A Revolution of the Distressed Essay -- Shining Path Peru Peruvian His

A Revolution of the Distressed   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The world today is faced with many obstacles concerning all the peoples of the world. The issues range from globalization to the state of the environment with every political, economic, and human interest lying in between. It is these human interests that will be brought to light by examining the revolutions of the Incan indigenous beginning in the early part of the twentieth century. Running parallel to their North American neighbors, the native peoples of Peru have lived in seriously impecunious conditions as the result of ethno racial discrimination handed them by their colonial occupiers; Spanish speakers. These revolutions, namely Shining Path, would eventually define the gap between the rich and the poor, the 1st and 3rd worlds, and those peoples struggling with the effects of a traditional world falling into the hands of modernity. Unfortunately Shining Path, the dominant revolutionary organization, would be widely regarded as a terrorist organization as op posed to a liberation movement. This negative attitude toward Shining Path can be directly attributed to their misrepresentation of these native peoples and also to their style of warfare which has made Shining Path the great example of an ideology gone astray; leaving the hopes of its followers and the fate of the Peruvian people in the dust and rubble of its destructive wake. While the constituents of left and right wing political parties would battle each other for both power and affect throughout the first half of the twentieth century, neither end of the ideological spectrum would effectively bring about change in regard to the interests of the native Peruvian peoples. This is due largely in part to the marginalization of left wing parties as a result of their own military weakness and also the outright indifference on the part of conservatives to make serious, or even arbitrary, reforms to early constitutions. The reign of President Augusto B. Leguia came to define the first thirty years of Peruvian politics in the twentieth century. Leguia ruled as a typical right winger; his economic plans overwhelmingly benefited the states oligarchic class, leaving action in the interest of the native Incan populations to a minimum. In fact, treatment of this sector of the population was no more than sub-human in nature. Socially, he made attempts to incorporate i n... ...1992. Degregori, Carlos Ivan â€Å"The Conquest that Failed: The War for the Center-South† Shining and Other Paths: war and society in Peru, 1980-1995. Ed. Steve J. Stern. Duke University, 1998. Gall, Norman â€Å"Peru: The Master is Dead† 1971 Ed. Steve J. Stern. Duke University, 1998. Gorriti, Gustavo. â€Å"Statement of Gustavo Gorriti, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.† P 19-24 The Shining Path After Guzman: The Threat and the International Response. Congressional Hearing U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 1992. McClintock, Cynthia â€Å"Prepared Statement of Cynthia McClintock, Professor of Political Science, George Washington University.† P 25-27 The Shining Path After Guzman: The Threat and the International Response. Congressional Hearing. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 1992. Smith, Michael L. â€Å"Taking the High Ground: Shining Path and the Andes† The Shining Path Of Peru. Ed. David Scott Palmer. St. Martins Press, New York. 1992. Stern, Steve J. Shining and Other Paths: war and society in Peru, 1980-1995. Duke University,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1998. Strong, Simon Shining Path: Terror and Revolution in Peru. Times Books Random House. 1992. A Revolution of the Distressed Essay -- Shining Path Peru Peruvian His A Revolution of the Distressed   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The world today is faced with many obstacles concerning all the peoples of the world. The issues range from globalization to the state of the environment with every political, economic, and human interest lying in between. It is these human interests that will be brought to light by examining the revolutions of the Incan indigenous beginning in the early part of the twentieth century. Running parallel to their North American neighbors, the native peoples of Peru have lived in seriously impecunious conditions as the result of ethno racial discrimination handed them by their colonial occupiers; Spanish speakers. These revolutions, namely Shining Path, would eventually define the gap between the rich and the poor, the 1st and 3rd worlds, and those peoples struggling with the effects of a traditional world falling into the hands of modernity. Unfortunately Shining Path, the dominant revolutionary organization, would be widely regarded as a terrorist organization as op posed to a liberation movement. This negative attitude toward Shining Path can be directly attributed to their misrepresentation of these native peoples and also to their style of warfare which has made Shining Path the great example of an ideology gone astray; leaving the hopes of its followers and the fate of the Peruvian people in the dust and rubble of its destructive wake. While the constituents of left and right wing political parties would battle each