That’s an interesting question, isn’t it? What is the
significance of names in Sir Gawain and
the Green Knight, and why does the setting matter as well? To answer this,
we have to look at the definitions of these names and their relations to the
story. Also, taking a closer look at the settings will help us understand the circumstances behind the tale
that is told.
First, we’ll consider Sir Gawain, since he’s the main
character. His name means ‘white hawk of
battle’. In polytheistic religions, the
hawk was typically a messenger to the solar gods of each pantheon, representing
healing, prophecy, and resurrection.
However, in Christian mythology, this bird was considered to be evil, as
to them it represented death, violence, and those who prey on the weak (Tucker,
"ChristStory Hawk Page"). Here, we are reminded of the pagan elements
that are prominent in Sir Gawain, and
our title character is a prime example. Despite his pureness in spirit and
Christian affiliation, Gawain is a fierce warrior and tends to prey on ‘weak’
women.
As for the Green Knight, his name is based on his status in
medieval society the color he wears. For
centuries, the color green had been associated with nature and its fertility
then it later became associated with fairies, mischievous nature spirits, and
evil. It was for this reason that green
became disliked in Christian England (Algora, “The Mythic Forest, the Green Man
and the Spirit of Nature”, quoted by Varner, “The Mythology of the Green
Man”), and that’s why the Green Knights attire is so startling to
everyone in King Arthur’s court. But
because of his position as a knight, the Green Knight exhibits the same Chivalry
and follows the same knightly code that the other knights at Camelot do. So essentially, the Green Knight is a cross
between Pagan nature and Christian courtesy.
Now let’s switch topics and talk about settings. First, we’ve got Camelot. It is commonly known as the court of King
Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, a place of joy and virtue. Because of the great men that presided over
it and the power it held over England, Camelot is a living representation of
the “Golden Age of Chivalry” (Joe, Timeless
Myths).
Then there’s the Green Chapel, which is in essence a Pagan
place of worship. Coming back to the
significance of the color green, it represents the earth and therefore worships
nature. However, from a Christian
perspective, it is seen as a haven of evil due to its association with nature,
which at the time was considered a separate entity for its emphasis on pleasure
and consumption of man (Algora, “The Mythic Forest, the Green Man and the Spirit of
Nature”,
quoted by Varner, “The Mythology of the Green Man”). This is why Gawain absolutely refuses to
enter it, for fear of it consuming him like nature supposedly does to men.
Sources:
Joe, Jimmy. “Camelot” Timeless
Myths (Arthurian Legends). n.d. Feb 4, 2000.
Tucker, Suzetta. "ChristStory Hawk
Page." ChristStory Christian Bestiary. 16 Feb. 2013).
Varner, Gary R.
“The Mythology of the Green Man” authorsden.com. authorsden.com.
