Carolyn Dinshaw makes a claim that “Gawain acts like a woman”, which can play into the “juxtaposition of those scenes in the bedroom and on the hunt” in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Why do you agree/disagree with her claim? Are there other instances other than the bedroom v. the hunt scenes that may be relevant?
Medieval Feminism
ENGL 361 and WGST 322 | Spring 2020 | Dr. Myra Seaman
While I’m not sure I agree with Dinshaw’s claim that “Gawain acts like a woman” just on the basis on that Gawain does certain things that are typically and stereotypically characterized as things females do, but there is an interesting switch between the traditional male and female roles in the bedroom scene, particularly the ones that Dinshaw draws us too. She refers back to the first bedroom scene that occurs where the lady greets and compliments Gawain and states that, “the reversal of courtly roles couldn’t be any clearer” (211). Dinshaw is essentially saying that since the lady’s role is the more assertive role she takes on the role of a man which would make Gawain take on the role of a woman (looking at this through a heterosexual lens). Its interesting that Dinshaw points at this time to emphasize role reversal because a first read through of the poem demonstrates that it is in this scene that Gawain emphasizes his knighthood by being courteous and chaste. Interestingly enough there is a differentiation between being knightly and being manly, which are two things that usually go hand in hand.
After reading Dinshaw’s analysis and reflecting on the poem, I wouldn’t say I disagree with her claim, but I don’t think Gawain necessarily acts like a woman. I can, however, see where it can be argued that from a heteronormative view that he is taking on the woman’s role. Additionally, I understand that it is seen as men to be the hunter and the woman the hunted, but we’ve seen several other instances where this is not the case. For example, in “Lanval” Lanval is sought out by the fairy lady and Guinevere. Therefore, I agree with Dinshaw’s comparison of Gawain being hunted by Lady Bertilak, but not with the idea that he is exactly acting like a woman.
I think the statement “Gawain acts like a woman” is a bit of a stretch. While Gawain does exhibit questionable behavior—such as his kisses between him and the Green Knight—I do not agree that he is acting in a “woman[ly]” manner. Gawain, I believe, is probably just exhibiting customs and practices that associate with the era that the poem originates. I am not an expert in medieval mannerisms, I do know that kissing between men and men (and men and women) occurred between individuals who are of equal social ranking. So, Gawain being a noble knight of the Round Table and the Green Knight being the Lord of his castle, this would make sense.
There are occasions where I’d say its fair to claim Gawain acts like a woman. Gawain does literally act like Lady Bertilak when he gives the king the three kisses, emulating the same kind of kisses each time (in a comely way, in a courtly way, and then tastily, feelingly, and seriously-solemnly) (206). Of course, this example is literal and solely on the basis that he purposefully imitates Lady Bertilak. The other claims, such as his acting like a woman because of his position of being the “hunted” and Lady Bertilak’s being the “hunter” aren’t as convincing to me. I think these situations speak to the courtly and knightly expectations he has to uphold rather than his adopting stereotypical “female” behaviors.
I think the idea of Gawain “act[ing] like a woman” is intriguing, and I think we could reflect back to Kate Manne’s notion of a misogyny that traps women through their expected virtue. Gawain is entrapped by a similar system, that of the chivalric code as well as what is known of and expected of knights. I think it would be an interesting comparison to draw.
I also think that Gawain is somewhat tricky and deceptive– when he uses the girdle and pretends to sleep and woos the lady with words — which we have seen women portrayed as in previous works. He is forced into romantic conduct with a member of the opposite sex. He is held to a very high standard and under much criticism for being too sexually liberated or not liberated enough. Gawain undergoes much of the criticism women do, and in this way, I think we might be more welcoming to this thought.