other for both power and affect throughout the first half of the twentieth century, neither end of the ideological spectrum would effectively bring about change in regard to the interests of the native Peruvian peoples. This is due largely in part to the marginalization of left wing parties as a result of their own military weakness and also the outright indifference on the part of conservatives to make serious, or even arbitrary, reforms to early constitutions. The reign of President Augusto B. Leguia came to define the first thirty years of Peruvian politics in the twentieth century. Leguia ruled as a typical right winger; his economic plans overwhelmingly benefited the states oligarchic class, leaving action in the interest of the native Incan populations to a minimum. In fact, treatment of this sector of the population was no more than sub-human in nature. Socially, he made attempts to incorporate i n... ...1992. Degregori, Carlos Ivan â€Å"The Conquest that Failed: The War for the Center-South† Shining and Other Paths: war and society in Peru, 1980-1995. Ed. Steve J. Stern. Duke University, 1998. Gall, Norman â€Å"Peru: The Master is Dead† 1971 Ed. Steve J. Stern. Duke University, 1998. Gorriti, Gustavo. â€Å"Statement of Gustavo Gorriti, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.† P 19-24 The Shining Path After Guzman: The Threat and the International Response. Congressional Hearing U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 1992. McClintock, Cynthia â€Å"Prepared Statement of Cynthia McClintock, Professor of Political Science, George Washington University.† P 25-27 The Shining Path After Guzman: The Threat and the International Response. Congressional Hearing. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 1992. Smith, Michael L. â€Å"Taking the High Ground: Shining Path and the Andes† The Shining Path Of Peru. Ed. David Scott Palmer. St. Martins Press, New York. 1992. Stern, Steve J. Shining and Other Paths: war and society in Peru, 1980-1995. Duke University,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1998. Strong, Simon Shining Path: Terror and Revolution in Peru. Times Books Random House. 1992.

Hallucinogen and Music Essay

The era of the 1960’s and early 1970’s were the clear reverberations of both mysticism and altruism. It saw the rise of the American subculture known as the â€Å"hippies,† which professes itself through exotic clothing and erotic slogans that are centered on the subversion of the contemporary Western society into a more liberal one. Nonetheless, the influence of hallucinogenic drugs that largely permeated during the same period catapulted the rise of a music genre that is centered on an intensely esthetic entrancement, known as psychedelic music. Because of this, various artists emerged and gained popularity in the said field, further reinforcing the usage of hallucinogenic drugs through their craft. In this respect, this paper sought to analyze how the music of some groups during 1960’s, specifically The Doors, The Beatles and The Jefferson Airplane were affected by the usage of hallucinogens, and the impact that their music had and still have within the society. Hallucinogens: A Background Hallucinogens are diversified groups of drugs that can alter a person’s perception, thoughts and mood. Because it is a heterogeneous group, hallucinogens are noted for their varying chemical structures and mechanism of actions as well as different adverse effects among its users. While many claim that hallucination is the instantaneous effect of using hallucinogen, which are identified as false perception that have no realistic basis, it was stated that most hallucinogens are more likely to change moods and thoughts rather than the actual hallucinations itself (Richards, 2006). The usage of hallucinogens can be traced from the history of many cultures; notably as a means of religious and mystical experiences. Rig Veda, which is the Hindu’s holy book, mentioned the use of â€Å"soma,† a substance that is capable of inducing higher levels of consciousness among its users. It is believed that Soma is derived from the juice of Amanita Mascaria, a hallucinogenic mushroom. Similarly, in pre-Columbian Mexico , the Aztecs were noted to have used â€Å"teotlaqualli,† a paste that is derived from the hallucinogenic flower known as â€Å"ololiuqui,† during their religious ceremonies. Both the Aztec priests and soldiers rub the substance on their skin, and it was though that the teotlaqualli eliminates the feeling of fear and places its users under a proper mental state of service to the Aztec gods. The aboriginal people of Mexico were also noted to have a long history of using â€Å"peyote,† which is mescaline that contains hallucinogens, during religious ceremonies. Likewise, in Salem, Massachusetts, it was proposed that hallucinogen use is the main cause of unlikely behaviors of alleged witches during witch trials (Richards, 2006). The very first synthetic form of hallucinogen known as Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) 25, was discovered in 1938 by Dr. Albert Hoffman in Basel, Switzerland’s Sandoz Laboratories. At that time, Dr. Hoffman was searching for drugs that have medical purposes. He stumbled upon LSD and did not realize that the said drug have mind-altering features. It was in 1943, that Dr. Hoffman accidentally consumed