Sir Gawaine

Also known as: Gawaine / my lord Sir Gawaine / young Gawaine · Family: unknown · Role: son of Margawse · First appears: Book I, Chapter II

Sir Gawaine was the son of Margawse and King Lot, brother to Sir Gaheris, Sir Agravaine, Sir Gareth, and Sir Mordred, and nephew of King Arthur. After King Lot’s death, golden letters declared that Gawaine must avenge him on King Pellinore. King Arthur knighted him at his wedding feast, and Gawaine vowed to kill King Pellinore, though Sir Gaheris persuaded him to delay. He was then charged by Merlin to recover the white hart; during that quest he defeated Allardin of the Isles, while Sir Gaheris helped him kill the hart. When Ablamar of the Marsh slew two of his greyhounds, Gawaine defeated him, but accidentally struck off the head of Ablamar’s lady. For this, he was made to carry her body and sworn to defend ladies’ quarrels and remain courteous: “Thus was Gawaine sworn upon the Four Evangelists that he should never be against lady nor gentlewoman.”

In the following years, Gawaine fought beside King Arthur, Sir Kay, Sir Griflet, and other knights, and was wounded in the war against Sir Lucius. He accepted banishment with Sir Uwaine, was overthrown and then reconciled with Sir Marhaus, and later pledged to help Sir Pelleas win Lady Ettard’s love. Instead, Gawaine impersonated Sir Pelleas, entered Lady Ettard’s keeping, and stayed with her; Sir Pelleas spared them but afterward ceased loving Gawaine and repeatedly defeated him at jousts. Gawaine fought Sir Priamus, accepted his request for baptism, and returned with him and Sir Florence to victory; he also joined Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, Sir Bedivere, Sir Marrok, and others in Arthur’s wars.

Gawaine’s violence and rivalries continued through the later books. He fought Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Palamides, Sir Pelleas, Sir Lamorak, and others, while also aiding Sir Gareth, Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, Sir Sagramour le Desirous, Sir Ector, Sir Aglovale, and Sir Percivale. He and Sir Gaheris slew King Pellinore, and Gawaine, Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and Sir Mordred later ambushed and killed Sir Lamorak; Sir Gareth withdrew from their fellowship because of this conduct. During the Holy Grail quest, Gawaine travelled with Sir Gareth and Uwaine les Avoutres, but was told that poor faith and sin barred him from its adventures. After Galahad struck him down, he declared his quest finished and sought no further.