Green Dreams Are Made of This….remix with The Corrupt Businessman

 

In a world where giant, green men with very large axes simply stroll into Arthurian courtyards during Michaelmas...but can you imagine if there was more than one Green Knight? That’s a bit scary. This is probably my third time reading this story and this part is probably my second favorite; since I am quite fond of the whole “an honorable end for an honorable man,” so I like the weird ending. But this part always sticks out, because you know, decapitation. Yet even so “that scalp and skull now swung from his fist/…and it opened its eyelids, stared straight ahead/ and spoke this speech…” (SGGK 49). The supernatural way that he simply addresses the court like some headless horseman makes the story really come to life (no pun intended). 

However one of the most important questions to ask is: Why green? Why not a Blue Knight? Why are this Knight and his horse cantering into the great hall sporting this secondary color? The most common symbol for green is envy and jealousy so would that mean that this mysterious Green Knight is jealous of King Arthur, his court, his followers? So many questions, so little time. The first lines that tell of this unusual pigment in his skin: “Amazement seized their minds/ no soul had ever seen/ a knight of such a kind/ entirely emerald green.” (SGGK 30). There is an intended emphasis on “emerald” since it creates alliteration with “entirely” and with this the knight is put into a noble light since emeralds are jewels which would NOT be associated with a lower born person or even a small-fry knight. My guess is that this honorable green knight heard about all the brave deeds and heroic knights and their love of their king, he got real envious because he lives alone and forgotten in the corner of the world and he comes to the court because he wants to be noticed and talked about like the famous king. 

Also I feel like I should also talk about the other reading we had, “The Canon’s Assistant Tale” which was interesting in how terrible the people in it are. Especially the part where the “rascal canon” swindles a priest with his false alchemy. First of all that priest is way too gullible and a bit corrupt if he is all about making illegal money, probably for himself. And then the swindler, well, I have mixed feelings about him since he is obviously talented about his work and is renown through the town, but also he is a fraud. “That scoundrel canon, whom the devil fetch/ Out of his bosom took a seeming charcoal/ A bit of beech wherein he’d bored a hole/ In which he’d placed an ounce of silver filings…” (CAT 442). Obviously what the fraud canon is doing is horrible, and he is using alchemist pretexts to swindle wealthy, ignorant people who want to believe in magic, and a quick way to more money. Yet, in a way he is just trying to make money and survive, it is his livelihood, and he is good at it. Somehow I saw him more as a corrupt salesman.       

It's Not Easy Being Green

Well, I am shocked to say the least. When Dr. MB mentioned we would be reading about a green knight, the joke about the black knight on the black horse ran through my head, and I was quickly imagining a foolish riddle that circled round itself. In a way, my predictions were correct. The first thing I noticed upon reading was the abundant alliteration (ya see what I did there?) all throughout the story. Lines like "grasp that gruesome axe and show your striking style" and "folly finds the man who flirts with the fool" roll off your tongue. The writing reminds me of a limerick or a riddle, with witty alliteration that keeps the words flowing and tricky, with that hint of humor and mystery. If you read the words out loud, they're written in a very melodious and sing-song way that keeps the dark undertones hidden. If a child were to read this, I feel like they would enjoy the sounds, internal rhyme and creative speech, but would have no idea how vulgar and twisted this truly is. But perhaps that's the point. Kassy mentioned that she thought of the Jolly Green Giant upon reading. Is that the trickery this author is getting at? Disguising real world issues that are grim inside upbeat lines that bring a smile to your face as you try to tackle each tongue twister?

While I read, I was constantly trying to think of the reason why this knight was green. Why bother endlessly listing all these details about the knight and his horse and repeating over and over again, that everything about them both was green? At first, I thought of someone being considered 'green' or new or amateur at something. Perhaps this was an amateur knight who had never done a knightly task before and was looking to prove himself. But further reading removed that thought from my mind. This Green Knight seemed to know exactly what he was doing and was more manipulative and powerful than new and innocent. Green has natural themes as well, and this was my second thought. Sir Gawain, the apparent weakest of the men, offers to stand up to the Green Knight. If the Green Knight represented nature and the weakest was to battle the nature, I thought that maybe even the weakest of us humans can destroy nature even if we think we are powerless and weak. But looking back, that also seems to be a ridiculous conclusion. So I thought back to the basics. Back to expressions we've heard since kindergarten like the expression, "green with envy". Jealously is absolutely associated with the color green and who are the jealous people? The outsiders.

The Green Knight is described as a possible half-giant, like everyone's favorite Hogwarts friend, Hagrid. Characters like Hagrid simply enough, feel too big for this world and can't see to find their place in it. The Knight hands down reminds me of Frankenstein's monster. This monster had no choice but to exist, and although he tried to educate himself with literature and was only looking to help and do good, his actions were always mistaken for trying to harm someone else. He could never fit in no matter how much he tried. The same rings true for other literary monsters like Beowulf's ever-famous Grendel, who might have just been feeling left out of the party in the great hall or couldn't take all of the noise. To be green with jealously is definitely fitting. The Green Knight might have always felt like an outcast, understood by few. When you're alone, you constantly crave to fit in and be with people who can accept you for being yourself. But what if the knight had never found that crowd or sought acceptance? Over time, he would grow green with envy and could only occupy himself by striking fear in others. If people are scared or intimated of you, at least they're thinking of you. By instilling fear in others, The Green Knight created a reputation for himself and would definitely not be forgotten.

I think the symbolism of green is all about envy. The knight is envious of all these men who are accepted by others and can chat amongst themselves about whatever they please. In order to get attention, this knight had to spew riddles and strike up a fight in order to be noticed. Even his axe shows that he is blunt and to the point. He doesn't want to see people struggle or dodge their way out of things. It's quick and dirty. One swift swing. Words and rumors cut deep. All it takes is one swing to bring you down and get hurt. But although he takes the swing of the axe to his neck, he survives the blow. Maybe being attacked by others is dangerous and cruel, but no matter how deep the cut, there is an ability to survive by creating your own escape? Jealousy and the role of being the outcast has made The Green Knight so intimidating and strong that even a true weapon couldn't break his body completely, or his spirit.