the drug that he realized its mind-altering effects right after he experienced hallucinations. From then on, LSD was widely distributed for medical research. It was also used for psychotherapy; as such the term â€Å"hallucinogenic† is used to describe LSD which implies that it actually causes the symptoms of common mental problems (Levinson, 2002). By 1957, Dr. Humphry Osmond coined the term â€Å"psychedelic† in order to come up with more positive label for drugs that have â€Å"consciousness-expanding† properties, and later on the term LSD emerged. Psychedelic was further used by Timothy Leary and other advocates of LSD during 1960’s in order to market the said drug as a substance of good kind that boost an individual’s inter and intra-personal understanding, gives a heightened feeling of spirituality and increased level of creativity. Leary and his colleagues found their inspiration in promoting LSD in the identity of Aldous Huxley (1954), a British novelist and essayist. Huxley’s book entitled â€Å"The Doors of Inspiration,† was one of the major influences that introduce Leary toward the â€Å"positive† use of LSD. The title of the book was based on William Blake’s (1963) words: â€Å"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is infinite† (Blake, 1963, p. 14 cited in Levinson, 2002, p. 76). Generally, Huxley’s book chronicled the favorable experiences he encountered in account to mescaline, a psychedelic drug that can be derived from peyote mushrooms (Levinson, 2002). Due to Leary’s strong advocacy, many people were swayed to use LSD. His devised motto â€Å"turn on, tune in, drop out† spurred many young individuals to experiment with the said drug in order to exclude themselves from mainstream society. Likewise, movie stars and entertainers alike lauded the mind-altering effects of LSD; many have even incorporated it within their lifestyle that it has become a significant part in the establishment of the â€Å"hippie† counterculture. Hallucinogen and music: Psychedelic rock During the 1960’s the widespread use of hallucinogens was recognized in account to the belief that ingesting the said substances eventually lead to â€Å"mind expansion. † It was even asserted that, why limit oneself with the experience of life on a banal level when one can experience life in a world where places are new and exciting through the usage of the said chemicals? Due to this, many are swayed by such rhetoric that hallucinogen use has become a trend incorporated in the counterculture lifestyle (Levinson, 2002). Young people tried to exist differently from the conventionality of the society; they rather live in large groups instead of small families; avoiding good paying jobs, and generally looking for excitement instead of becoming obedient and dutiful citizens. Nonetheless, the music of the said era reflected the beliefs and attitudes of the said counterculture; becoming the voice to the new generation that cared less for power money and only wanted to live outside the rules set by ordinary society (Grimbly, 2001). The emergence of psychedelic rock has played a profound role in reinforcing the understanding that hallucinogen use is an inviting activity that promotes the sense of intra and inter-spirituality and becoming one with the environment. Many bands jumped into the bandwagon of the psychedelic era, including The Jefferson Airplane, The Beatles and The Doors which were considered as the forerunners of psychedelic sound. Before proceeding to the discussion of the music of the pertained bands, it is first an imperative to define psychedelic music. Popularly known as â€Å"Psychedelic Rock,† psychedelic music or acid rock emerged during the later parts of the 1960’s in California. It was music created under the influence of mind-altering drugs predominantly the LSD. The main features of this form of music are the â€Å"long improvised instrumental passages,† which are deemed as the replication of the mind-altering effects of LSD, in the context of musicality. Likewise, bands who used this form of music clearly shows their willingness to engage in experimentation through â€Å"effect pedals,† that are responsible for notes distortion from guitars, that range from wailing to sustained percussive sounds (Grimbly, 2001). Such feature is a clear manifestation of the musicians’ inclination with hallucinogen characterized by their profound usage of distortion of notes and experimentation, which metaphorically represents the strong effects of hallucinogen use. The Jefferson Airplane Considered as one of the most important bands during the psychedelic era, The Jefferson Airplane from California experienced a huge commercial success because of their hallucinogen induced music. The music of the said band was noted to have epitomized the drug-taking ethos of the hippies. Their interaction with people during their concert mirrored what was going on at that time. The 1967 album known as â€Å"Surrealistic Pillow† contained one of the most notable psychedelic songs of all time which is â€Å"White Rabbit. † As the term surrealistic indicates, having the experience of disoriented and hallucinatory quality of dreams; it was a clear manifestation of the band’s inclination to hallucinogen use and its impact on ones mind (â€Å"Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit,† 2008). â€Å"White Rabbit† has become