The Seed Of Good And Evil: Divergent Transmission And Reception Of Sir Gawain In Medieval Europe

Sir Gawain, nephew of King Arthur and the quintessential courtly knight of the Round Table, is widely known for his numerous adventures alongside Lancelot and Perceval in the works of Chrétien de Troyes, as well as for his renowned encounter with the Green Knight. These narratives spread across Europe, inspiring authors from various regions to adapt, reinterpret, and rewrite the exploits of this illustrious knight.

However, despite the widespread presence of Gawain’s adventures throughout the British Isles, France, the Holy Roman Empire, and beyond, his reception varies significantly depending on both time and place. The thirteenth century, in particular, with its heightened interest in the Crusades, the veneration of relics, and the exaltation of chivalry, provided fertile ground for the consolidation of an Arthurian canon—most notably the Vulgate Cycle. Within these texts, Gawain is portrayed in an increasingly negative light, embodying the flaws of an outdated chivalric model. In contrast, in less canonical traditions, particularly in regions where the monarchy vied with the Church for supreme authority, Gawain was elevated as the greatest knight of the Round Table and, in some instances, the only one capable of attaining the Holy Grail.

These competing representations raise fundamental questions about the mechanisms of literary transmission and the ideological forces that shaped Arthurian narratives. Was Gawain’s vilification within the Vulgate Cycle a reflection of evolving moral ideals, or did it respond to specific socio-political tensions? To what extent did local power struggles influence his portrayal as either a paragon of virtue or a cautionary figure?

This paper explores these divergent portrayals, tracing the transmission and adaptation of Gawain’s character across medieval Europe. By examining manuscript circulation, intertextual influences, and the shifting moral frameworks within Arthurian literature, it seeks to shed light on the broader dynamics of medieval storytelling and the malleability of legendary figures in response to historical change.

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