By Gawain being played/tricked by Lord Bertalik and his wife, it showcased the chivalry of gender identity. Dinshaw breaks down the idea of heterosexual norms with the act of a man kissing another man. “These kisses, the narrative consequence of the seduction-exchange plot, push even further the poem’s analysis of heterosexual identity arising from the plot: they suggest that solid hetero-identity can be apart without catalytic dissolution” (Dinshaw; p. 211). The male on male kissing didn’t mean it was a homosexual act but instead was an act out of honor as a knight to fulfill the pact that was agreed to at the beginning. Therefore it didn’t cause much of an uproar within the court. However, Gawain was acting in a more vulnerable manner because both Bertalik and his wife were able to take advantage of him and expose what seemed like “feminine” traits. By her analysis on the use of hunting and feminizing a masculine character, it gave a better understanding of Gawain’s embarrassment after finding out he was being played.
I agree with basically everyone else that I do not think that Gawain necessarily acts like a woman, as opposed to doing things that we may not consider typical in regards to male behavior. By denying the lady in his bedroom, he acts in a way that would not normally be considered masculine. However, Gawain’s adherence to the code of chivalry would definitely be considered masculine, especially during that time. I feel like during the time that Dinshaw wrote this more people may have agreed that Gawain was “acting like a woman,” however present day readers are definitely influenced by the more recent acceptance of gender being fluid, which is why I personally feel that I have a hard time agreeing with Dinshaw.
I do not believe that Gawain acts like a woman. I think that he displays chivalry by denying the lady as to respect the lord. The idea of the hunt is an interesting idea that Dinshaw proposes, as a woman going on a figurative hunt juxtaposes with Bertilak going on the literal one. I also thought it was interesting Dinshaw viewpoint of homosexuality in the medieval era. I did not know that female-female relations were discuss within the canon at the time period, Dinshaw’s example being Aquinas including sodomy with both male-male and female-female situations.
I agree with most everyone as well, I think saying that Gawain is “acting like a woman” is looking at his actions from a modern day, western world perspective. It’s projecting what we as a society today may see as actions more typical of women, but to my knowledge, what was acceptable gendered behavior during medieval times was somewhat different. Like a kiss between two men of similar status not being a big deal, and though Gawain not hunting and staying behind to lay about the castle is exhibiting leisure we wouldn’t usually see of a knight, he’s only doing so because he’s been traveling for almost a year, and he was told to take the next few days, before what he thought was his impending death, to relax. I do think the lady and Gawain’s interactions could maybe be considered a role reversal, where the lady is acting in a way typical of the male pursuer, but I think Gawain’s reactions were courtly, not so much that of submission of whatever the implied traits are that Dinshaw means when she says he was “acting like a woman.”
I do not completely agree that Gawain “acts like a woman”, especially when u compare him to the other women in the text who are represented as coniving and sexual. I see that denying the lady’s proposal for sex is seen as a feminine action, but he does it for the sake of his honor. The kiss too between him and Bertilak isnt necessarily a display of femininity or even homosexuality, its a display of honor. Dinshaw’s theory that if Gawain had slept with the lady he would have to sleep with Bertilak shocked me the most and I do not entirely think it’s true, but I think even then would be about honor. Still, Gawain is otherwise depicted as very manly throughout the story and even isnt fond of women himself.
I wouldn’t agree with their concept that Dinshaw claims that Gawain acts like a woman. I think Dinshaw in her piece is trying to show the complicated relationship that sexuality has even in terms where most people would think it was black and white. If anything Dinshaw is showing the two drastic differences in the poem of an idealized man, Gawain, is still able to be multidimensional. If anything I think there are certain historical cases of homosexuality that it ties to when the poem was most likely published as to why there is even the mention of kissing like a woman. I don’t have a black and white answer of if I agree with the claim, because I don’t think that’s the exact claim. It’s much more complex.
I do agree that this juxtaposition is greatly influenced by Gawain’s “woman-like” actions. While I disagree with the statement of certain actions being linked to a sense of womanhood, I think the time period in which both pieces were written allows for some leniency on the subject matter. I think this juxtaposition is played off because the softness of Gawain’s actions is reflected in the brutality of the hunt. I think the animals could be symbolic of the ways in which Gawain is responding to the lady advances. For example, the fox symbolizing the cunning way in which Gawain is avoiding “temptation” by the lady. However, I don’t think Gawain is tempted at all.
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