a full blown cultural phenomenon as it manifested the rampant usage of LSD during the said period. Written by Grace Slick in 1965, â€Å"Whit Rabbit† was influenced by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland. However, instead of maintaining the classic’s original representation of the characters, Slick infused the song with hippie messages, making the characters appear a shade darker, erasing their innocence, as it was centered on the purportedly induced hallucinations of hallucinogens. From the opening lyrics of the song which indicates: â€Å"One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small. And the ones that mother gives you don’t do anything at all. Go ask Alice when she’s ten feet tall†¦Ã¢â‚¬ to the end part that states: â€Å"When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead. And the White Knight is talking backwards, and the Red Queen’s ‘off with her head! ’ Remember what the dormouse said; ‘feed your head! ’ ‘Feed your head! ’ (Slick, 1965) Jefferson Airplane’s â€Å"White Rabbit† is indeed a transitory song that is wholly interpreted in the realms of Carroll’s classic but in a more hallucinatory light. What adds to the depth of this interpretation is the band’s usage of slow building crescendo, snapping snare drum, strong driving electric guitar that creates the hallucinatory experience of its own (â€Å"Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit,† 2008). Because of the vivid representation of hallucinogen used by the Jefferson Airplane, â€Å"White Rabbit’s† influence extended itself in modern music and culture. The song has been covered by more than 100 diverse bands during their acts, and has been featured in popular television shows such as the Simpson’s, the Sopranos. â€Å"White Rabbit† also inspired the creation of the book â€Å"Go Ask Alice† written by an anonymous writer, which chronicled the life of a teenager who died from a drug overdose. Hunter Thompson’s 1972 film â€Å"Fear and loathing in Las Vegas,† featuring a man tripping on bad combination of drugs which are LSD, mescaline, cocaine and alcohol gave rise for the recognition of â€Å"White Rabbit. † Slick’s pharmaceutical prescription advice was also referred to as the definitive rendition of the film â€Å"The Matrix† (1999) during a scene where Morpheus offered Neo a pill and said: â€Å"You take the blue pill—the story ends; you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes† (cited in â€Å"Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit,† 2008, n. p. ). Based from the given perspectives, it is evident that despite Jefferson Airplane’s advocacy for hallucinogen use, they remained as one of the most sought after psychedelic bands that greatly impacted 1960’s and the culture today, as they have become the striking visuals of rebellion that inspired various groups and artists, as well as populace to stand for what they believe. The Doors By far the most influential group to emerge in California is â€Å"The Doors. † Their brief but intensely creative career, where they were able to record some of the greatest masterpieces in music history, has been widely recognized to date. Fronted by self-proclaimed poet Jim Morrison, the Doors was able to establish their name in the field of psychedelic music. From their name â€Å"The Doors,† which is noted to be a tribute for the poetry of William Blake and Aldous Huxley’s psychedelic drug book â€Å"The doors of perception,† the band clearly conveyed their music in the context of â€Å"mind-expansion† accounted to hallucinogen use. In fact, The Doors has been widely recognized for their notoriety in the usage of LSD in most of their performances (Whiteley, 2005). According to Ray Manzarek, the group’s keyboardist, the early days of the band was marked by ingestion of LSD. Due to this, their usage of the said hallucinogen provided them a sense of shared of experiences. Each individual’s tripping specifics developed a sense of bonding for the group, thereby giving them strong emotional feelings for each other, and eventually becoming the symbolic overtone of how they created their music—sexual and inhibition free; which are strong parts of the LSD experience (Mazarek, 1999 cited in Whiteley, 2005). Although, Manzarek and Morrison did not openly discussed the details of their trips with LSD, the shared knowledge that they did have experienced the said drug has become evident within their trance-like music. Their songs reflected LSD use with each members extended solos. Likewise, Morrison’s adaptive character, the â€Å"Lizard King† became the metaphorical representation of the hypnotic powers of the drug that entices the listeners to listen to their music and embrace the wild child within them (Whiteley, 2005). It was also found out that the hallucinogenic experience provided by LSD became the most crucial ingredient for the music of The Doors, as they believe that its use provided access for them to reach the metaphysical. As Manzarek pointed out about the hallucinogenic experience: â€Å"†¦and we were off! Flying on the wings of love†¦ To Nirvana, to the pure land†¦ It was divine. It was expansive and harmonious and beatific in one† (Manzarek, 1999, p. 120 cited in Whiteley, 2005, p. 143). Apparently, they have used their music to express the transcendent moods that can be experienced under the influence of LSD. Songs such as