The Battle of the Soul in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

This work examines the psychomachia or battle of thesoul as it occurs in the 14th century poem SirGawain and the Green Knight. Based on an analysis ofthe Gawain-poet's earlier work as well ascontemporary analogs in chivalric manuals Arthurianromances and mystical literature such as The Cloud ofUnknowing it argues that Sir Gawain's quest into theOtherworld is a tragedy of limited humanperception pitted against a mysterious Infinite thatdeigns to destroy the mortal protagonist's delusionof knowing. The fault of Sir Gawain thereforeoccurs after his ordeal at the chopping blockarising from excessive pride in his own chivalricself-conception. As such the Gawain poet's finalwork is a masterful culmination to his life-longexploration of the themes of purity confession andunclouded spiritual perception.