Although Arthurian legends have been retold in many different literary periods, the most significant characterizations develop during the Medieval period. The literary influences of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Malory's Le Morte D'arthur establish the most common portrayals of Gawain. In these Medieval stories, Gawain represents the loyal warrior who uses chivalric methods of warfare. Gawain also exhibits restraint and rationality when making decisions. The characterizations established in Medie val literature provide a basis for comparison for later depictions of Gawain in modern literature. Although many of the characteristics exhibited in Medieval literature reappear in a later literature, variations of these characteristics create comparison s, and transformations in Gawain's character in works like T.H. White's The Once and Future King and Mary Stewart's The Wicked Day.

Within Malory's Le Morte Darthur, the most famous Gawainian characteristics emerge. In an excerpt from this work, Gawain discusses Arthur's decision to punish Guinevere for her adulterous behavior. Gawain addresses Arthur "My lord Arthur, I would couns el you not to be overhasty, but that you would put it in respite ... though it were so that Sir Lancelot were found in the queen's chamber, yet it might be so that he came thither for none evil..." (Wilhelm 539). In this excerpt, Gawain clearly addresses the King's concerns by offering rational rebuttals to the charges against the queen. In a later incident, Lancelot erroneously kills Gawain's siblings. Even though Gawain attempts to maintain "knightly" behavior, he vows to avenge the death of his brot hers. During his pursuance of Lancelot, he follow the code of chivalry established by King Arthur. In a battle scene between Gawain and Lancelot

Sir Lancelot armed him at all points, and mounted upon his horse, and gat a great spear in his hand, and rode out at the gate. And both the hosts were assembled, of them without and of them within, and stood in array full manly. And both parties were ch arged to hold them still, to see and behold the battle of these two noble knights. Then they laid their spears in their rests, and came together as thunder, and Sir Gawain brake his spear upon Sir Lancelot in an hundred pieces upon his hand; and Sir Lanc elot smote him with a greater might, that Sir Gawain's horse and fell to the earth (559).

Lancelot refuses to kill Gawain, and the feud between them continues. This excerpt demonstrates a chivalrous battle between the two knights, and Gawain's abilities as a warrior. He fights well against the best knight in Arthur's court. In addition, Gaw ain attacked Lancelot to avenge his brothers' death, an acceptable practice in some Medieval literature. Malory clearly establishes Gawain as an honorable warrior. In addition, Gawain's character lacks experience with woman. Although women are occasion ally mentioned, Gawain clearly has no interest in pursuing them; he would rather pursue his battle with Lancelot.

Another Medieval work, Sir Gawain an the Green Knight, depicts Gawain as a warrior rather than a womanizing knight like others from King Arthur's court. Even in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain focuses on his battle with the green knight rather t han the advances of Bercilak's wife. During Gawain's visit to Bercilak's castle, his wife makes three specific advances to entice Gawain into an adulteress relationship. Although Gawain faces certain death with the Green Knight, he declines any sexual i nvolvement with Bercilak's wife. Gawain's character remains faithful to his warrior image by rushing into battle with the green knight rather than prolonging his stay at Bercilak's castle. Gawain again demonstrates loyalty to his honor by avoiding an adu lteress relationship, and by appearing to battle the Green Knight. He also maintains a distance from Bercilak's wife, implying the author's emphasis on honor and battle and his avoidance of woman.

In a modern retelling of Arthurian legend, T.H White introduces the reader to Gawain and the Orkney clan as children. In The Once and Future King, the Orkney boys, Gawain, Gaheris, Agravaine, and Gaheris search for a unicorn at the request of their moth er. Even at a young age the boys demonstrate loyalty toward their mother through the quest. After an untimely attack on the unicorn by Agravaine, Gawain attempts to save the beast. "Gawain came up, just as Agravaine's spear went in under the fifth rib. The unicorn shuddered ..." Then Gawain replies "What are you doing? Leave him alone. No harm to him." (White 259). Even in his youth, Gawain recognizes unhonorable behavior, the killing of an innocent unicorn. He struggles to prevent the death, but on ce he realizes that the unicorn is already dead, he acts rationally by quickly skinning the beast. He also experiences grief Gawain particularly began to hate the body. He hated it for being dead., for having been beautiful, for making him feel like a beast. He had loved it and helped to trap it, so now there was nothing to be done except to vent his shame and hatred of himse lf upon the corpse. (261)

Gawain exhibits grief and guilt after destroying the innocence of the unicorn; therefore, he recognizes unchivalrous behavior. Upon realizing that the unicorn has died, he immediately decides how he will take the dead beast home by thinking quickly and p ractically. These characteristics resemble Malory's depiction of Gawain as chivalrous and rational.