â€Å"Light my fire,† â€Å"People are Strange,† as well as LA woman reflected the way of life The Doors have lived. Nonetheless, â€Å"Riders on the Storm† is said to be the culmination of the earlier hallucinogenic tracks of the band, as it is dark, mystical, and sinister and alienated, further reflecting what it is like to hallucinate (Whiteley, 2005). The music of The Doors continued to fascinate legions of rock fans even after the death of Morrison. During the mid-80’s, the doors’ music was much popular as it has been during 1960’s. Numerous quantities of the band’s original album have been sold, including the reissues and releases of their live materials. By 1991, director Oliver Stone created the movie â€Å"The Doors† which tackled the story of the band. From here, it is easy to point out that the fame of The Doors never ceased despite their inclination to LSD usage (Ruhlmann and Unterberger, 2009). The Beatles The popularity of The Beatles throughout the 1960’s has been well documented. They started out as mainstream band that eventually marked the British invasion in the music industry, and was considered as the reason for the uprising of the women’s sexual revolution. Their ability to popularize trends and the capability of their music to achieve global dissemination, suggested that they are one of the most significant forces in popular music history (Whiteley, 2000). By the year 1967, The Beatles eventually changed pace. From their mainstream music they jumped on to the American psychedelic bandwagon. The release of their album, â€Å"Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club† marked their conversion to the underground music. Such change of pace was considered as a significant factor for the British Psychedelic rock. The Beatles’ change image and emphasis on both love and drugs as expressed in the Sgt. Pepper’s album is said to be in perfect harmony with the 1960’s LSD-influenced mood. The immense popularity of the album notably indicates that the absence of the Beatles during the psychedelic era would have made the British counter culture insignificant. In short, the jump that the Beatles created from mainstream music to psychedelic rock established the British counter culture in the context of cultural themes and music (Whiteley, 2000). â€Å"Lucy in the sky with diamonds,† which was the third track in the album, was considered as the central force behind the British psychedelic rock because it served as the musical metaphor for the hallucinogenic experience. Musically, the song’s gentle beats is working directly towards the pulse rate of the listeners making it slow down, while slow shifting of the harmonies used in the base suggest relaxation that brings the audience into a comfortable dream state. Likewise, the melodic lines of each verse is very trancelike, allowing the audience to become reflective, and also creates a feeling of reassurance. Similarly, the well structured rising and falling phrasing of â€Å"And I love her,† â€Å"For no one,† and â€Å"Yesterday† partnered with exotic timbres and filtered vocal delivery makes the audience a heightened evocative â€Å"good trip. † The Beatles knew the effects of LSD and they have enjoyed the hallucinogenic experience. As such, they use it to their own advantage by inculcating it within their music so as to initiate a heightened sense of awareness. They used psychedelic imagery such as â€Å"tangerine trees† and â€Å"marmalade skies† in order to strongly support the spatial dimension experienced during a hallucinogen trip. Finally, their jump to psychedelic music promised the audience a route where they can have a changed state of consciousness, which is an authentic experience (Whiteley, 2000). Conclusion Based from the data drawn from the study, it is evident that hallucinogen use has become a significant part of the 1960’s history. It affected every aspect of the society which paved way for the development of the counter culture known as the â€Å"hippies. † What further reinforced people to view such drug as an important part of the society was the music that deeply reflects the entrancement that can be attained through the use of hallucinogens. The Jefferson Airplanes, The Doors and The Beatles, were considered as the forerunners of psychedelic music. They reflected the beliefs and attitudes of the counter culture and they became the voice to the new generation that cared less for power money and only wanted to live outside the rules set by ordinary society. In this respect, they were able to establish their own names through their music that has been significant back then, and is still considered as significant to date. References: Grimbly, S (ed. ). (2001). Chapter 3: Rock. The Story of Music Volume 6: From Rock and Pop to Hip-Hop. Danbury , CT : Grolier Educational. â€Å"Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit. † (25 November 2008). Dark Party Review. Retrieved April 24, 2009 from http://darkpartyreview. blogspot. com/2008/11/great-tunes- jefferson-airplanes-white. html. Levinson, M. H. (2002). The drug problem: A new view using the general semantics approach. Westport , CT : Greenwood Publishing Group. Richards, M. E. (17 April 2006). Hallucinogens. Emedicine. Retrieved April 24, 2009 from http://emedicine. medscape. com/article/293752-overview. Slick, G. (February 1967). White Rabbit [ Jefferson Airplane]. Surrealistic Pillow [CD]. Nashville , Tennessee : Radio Corporation of America (RCA), 31 October 1966- 06 March 1967. Ruhlmann, W. and Unterberger, R. (2009). All music. Retrieved April 24, 2009 from http://allmusic. com/cg/amg. dll? p=amg&sql=11:wifqxqe5ldhe~T1. Whiteley, S. (2000). Women and popular music: Sexuality, identity and subjectivity. New York, NY: Routledge Whiteley, S. (2005). Too much Too young: Popular music, age and gender. New York, NY: Routledge.