When I saw the title of your Substack for this week pop up in my email, I immediately wanted to read what I hoped would be a fabulous queer reading of the poem--and you did NOT disappoint. I usually wait until the weekend to write replies, so the fact that I'm now responding on Tuesday night should show the effect your post had on me. I am absolutely amazed at the level of detail you've given to several moments in the poem, touching (no pun intended) not only on moments of physical intimacy but also specific components of gender dynamics. As always, I was also quite amused by your tone in different parts of the newsletter; you have such a beautiful way with words.
To answer your question (I think it's obvious where I stand): there's something so deeply homoerotic--something far beyond the mere brotherly bond that we might associate with the knights of Camelot--happening between Sir Gawain and Bertilak as well as just with Sir Gawain himself as a solitary actor. I am impressed by your work already, but I loved your queer take and am leaving this week with even more thoughts on reading Sir Gawain with such a lens than I already had before. Kudos and bravo (and thanks)!
I personally believe that the probability is that this was just something that was culturally appropriate for the time period. ALTHOUGH, I do love the argument you made for it, and I desperately want to believe it. The idea of a queer quart-ship in medieval times sounds amazing. This story did definitely give me a fruity vibe, too. Especially with the description of the green knight when we first see him. The narrator sounds very… interested.
Hanh-Nahn, you bring some great points to our attention in your post. You point out the fact that Sir Gadwain was tested by both Lord and Lady Bertilak. The quote states, "Gawain gazed at the lord who greeted him so gracefully, the great one who governed that grand estate, powerful and large, in the prime of his life, with a bushy beard as red as a beaver's, steady in his stance, solid of build, with a fiery face but with a fine conversation: a man quite capable, it occurred to Gawain, of keeping such a castle and captaining his knights."(842-849) I found it interesting that he was describing Lord Bertilak in this way. He used great detail and the way that he gives his description seems like a way some would describe someone who they see romantically.
I think you're on to something (and even if I didn't, your analysis is very thorough and convincing!)! What else could possibly going on here--Lord Bertilak instructs his wife's help in testing Gawain, likely knowing full well that at least the first couple of days, the only gifts he's likely to receive in exchange for what he brings back from his hunt is some amount of minimal/low-level physical exchange. He wasn't even overly surprised by the results of Gawain and his wife's days together! Also, as we mentioned briefly in class last week, the hunts take place in the same timeframe as the bedroom scenes, but in much much more detail. This thought does not fit as seamlessly as what you put together, but Bertilak is chasing something to bring back to Gawain--in a way, he's chasing Gawain himself, and at the end, even gives him the opportunity to return to his castle, the opportunity to be "caught" and stay. Great post, very thought provoking!
I definitely find it interesting for sure. During my study of literature time periods, the discussion around queerness in literature that isn't directly stated but oftentimes alluded to is interesting. While reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight it was easier for me to see the romance between Sir Gawain and Lord Bertilak which is why I was surprised to find out that Bertilak was the Green Knight. I'm sure that Lord Bertilak was happy with the conclusion of the story, aka, Gawain because of his liking towards him (in more than one ways). I can also see the argument that they were just close friends which is a valid argument, however, the way you broke it down from the dialogue but especially touch! The sentence "clasps [Lord Bertilak] tight and kisses him three times / with as much emotion as a man could muster” really sealed the deal for me. There's just so much emotion there, especially for people who hadn't known each other that long (not to say people can't become this close as quickly), and compared to the other medieval novels (that were written around the same time) we read it doesn't seem likely.
p.s. I also loved your more personal additions of "how cute," after analyzing their dialogue and bringing home the bacon, those were the icing on the cake for me.
I was very interested in this article from the get-go. I never considered any sort of romance between Sir Gawain and Lord Bertilak, but your argument is very compelling and has me second guessing myself. I definitely believe it is a possibility. The writing is just so juicy that I could easily see how the author wants us to pick up on this element.
I think that, in today's time, we could definitely read this story in a way that would recommends a more, queer, if you will, interpretation. However, I am not sure that was the aim of the original author. I do agree with many points that you have made and also am very impressed with the evidence you have made.
Personally, I attribute such intimate gestures and speech more to culture than to outright eroticism. Nonetheless, I think your post beautifully highlights the overlaps which seem to pervade the larger narrative despite its natural dichotomies. That is to say, the dichotomy to which you speak (courtesy versus courtship) experiences irresolution in much the same way, for example, the dichotomy of 'sin' and 'chivalry' does. To determine the viability of your argument is difficult, I think, as its textual evidence is just as likely an injection of the translator as it is an artifact of the culture. Still, your interpretation underscores an important truth of the narrative and, likewise, its dichotomies: They diverge yet (at times) converge, be it through ecology, cultural evolution, or the alteration of critical lens. Great work!
