The Purpose of Literature

One of my friends was remarking that, in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain should have taken some sort of action to avoid or leave the situation of attempted enticement by Bertilak’s wife. It was her opinion that Gawain did not make much of an effort to avoid the near occasion of sin.

Though it might sound like one of those simple solutions that would render a movie too short, there is much to be considered here. Gawain was a very skilled conversationalist, and he turned aside all of her [Bertilak’s wife; she was never named that I recall] smooth-talk flawlessly and without the least rudeness. This went fine for a while, and Gawain trusted in Mary to help him, but his hostess was determined to test his willpower to the max. Eventually Gawain fell to coveting, accepting the girdle that she pressed upon him, finally succumbing to her attempts to deter his righteousness in one area or another.

In many ways, Gawain managed the situation quite well. He kept his purity, which is obviously important. He also remained courteous to his hostess, but at what cost? His fault lay in taking the girdle, which belonged to Bertilak, and Gawain kept it secret from him despite their agreement to exchange what they won each day. This was a violation of their pact and the relationship between host and guest. He later confessed and despised his sin, but he lived on with the knowledge that he was as predisposed to corruption as the rest of humankind.

Could Gawain have handled it any better? Possibly, although the book says that “... he must needs either refuse her with offence or her favours there take.” It could be argued that rudeness is a better alternative to some other forms of sin. On the other hand, a sin is more or less grievous depending on the person and the circumstances, and he could have both done and suffered much more damage by disrespect than by what he did do. In any case, the fact remains that he was not perfect.

But that is what the story is about! While I disagree with my friend to the standpoint of Gawain handling the event foolishly, I have no problem with posing alternative possibilities to what occurs in a book. This is what literature is for. It is an art that depicts the issues, ideas, and happenings in the life of man, exposing what is hidden and provoking thought. With history, they say, “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” Literature is much the same way. Above the level of entertainment, we can and should extract what is contained, measure the depths, analyze the philosophy, and ultimately learn something for the betterment of our lives!

So how could Gawain have acted differently? What consequences would another action have had? Or did he handle it to the best of his ability? Could you have done any better? Was the writer trying to convey how we should or shouldn’t go about such a thing? Perhaps he was demonstrating the courtesy we should have, and at the same time displaying its limits? There is so much to ponder on so many levels that I have barely scratched the surface here!

And this goes for books besides your classic literature, as well. Even talking mice and men battling aliens to save the universe have meaning disguised somewhere. Such things are only worth reading because they relate, in some way, to us; since man is the center of creation, literature employs his philosophy, ethics, and emotions. We can find our questions, desires, problems, solutions, and mysteries within pages of writing. It is a tool for learning about ourselves from an outside viewpoint, always changing, logging beliefs from times past, and illuminating the shadows of the future. That is the purpose of literature.