Kirsten+and+Tess

Kirsten Dahl & Tess Jacobson //Sir Gawain and the Green Knight//: Why It Sucks So this weekend, unfortunately, I sacrificed my precious time (and a full cup of tea) for a reading of the Medieval-era classic Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, authored by an anonymous poet. Throughout the reading, it became clear to my distinguished, impartial, academic mind that the Green Knight was a blatant father-figure symbol for the only redeeming aspect of the book (the fabulously depicted Sir Gawain.) In fear of succumbing to an age-old cliche, I will cautiously say that this “Green Night” simply does not understand how lucky he is to have a son like Gawain. He is noble. He is kind and loyal. He faced his “loving” father with the doom of impending death. This brilliant young fellow even withstood the test of temptation from a particularly voluptuous and earnest young lady. Translating medieval values into modern ones, one could easily compare these gallant feats to, I don’t know, say, perfect grades and a straight-arrow lifestyle? A resourceful Eagle Scout? An Ivy-League grad? A world champion Scrabble player? Poor Sir Gawain reminds me of the generically misunderstood, well-rounded son that is abundant in our society today. I mean, just because someone majors in journalism and English Literature doesn’t mean they’re “a failure to the family name.” I’m sure that multiple studies have shown that children are doing more and more extracurricular activities, developing into the most intelligent generation yet. Still, the ignorantly unappreciative parent remains a very real and very imposing monster.

Not only are they ignorant, they’re just so damn spiteful! Psychotic, even! I mean, how insane do you have to be to have a boar’s head delivered to your child on the eve of their demise? Their demise at YOUR hands??? Just like how insensitive and cruel do you have to be to tell your child that they’re too “lanky” and “skeleton-esque” to ever land a lady??? This so-called “classic” piece of literature does nothing but enforce this vicious cycle of overly-masculine fathers preying on their more gentle, sensitive sons. Sure, it’s fine to push your kid. But does EVERYTHING have to be a test?? Maybe Gawain wanted to, I don’t know, stay alive or something!! Maybe a hypothetical son just wanted to pursue a career in humanities!! I feel for Sir Gawain, truly, who is filled with nothing but earnest youth and in the end is subjected to emasculating ridicule. I can almost hear the toxic and unavoidable laughter echoing through the castle walls, mixed in, I’m sure, with the haunting voice of this Green Knight. I can almost picture him with that disapproving look, pacing around the living room and judging my life choices. I can almost feel his eyes scrutinizing me, the corners of his mouth perpetually turned down with his lips on the verge of criticism. It is tragedy at it's finest, dear readers, that attitudes like this are acceptable in society's eyes. These men, these controlling, egotistical men, are simply deviants and are so often proven wrong. Was my father right when he said I’d be “living on the streets” by the time I graduated?? I could never be the perfect son, but look at me now, dad. I don’t need you -- I’ve never needed you!! All you’ve ever done is weighed me down!!!

Reflection - Kirsten