When I saw the title of your Substack for this week pop up in my email, I immediately wanted to read what I hoped would be a fabulous queer reading of the poem--and you did NOT disappoint. I usually wait until the weekend to write replies, so the fact that I'm now responding on Tuesday night should show the effect your post had on me. I am absolutely amazed at the level of detail you've given to several moments in the poem, touching (no pun intended) not only on moments of physical intimacy but also specific components of gender dynamics. As always, I was also quite amused by your tone in different parts of the newsletter; you have such a beautiful way with words.
To answer your question (I think it's obvious where I stand): there's something so deeply homoerotic--something far beyond the mere brotherly bond that we might associate with the knights of Camelot--happening between Sir Gawain and Bertilak as well as just with Sir Gawain himself as a solitary actor. I am impressed by your work already, but I loved your queer take and am leaving this week with even more thoughts on reading Sir Gawain with such a lens than I already had before. Kudos and bravo (and thanks)!
I personally believe that the probability is that this was just something that was culturally appropriate for the time period. ALTHOUGH, I do love the argument you made for it, and I desperately want to believe it. The idea of a queer quart-ship in medieval times sounds amazing. This story did definitely give me a fruity vibe, too. Especially with the description of the green knight when we first see him. The narrator sounds very… interested.
Hanh-Nahn, you bring some great points to our attention in your post. You point out the fact that Sir Gadwain was tested by both Lord and Lady Bertilak. The quote states, "Gawain gazed at the lord who greeted him so gracefully, the great one who governed that grand estate, powerful and large, in the prime of his life, with a bushy beard as red as a beaver's, steady in his stance, solid of build, with a fiery face but with a fine conversation: a man quite capable, it occurred to Gawain, of keeping such a castle and captaining his knights."(842-849) I found it interesting that he was describing Lord Bertilak in this way. He used great detail and the way that he gives his description seems like a way some would describe someone who they see romantically.
I think you're on to something (and even if I didn't, your analysis is very thorough and convincing!)! What else could possibly going on here--Lord Bertilak instructs his wife's help in testing Gawain, likely knowing full well that at least the first couple of days, the only gifts he's likely to receive in exchange for what he brings back from his hunt is some amount of minimal/low-level physical exchange. He wasn't even overly surprised by the results of Gawain and his wife's days together! Also, as we mentioned briefly in class last week, the hunts take place in the same timeframe as the bedroom scenes, but in much much more detail. This thought does not fit as seamlessly as what you put together, but Bertilak is chasing something to bring back to Gawain--in a way, he's chasing Gawain himself, and at the end, even gives him the opportunity to return to his castle, the opportunity to be "caught" and stay. Great post, very thought provoking!
I definitely find it interesting for sure. During my study of literature time periods, the discussion around queerness in literature that isn't directly stated but oftentimes alluded to is interesting. While reading Sir Gawain and the Green Knight it was easier for me to see the romance between Sir Gawain and Lord Bertilak which is why I was surprised to find out that Bertilak was the Green Knight. I'm sure that Lord Bertilak was happy with the conclusion of the story, aka, Gawain because of his liking towards him (in more than one ways). I can also see the argument that they were just close friends which is a valid argument, however, the way you broke it down from the dialogue but especially touch! The sentence "clasps [Lord Bertilak] tight and kisses him three times / with as much emotion as a man could muster” really sealed the deal for me. There's just so much emotion there, especially for people who hadn't known each other that long (not to say people can't become this close as quickly), and compared to the other medieval novels (that were written around the same time) we read it doesn't seem likely.
p.s. I also loved your more personal additions of "how cute," after analyzing their dialogue and bringing home the bacon, those were the icing on the cake for me.
I was very interested in this article from the get-go. I never considered any sort of romance between Sir Gawain and Lord Bertilak, but your argument is very compelling and has me second guessing myself. I definitely believe it is a possibility. The writing is just so juicy that I could easily see how the author wants us to pick up on this element.
I think that, in today's time, we could definitely read this story in a way that would recommends a more, queer, if you will, interpretation. However, I am not sure that was the aim of the original author. I do agree with many points that you have made and also am very impressed with the evidence you have made.
Personally, I attribute such intimate gestures and speech more to culture than to outright eroticism. Nonetheless, I think your post beautifully highlights the overlaps which seem to pervade the larger narrative despite its natural dichotomies. That is to say, the dichotomy to which you speak (courtesy versus courtship) experiences irresolution in much the same way, for example, the dichotomy of 'sin' and 'chivalry' does. To determine the viability of your argument is difficult, I think, as its textual evidence is just as likely an injection of the translator as it is an artifact of the culture. Still, your interpretation underscores an important truth of the narrative and, likewise, its dichotomies: They diverge yet (at times) converge, be it through ecology, cultural evolution, or the alteration of critical lens. Great work!