Masculine Identity in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay -- Essays

manlike Identity in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Vern L. Bulloughs article, On Being a Male in the Middle Ages, addresses how vital it was for a man funding in the middle ages to be sexually active in guild to champion a virile identity by explaining Quite clearly, virile person sexual performance was a major key to being male. It was a mans sexual organs that made him different and superior to the woman. But masculinity was somewhat fragile, and it was important for a man to moderate demonstrating his maleness by action and thought, especially by sexual action. It was part of his duty to withstand his female partners happy and satisfied, and unless he did so, he had failed as a man. (41) If we atomic number 18 to use this reference to explain what constitutes maleness in the middle ages, accordingly the question naturally arises as to how Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight retains his masculine identity while abstaining from sex. I believe the ans wer to this can be found by looking at the structure of the story, in which we result find that Gawain is surrounded by develop figures who create a superego that requires Gawain to surround his sexual desires. At the same time, these pargonnt figures are experimenting Gawains top executive to abstain from sexual intercourse to see if he is worthy of a courtly masculine title. Therefore, the only way Gawain can achieve and offer this masculine identity is to abstain from sex. We should begin our observations into the question of how Sir Gawains masculinity whole kit by focusing on the Green Knight. The Green Knight, the first let figure introduced in the story, tastes Gawains masculinity. Before the Green Knight can test Gawain, though, he must prove that he is in a present to pass judgment. C... ...teilungen. 86 (1985) 482-88.Bullough, Vern L. On Being a Male in the Middle Ages. chivalrous Masculinities Regarding Men in the Middle Ages. knightly Cultures 7.Minn eapolis U of Minnesota P, 1994. Freud, Sigmund. Character and Culture. 1907. New York Crowell-Collier P, 1970.Freud, Sigmund. The Origin & Development of Psychoanalysis. 1910. New York total heat Regnery Company, 1967.Freud, Sigmund. Sexuality and the Psychology of Love. 1905. New York Crowell-Collier P, 1970.Hedges, Warren. Personal interview. 26 November 1996.Kinney, Clare R. The (Dis)Embodied Hero and the Signs of humanness in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Medieval Masculinities Regarding Men in the Middle Ages. Medieval Cultures 7. Minneapolis U of Minnesota P, 1994. Mann, Jill. Prince and Value in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.Essays in Criticism. 36 (1986) 294-318. male Identity in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay -- Essays Masculine Identity in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Vern L. Bulloughs article, On Being a Male in the Middle Ages, addresses how vital it was for a man liveness in the middle ages to be sexually active in sound out to maintain a masculine identity by explaining Quite clearly, male sexual performance was a major key to being male. It was a mans sexual organs that made him different and superior to the woman. But maleness was somewhat fragile, and it was important for a man to keep demonstrating his maleness by action and thought, especially by sexual action. It was part of his duty to keep his female partners happy and satisfied, and unless he did so, he had failed as a man. (41) If we are to use this reference to explain what constitutes maleness in the middle ages, then the question naturally arises as to how Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight retains his masculine identity while abstaining from sex. I believe the answer to this can be found by looking at the structure of the story, in which we go away find that Gawain is surrounded by father figures who create a superego that requires Gawain to stamp down his sexual desires. At the same time, these parent figures are testing G awains dexterity to abstain from sexual intercourse to see if he is worthy of a courtly masculine title. Therefore, the only way Gawain can achieve and maintain this masculine identity is to abstain from sex. We should begin our observations into the question of how Sir Gawains masculinity whole works by focusing on the Green Knight. The Green Knight, the first father figure introduced in the story, tests Gawains masculinity. Before the Green Knight can test Gawain, though, he must prove that he is in a blot to pass judgment. C... ...teilungen. 86 (1985) 482-88.Bullough, Vern L. On Being a Male in the Middle Ages. Medieval Masculinities Regarding Men in the Middle Ages. Medieval Cultures 7.Minneapolis U of Minnesota P, 1994. Freud, Sigmund. Character and Culture. 1907. New York Crowell-Collier P, 1970.Freud, Sigmund. The Origin & Development of Psychoanalysis. 1910. New York hydrogen Regnery Company, 1967.Freud, Sigmund. Sexuality and the Psychology of Love. 1905. New Y ork Crowell-Collier P, 1970.Hedges, Warren. Personal interview. 26 November 1996.Kinney, Clare R. The (Dis)Embodied Hero and the Signs of humanity in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Medieval Masculinities Regarding Men in the Middle Ages. Medieval Cultures 7. Minneapolis U of Minnesota P, 1994. Mann, Jill. Prince and Value in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.Essays in Criticism. 36 (1986) 294-318.