A Look Behind the Setting

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, takes place in Camelot, in King Author’s court.  It is a medieval setting, where you experience the life of a knight’s travels outside of his home area, venturing outside of his comfort zone and into a different culture.  He is able to explore his knighthood and figure out who he is, almost like a teenager going off to college.  He has to make decisions that he has not had to make before, like when he has to choose between his responsibilities as a knight and the code of courtesy, and when he has to use his survival instincts to follow through with his promises to Green Knight.

Another setting is during the seduction scenes.  It is ironic that these seduction scenes take place in the castle of Sir Bertilak, since it is described as being a very civilized home.  It is not until later that we learn that Sir Bertilak’s castle is under the sorceress Morgan le Fay’s magic powers.  Along the castle setting she has used her powers to line the walls with magical beasts.  Sir Gawain must travel through these animals. This castle is also where women’s powers are strongest. An example of this is shown when Lady Bertilak has power in the bedroom, ruling over Gawain. It is almost as if Sir Bertilak’s castle is completely opposite that of King Author’s, even down to the power being given to the women rather than the men.

The final setting of Sir Gawain takes place mostly in the wilderness.  The Green Knight holds all the power in the wilderness. This area is very primitive, with the chapel being made out of dirt. This setting emphasizes the Green Knight’s connection to the "wild side" of life. It is in this setting that Sir Gawain has to go through the ultimate test and must deal with failure. It is here that he completes his quest to find his identity, and once this is accomplished he can return to King Arthur’s court to go back to the society where he began.