What does chivalric romance really represent? In “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,” Sir Gawain continually proves his chivalrous virtues and code of honor. Chivalry includes bravery, honor and humanity. He proves that he is in fact a "real" knight. It shows in many ways the perfection of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and the emphasis on the importance of the chivalric code. Despite its divine origins, the chivalric code is ultimately a human ideal. Chivalry is not a natural trait found in man, but rather a concept constructed by humanity in its quest for Christ-like perfection. It has even been suggested that chivalry is at odds with the nature of man. However, despite the weakness of his human nature, Sir Gawain is expected to maintain the chivalric code, and to do so he must rely on his faith in God. In “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” the chivalric code – or rather the human capacity to respect it – is challenged by nature in different ways. The challenges that nature presents to the chivalric code are characterized by the Knight. The insignificance of the code is revealed in the reactions of the people of the court to the challenge posed by the Green Knight. His proposal reduces “the noblest knights known under Christ” (Part 1) “to cowering and trembling men.” » (Part 1) Despite the court's reaction to the Green Knight's challenge, Arthur still insists: "No guest here is dismayed by your fine words" (Part 1). Verbally accepting the Green Knight's challenge, Sir Gawain supports Arthur's playful - if not downright dishonest - words, thus managing to maintain the integrity of King Arthur's court. He also unknowingly passes his first and most obvious test. It is in the castle that the ability. from Sir Gawain to...... middle of paper ...... host However, because he does not realize that he is being tested, Sir Gawain fails the test upon his return to the court of the. King Arthur, Sir Gawain experienced the weakness of human ideals in the face of nature through deception and trickery. However, despite the weakness of these ideals, the poem does not seem to suggest that the code be rejected, instead. the chivalric code is presented as a valuable set of ideals that humanity should strive to uphold. In doing so, however, man must remain conscious of his mortality and human weakness. The belt serves as a reminder of this, as Sir Gawain explains to the Green Knight after his failure is revealed. Even Sir Gawain, “a man far beyond reproach” (Part 4) with “faith without peer” (Part 4), cannot always uphold the chivalric code. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is an excellent example of the chivalric code.