By: Maria Spong
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight depicts women with and without power. Their moral categorization is then based on how and if they have power. The women that used their sexual and/or magical powers were distinguished as evil and those who did not were good. This is exemplified in the characters of Bertilak’s Wife, Guinevere, and Morgan le Fay.
Images from the original manuscript
Bertilak’s Wife
One of the three most prominent figures in this poem is Bertilak de Houtdesert’s wife. When Sir Gawain and Bertilak make a bargain to exchange anything they receive during his stay at the castle, Bertilak’s wife is tasked with seducing Gawain. When meeting Bertilak for their barter, he only gives the three kisses and doesn’t give the girdle, as he wants it as protection when facing the Green Knight. The Lady has a lot of power of Gawain, and he even admits that, though in a petty way. “But no wonder if a fool finds his way into folly and be wiped of his wits by womanly guile— it’s the way of the world”(2414-2416). He says that it isn’t his fault that he was tricked and goes on to compare the lady to women of the Bible, many of whom have an evil connotation like Eve causing the fall and Delilah causing Samson’s downfall and others. These women, and many other of this time, were considered evil for their power. The lady specifically is a very complex and strong character as she does have power over Gawain even though she is only presented as a pretty woman. In each interaction with Gawain, she reads his interactions and argues her way into getting kisses. She challenges his reputation as a ladies man and plays with his feelings to test him. But ultimately, she is just a pawn in the overall test and she doesn’t do any of this of her own volition, but because she has been put up to it by her husband.
Guinevere
Guinevere, who is Queen alongside King Aurther, is central to the plot of Sir Gawain, but she has a very small role. The first mention of the historical queen is referring to her beauty when she is compared to precious stones. “But not one stone outshone the quartz of the queen’s eyes;” (81-82). The only other times she is only referenced is in relation to a male figure. “Good Sir Gawain is seated by Guinevere…”(109), “By Guinevere, Gawain now to his king inclines” (339-340), “Instead he spoke to his exquisite queen with courteous words:”(439). Being a Queen, Geinevere has a certain amount of power, and much of it is hinted at in her physical location on the platform in the dining room where she has a seat of physical power, that calls for attention and gives authority. The main character, Sir Gawain, being introduced in relation to Guinevere also relays a certain amount of power because this knight is only recognizable as he is sitting close to her because they have a familial connection. But that power is mitigated because she seems to be an object for reference without any autonomy. Guinevere is again mentioned as a tool to exaggerate the beauty of a woman that Gawain encounters, as Guinevere is said to be the most beautiful woman in the world, but this woman is described as, “more glorious than Guinevere,”(945). The last time that she is mentioned, the Green Knight, who is revealed to be Bertilak, is explaining to Gawain why he was put through the trials. He explains the Morgan le Fay wanted to cause trouble for the Knights of the Round Table and, specifically, Guinevere. This goes back to a complex past and tense relationship between the two women, but even then, Guinevere is made to look like a damsel in distress. “She imagined this mischief would muddle your minds and that grieving Guinevere would go to her grave at the sight of a specter”(2459-2460).
Morgan le Fay
Morgan le Fay is, arguably, the most powerful female in the poem. Though not mentioned till the end of the story, she is the reason for the whole adventure. “She guided me in this guise to your great hall to put pride on trail and to test with this trick what distinction and tryst the Round Table deserves.” A magical woman, she disguised Bertilak de Hautdesert with magic and sent him to Guinevere’s court to test the Knights of the Round Table, and to distress the Queen. She is pulling the strings on the whole operation and she is acting with her own autonomy. But, similar to Bertilak’s wife, she is a woman seen as evil. The only women with power in this story are twisted to be conduits for bad rather than good or even neutral. Even further complicating her relationship with power, it is explicitly stated that the only reason she has these magical powers is because they were taught by Merlin. “The mighty Morgan le Fay, so adept and adroit in the dark arts, who learned magic from Merlin— the master of mystery— for in earlier times she was intimately entwined with that knowledgeable man” (2445-2450). This quote is important because it shows that she is adept in the dark arts, evil magic, and that she learned from Merlin, but it even goes a step further and has to add that the two of them had a relationship that is heavily implied to be sexual in nature.