is unable to accommodate the entire scope of human needs—ultimately, the knightly rules and codes of conduct are flawed. Anderson argues, “Chivalry does not properly confront time and death, and it largely ignores the deeper morality which is founded on a sense of human frailty. As such it is a castle built on sand” (353). The medieval “civilized” world of rigid rules and order conflicts with man’s “natural” urges for sex and survival. During Gawain’s last evening at Hautdesert, “Snow pelted down spitefully, stinging the wild creatures; / The wind shrilly whistled down from the fells, / Choking the valleys with enormous drifts” (“Sir Gawain” lines 2003-2005). The following morning, Gawain must prepare to meet his fate and travel to the Green Chapel. He armors himself for battle, wearing Lady Bertilak’s “protective” green silk girdle wrapped around his red tunic, symbolic of Gawain’s yearning to survive. He rides off into the wilderness in search of the Green Chapel, confident that God will guide him. Snow cover is lying everywhere. Gawain is no longer afforded the crutch of King Arthur’s and Lord Bertilak’s fire-lit halls and protective castle walls. Woods notes, “The white waste may suggest the emptiness or exposure Gawain must be feeling at this point, and surely we (and perhaps he) are here reminded of the lady’s snowy breast and throat” (221). Effectively, the earth never stops turning and the sea- sons never stop changing, this emphasizes the notion that man is powerless against nature and that life is transient and governed by time. Sir Gawain arrives at the Green Chapel expecting to see a gigantic and daunting green castle, only to find a small dirt mound with unevenly grown patches of grass on top. The air is vibrating from the screeching sound of the Green Knight sharpening his mighty axe on a grinding stone; he emerges from the mound ready to complete their “exchange of blows” agreement. As Gawain bares his neck, the Green Knight praises Gawain for keeping his word, and he lifts his axe high above his head and prepares to strike down—the narrator states that Ga - wain “hunched his shoulders a little to resist the sharp blade. / The other man checked the bright steel with a jerk, / And then rebuked the prince with arrogant words” (“Sir Gawain” lines 2267-2269). Gawain promises he will not flinch this time. The powerful Green Knight swings his axe again but “Checked his blow suddenly before it could inflict hurt” (2291). Gawain remains still like a stone, and because he has finally found his courage, the knight swiftly brings down his axe for a third time, leaving just a nick on Gawain’s neck. The narrator conveys the Green Knight’s thoughts, “Seeing how valiant, fearlessly bold he stood there / Armed and undaunted, he admired him much” (2334-2335). The poet throws
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