In Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight, lines that denote friendship are:
Yet he lingered with Arthur past All
Saints Eve
who set up a feast to send his knight
off
with revelry rich as the Round Table
offered.
And...
So much secret sorrow swept through that
hall
that one so good as Gawain must go forth
doomed
to bear the brunt of a blow and let his own
blade
rest.
In
both of these quotes, it is the friendship that the king feels to have a feast in
Gawain's honor, and it is sorrow in the hearts of his friends—his fellow knights—that
cause them to fear for Gawain's safety when he leaves them to travel to the Green Chapel
to face the Green Knight.
"By Peter," said the porter, "be
perfectly sure
that you, Lord, are welcome as long as you
like!"
Then swift-paced the porter moved to approach
him,
and others came with him to welcome their
guest.
They dropped the great drawbridge, then drawing near
proudly,
they bowed, their knees bent upon the bare
earth
to one whom they welcomed as worthy of
honor.
In the
example above from Book Two, those who work at Bertilak's castle, as well as the lord
himself, offer Gawain friendship and
hospitality.
Generosity is seen with the
following:
And then a rich robe was thrown around
him
of brilliant, gaily embroidered
silk
filled out with fur: the finest of
pelts,
and every bit ermine, even the
hood.
Thus he sat, relaxed and in lavish
splendor,
till he felt far better in the fire's warmth.
And...
And Gawain, I give
you this belt, / As green as my gown...Keep this token for chivalrous / Men to know your
adventure at the green
Chapel.
Generosity is seen at
the hands of Bertilak, his wife and his servants. They welcome Gawain gladly and care
for him as a guest, as a friend of the castle.
Friendship
is seen primarily with Gawain and his friends at Arthur's court, though I would suggest,
too, that the Green Knight's forgiveness and admiration offer friendship as
well.
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