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Sabrina Hope
Prof. McGriff
ENL2012
7/14/15
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight there is an interesting relationship between the
sexes. During the Middle Ages authors were not permitted to write about anything that the
church did not deem appropriate. Things such as sex were considered unholy and therefore not
written about. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight sex is not literally said to have occurred but it
represented through an abundance of symbolism. Specifically, I will describe the relationship
between the sexes and the place of women.
To begin with, there was a perplexing role between the sexes in Sir Gawain and the
Green Knight. Throughout this era of literature defeating monsters was considered a kind of rite
of passage into manhood. However, Sir Gawain does not actually defeat a monster, the Green
Knight was not defeated by him, and they actually seemed to part ways as friends The Lord
bless your life/ and bestow on you such honor as you surely deserve. (2409-2410) Also, the
most obvious example of the relationship between the sexes would be the mens activities
demonstrated in the poem. Hunting or poaching was considered a male activity. The lord led the
hunt,/ while good Gawain lay slumbering in his sheets. (1178-1179) This line suggests that Sir
Gawain was not masculine because while the men went off to hunt he stayed and slept, like the
women. Hunting itself reinforced the roles of gender, men took a more active role to prove their
masculinity.

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Continuing, there was a distinct role of women in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Women are depicted similarly throughout the Middle Ages literature. Most do not speak often,
they are just talked about. Specifically, Queen Guinevere. She does not speak throughout the
whole story, which demonstrated the role of women in the society, they were better seen than
heard. She is described in the poem as an object rather than a person, Guinevere, gloriously
framed/ at her place on the platform, pricelessly curtained/ with silk to each side, and canopied
across/ with tasteful tapestries. (74-77) This also demonstrates the view of women as objects,
specifically sexual objects. Also, that the ideal woman is a woman like Guinevere. Opposite of
Guinevere, Bertilacks wife engages in conversation. In this poem, she plays the role of
temptation, sexual temptation specifically which further depicts women as sexual objects.
Youre free to have my all,/ do with me what you will./ Ill come just as you call/ and swear to
serve you well. (1237-1240) She is submitting to the knight, in hopes that he will give into
temptation. The women in this poem did not speak in conversation, with the exception of
Bertilacks wife which reinforces gender roles, women played a more passive role in society.
In conclusion, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight demonstrated the relationship of the
sexes and roles of women. During this time in history, authors did not write about such
controversial topics. Men played an active role in society to prove their masculinity through
activities such as hunting. Women played a more passive role in society, they did not engage in
conversation and were viewed as sexual objects.

W/C: 528

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Works Cited
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2012. Print.