In Chapter 2, Manne talks about the ameliorative analysis of misogyny, with misogyny leading to social environments where women face hostility if they are thought to be guilty of violating patriarchal order. From what we’ve read so far, do you think women in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are guilty of violating social order, or do they follow convention?
Medieval Feminism
ENGL 361 and WGST 322 | Spring 2020 | Dr. Myra Seaman
So far we have seen only a few female characters. Guinevere seems to follow the social order at this point, although the text hasn’t given her much credit for being anything more than decorative.
The “gay lady” at the Lord’s House is somewhat interesting. Currently she appears very interested in Gawain; she sits next to him at the table, and in comparison to Guinevere she’s also described more physically, like the Green Knight. (What I mean here is that the author felt the need to tell us how awesome both of these characters’ “buttocks” were, which, might be something to think about?) I think this is setting up some foreshadowing for what’s to come by giving us perhaps some set-up for this lady’s later actions. We can interpret the physical description to indicate Gawain’s interest, or maybe a heightened sensuality about this character. Something seems out of the ordinary about her, regardless.
The old lady is also interesting, and even LESS is said about her. I think we could discuss the dichotomy created by this woman and her youthful counterpart. The old woman is a bit overlooked in the text. Is it because she can no longer fill the role she once did in the social order? Because she is no longer “toothsome” is she not worth speaking of? For the same reasons her youthful companion is sexualized in the text, the old woman appears to be desexualized and shoved aside. At least for the time being.
I think in the first two fitts of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the women follow the convention of the patriarchal order. In the first fitt, there is little about women mentioned, other than the occasional comment regarding Guinevere’s eyes: “But not one stone outshone / the quartz of the queen’s eyes;” (lines 81-82). In fitt two, the women in the story begin to pick up, in the religious imagery of Mother Mary in his shield, and once Sir Gawain has entered into the castle. Sir Gawain literally has an image of the Mother Mary engraved in the inside of his shield that “by catching her eye his courage would not crack” (line 650). This is pretty cool that he looks to the Mother of Christ, and not actually Christ himself for his courage and strength. Once Sir Gawain enters the castle, there are a couple women that begin to show up in the story that later on have a lot of impact in the plot. The ending of fitt two leaves us with a cliffhanger stating that whatever Sir Gawain receives from the man’s wife, he must give to him in return. I wonder what she will give him? (I already know the answer to this, I just added the question for the sake of suspicion).
So far within Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, the women shown, such as Guinevere and the Virgin Mary, have been shown to be following social conventions expected of women within a patriarchal society. Since I have previously read this story, I am already aware of what is to happen within the coming readings with Sir Gawain and the wife of his host, where she acts seemingly violates social order, but in a cunning and deceitful way that is also directed by her husband. So is she violating what is expected of her if another man deems it okay? Although Guinevere is represented as being similarly cunning within other stories including her, she remains very quiet and lady-like, sitting behind her veil of fabric.This story is obviously not about her, despite being mentioned in comparison to the wife of Gawain’s host. But I do believe the Virgin Mary plays within the conventional roles of women in a patriarchal society, as she is held highly within a male dominated society, solely for conceiving Jesus.Overall, her position as a mother is emphasized. Mary is also looked to for guidance and pity, which one might seek a mother figure for when in need. Mary is described as, “our mother most mild,” that gave birth to Jesus to “save our souls” (71).
I think the description of Guinevere in the first fit is demonstrative of a woman following convention, particularly in a man’s world which is the definition Manne emphasizes in her book. Guinevere is defined as “gloriously framed” (25) at the table and she is described as being in relation to the beautiful tapestries around her, emphasizing her status but also her role as more of a decorative figure. In this first description of her it appears that the background behind her is more important than she is. While that may not be true as the story goes on, from a first read that is what it appears to be. In this scene she is literally in a mans world, sitting at the table surrounded by knights and used as a symbol in the way that Manne says can make women a “representative target” because certain types of women can be singled out but exemplify the qualities of a group of women. For her, she represents a whole class of femininity that demonstrates status and wealth but also key attributes that men hope to see in women.
The women in the first two fitts are few and far between. First there is Guinevere, who does not even speak. She appears more as a figure on King Arthur’s arm, and the only time we truly see an interaction with her is when he assures her to be calm after the Green Knight leaves.
When Guinevere is mentioned again, it is in comparison to the lady who takes a liking to Gawain. The author dedicates a great deal of time to telling us how beautiful this woman is in comparison to others; specifically, by describing how unseemly the older woman is. This is a clear example of misogyny to me. There is the old crone, respected and powerful but physically unattractive, something which becomes her most emphasized trait. Then there is the beautiful young maiden, who is traded between Gawain and her husband as if she is nothing more than an object for the enjoyment of men.
Mother Mary stands out as another archetype; the maternal figure. However, she is more revered than recognized as having power. Despite praying to her for safe haven, Gawain thanks the Lord and St. Julian for his housing; not Maiden Mary. So far, women in this story seem to carry very little weight.
One of the few named women in this reading is Guinevere who does not speak or have an expressed personality. Guinever follows the male dominated norms and does not speak out or make herself known or standout. Guinevere is devloped and described in this reading only by her looks. She sits by Arthur’s side like an object hes showing off. She stays obedient to her role of saying and doing nothing, being only something to look at and stand by a man. There isnt a woman in the pages we read that goes against the social order. All of them are very unimportant and extremely under deveolped and described compared to the men.
So far, I would say the women follow convention. Women’s direct actions play a fairly small role in the first two Fitts. The only women I noted being mentioned were Guinevere, Mary, the beautiful young woman, the contrasted old woman, and the lord’s wife. Guinevere was beautiful and silent; she did not really expose herself to any risky situations in these sections. Mary served as a guide and hope to Gawain, but there was no mention of her character or her wishes. Again, with the contrasted young woman and old woman, all that was mentioned about them was their looks. There were almost two pages about solely their looks and dress, which demonstrates what is important to the narrator about women. The lord’s wife was given to accompany Gawain while the lord left to hunt. She was given as though she were a belonging and existed for entertainment and to prevent loneliness. There is no volition or free will demonstrated by these women, so I certainly think they are following convention.