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 443 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/07/26 Category Literature Essay Level High school Topics: Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Essay Did you like this example? The epic poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written by an adept, anonymous author in the mid to late fourteenth century, is a classic amongst the literary world. It is a story that resides in a medieval setting and procures the classic subject matter of good and evil. The poem contains several themes and motifs, such as man and the natural world, principles, rule and order, tradition and customs, as well as respect and reputation, which are key to making the epic poem a literary work of art. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" essay for you Create order In this essay, the topics of the origins of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight will be discussed, along with how the themes were utilized throughout the story. The author of the epic poem remains unknown, but translator, Burton Raffel, believes that he or she was either an aristocrat or someone who was intimately familiar with the way of aristocracy and knew about the French and French customs. The poem was originally written in Middle English, which was prevalent between 1150 and 1475 a.d., it is estimated from evidence of events and lifestyle that the poem was composed between 1350 and 1400 a.d. Many literary intellects believes that the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight composed a poem that truly captured a clear vision of the realm of knights for modern generations. As discussed in the introduction to this essay, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is comprised of different themes and motifs. Each of these themes play a vital role in the complexity of the epic poem. For example, good vs. evil is displayed very early within the poem when the Green Knight first appears (Part 1, lines 237- 249) because once he appears upon the scene the atmosphere drastically changes, moving from one of exultation to one of apprehension. Another example of the themes used within the poem is when the theme of traditions and customs is made palpable at the end of the poem. â€Å"The King comforted his nephew and claimed that henceforth all knights and ladies of the Round Table would wear silk girdles of green for the sake of Sir Gawain. So it was declared by Arthur, and so it was done forevermore.† (Part IV. Lines 2475- 2476). This is an example of traditions and customs because wearing the silk girdles is now something that the people of the Round Table would do in order to honor Sir Gawain for centuries to come. In final thought, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a classic literary work that is credited with possessing several forms of lessons, motifs, and themes that could still be learned from today just as it was 500 years ago. Sir Gawain and The Green Knight - Free Essay Example Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1300 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/10/30 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Essay Did you like this example? Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is a story of a hero who steps forward heroically when faced with the greatest challenge in his life. Even, as a hero he was flawed but yet he proved to be much more than just that. As his journey begins we watch him become more than just a man with great morals, he is a man with great determination. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Sir Gawain and The Green Knight" essay for you Create order He faces one of the hardest moments in his life when he accepts The Green Knights offer. Gawain is a hero who even flawed he faced his shortcomings as a person then he stood strong in the decision to push forward and face mans mortal fear which is death. Gawain had many virtuous standards he lived by such as nobility, honesty, valiance, and chivalry are the values instilled in him. He is a respected knight due to these characteristics it is what makes him an upstanding individual. In this game that is being played Gawain accepts the potential of what his destiny could be and what could end. Gawains even as a hero is open to interpretation, and many critics have remarked on the disparity between Gawains reputation for courtly refinements and his own self -image.(Moll) Gawain struggles with fear of death he wants to return to his people a triumphant hero but he is in a predicament of how he can escape his fate and survive another day. As Gawain faces The Green Knight he faces his on self-awareness of who he really is as a person and a hero. Gawain is much more in the romance than a Christian hero, he is also the embodiment of perfect chivalry and courtliness, and as such shares, most of the courts values-but not all.