—each and here I did well By the fair terms we fixed on the first night; And fully and faithfully you followed accord: Gave over all your gains as a good man should. A second feint, sir, I assigned for the morning you kissed my comely wife—each kiss you restored. For both of these there behooved but two feigned blows by right. True men pay what they owe; No danger then in sight. You failed at the third throw, So take my tap, sir knight. For that is my belt about you that same braided girdle, My wife it was that wore (SGGK, ll2345)

This is entertaining in the same aspect Little Red Riding Hood is. There is a near perfect character who is innocent and thought of highly by those surrounding he or she. Although both Little Red Riding Hood and Gawain both seemed doomed from the beginning, in the end they both survive and live to see another day. This gives people the happily ever after story that everyone seems to enjoy.

The end of the story tells a moral by showing the main

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