(Margeson). Sir Gawain was of noble blood and this gives him the credit he needed to sit at the round table but it did not make him one of them. It did not make him a true knight this is why he stepped up to prove he was just as worthy as any other knight. This is why he bravely stood and took Authors place in the challenge he wanted to show he was not a weak man that he deserved his spot beside Author. He wanted to prove his self-worth as a Knight and as a noble family member to Author and he needed the people to see his courage. The Green Knight is not the main enemy who the hero must overcome in this game. Gawain must overcome temptation and less than heroic qualities which he doesnt quite prevail. I am found to be flawed and false, through treachery and untruth I have totally failed, said Gawain(Poet 2380). Fear of mortality is reasonable but it is how you confront it that defines a hero and shows strength. Gawain hid his fear from the people of Camelot he wanted them to see him a strong courageous man that would endure the test of time. Each test has meaning and points to why he is having to go through it. As Gawain is tested he passes the first few tests but when faced with a magical girdle that could protect him from his biggest fear he could not pass it up. This is a sign of weakness and shows that he is human a very flawed human who wants to live. A test of chivalry as an impossibility by contriving a situation in which Gawain cannot be true to his calling without destroying himself by turning over to his enemy the girdle that would make him invincible(Martin). Gawain needed to change the odds of the game and preserve himself from physical harm. Forgive the hero his little lapse as we see how steadfastly he has kept before him his trawpe to the beheading covenant, the only covenant his ignorant mind has been aware of as covenant(Blenkner). Gawain shows that even with flaws you can still be a hero all humans have them no one is without them it is how you challenge yourself to become better. And in truth, it turns out youre by the far the most faultless fellow on earth. As a pearl is more prized than a pea which is white, in good faith, so is Gawain, amongst gallant knights (Poet 2365). He showed that he was smart for trying to use the girdle all the other test offered him what the girdle did this offered him hope. There is no hero who passes up on hope even though he failed his test he changed his fate he got his life handed back to him. Gawain linear view of his failure supersedes the courts circular view of his success(Margson). The way Gawain sees it is that even though he came back to his people he was no hero because of his failure to pass all test. The harm which you caused me is wholly healed. By confessing your failings you are free from fault. I declare you purged, as polished and as pure as the day you were born, without blemish or blame(Poet 2395). Even though he failed and showed his flaws The Green Knight seen through those flaws and knew he was an honorable man. To stand against death in this quest and to live to tell about it is the ultimate prize. If this game was to show exactly what a knight should stand for Gawain passed even in his failings. Sir Gawain is one of greatest heroes in this time period. He is flawed but that only makes him a stronger hero. If Sir Gawain would have obeyed all his moral codes he might not have had the same ending to his story. Untouched by magic, he truly exhibits the warrior-nobles vulnerability to courtly chivalric mystification: he has rationalized his relation to physical suffering. Gawain passes the Knights test.(Martin). He might not have realized he was a strong brave independent knight if he had not gone through these test. Sir Gawain willingness to watch the seasons change the countdown to his death he stood strong. He was a knight of noble blood even flawed as all humans are he faced the impossible. He finally feels he is deserving of being at the roundtable. It takes pride in oneself to take that last ride into the unknown. There is no hero who is perfect but not for trying they all get lost along the way just as Gawain did. The only truth lies in self-knowledge, in the Christian teaching that all men are imperfect(Margeson). As one faces their own mortality they face all of their decisions they made throughout their life. Gawain tried to justify all the choices he made as he come to face his end or what he thought would be his end. Gawain accepts his fall with little grace(Margeson). Ever hero has shortcomings its how you overcome those when you most need to and what you learn from them. Gawain restored faith in himself and found his way as a true knight and hero. Gawains religion kept him on a path to control himself and gave him the courage to choose a better path. Each season has a new meaning its the start of a different part of Gawains life. As he thinks his life is going to end it is just beginning. Each chooses he takes puts him in a different direction. Gawain is restored to grace because of what he faces and how he faces it. His identity as a person is because of all his flaws and what he is missing from his life as a person. Then he overcomes the missing pieces from his life and fears no longer has a hold over him he faces mortality head-on as a true noble knight.