In a later excerpt, Gawain act irrationally when he kills Lamorak, yet to his mind Lamorak deserved death, like a felon, because he and his father had injured the Orkney clan. He knew that the whole court would look at him sideways on account of his mother's murder, and how the old talk would be revived about that woman whom he had slain himself in temper, when he was young. Even this did not dismay him much. But he was penitent and miserable because his own dear Orkney mother was gone-he was only beginning to realize how it had happened-because he hurt Arthur's ideal, and because he was generous in his own heart. (430-31)

In this passage Gawain experiences guilt for his behavior and he demonstrates a new loyalty to Arthur's ideal. Although he breaks Arthur's code of conduct, he shows remorse and an ability to change. This ability to change is also seen in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight when he wears the green girtle as a reminder of his own imperfection. Gawain appears to recognize his imperfection and vows to change. In a later struggle Gawain acts irrationally by fighting with Agravaine and Mordred to keep them from accusing Lancelot and Guinevere of adultery. A struggle ensues and Agravaine falls on a knife. Gawain says "If but I hadna siclike waeful passions" (528). Once again the passion that Gawain recognizes as a detriment destroys his family.

T.H. White presents Gawain as a warrior, just as his mentor Malory does. Upon returning from the quest for the Holy Grail, Gawain tells of his adventure:

I came to the castle of Maidens with Uwaine and Sir Gareth. It was kept by seven knights, whatever, who insisted on the custom. We found those seven outside the castle fully armed, and had a braw fight with them, and slew them all. (439)

Throughout the novel, T.H. White depicts Gawain as Malory did in Medieval literature. He emphasizes Gawain's warrior abilities and excludes any encounters with women. Overall, White's depiction employs Malory's description and development of Gawain. The Gawain present in this novel differs from the Gawain present in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which portrays Gawain as a character who learns from his mistakes. He accepts a green girtle as a reminder of his mistakes. In White's novel Gawain recognizes his mistakes, but then he fails to correct them. When Gawain is instructed not to kill anyone while questing for the Grail, he fails. His passion kills Agravaine accidentally when he tries to preserve Lancelot and Guinevere's integrity. Even though he struggles to maintain his integrity, he continually repeats the same mistakes.

In another modern work, Mary Stewart's Wicked Day, Gawain's character undergoes a large transformation. Unlike Malory's Gawain who appears rational, warrior-like and uninterested in woman, Stewart portrays an irrational, unchivalrous, obsessive knight.

As in White's novel, Gawain is introduced as a child. In a childhood argument Mordred fights with Gaheris and Agravaine, Gawain's brothers. During the fight, Gawain remains in bed rather than joining in the fight. This disinterest in fighting is uncharacteristic for Gawain. Later when Gawain faces the death of his mother, he is described as "savage with outraged pride rather than grief" (Stewart 234). Gawain exhibits jealousy against Mordred, pride and other irrational emotions. This deviates from Malory's rendition. Another significant difference emerges when Gawain's true feelings for his mother become apparent: "Gawain, whose anger had in it a large measure of pure sexual jealousy" (234). Not only does Gawain exhibit uncharacteristic emotions, now he reveals a sexual desire for his mother. Suddenly, the man uninterested in women lusts for his own mother.

Just like many writers use pieces from myths and legends to creates their own stories, writers use pieces of Gawain's personality to create a character for different purposes. Gawain will be remembered by most readers as a warrior who preserves the laws of chivalry in Arthur's kingdom, but many other representations exist. Although Stewart's Gawain exhibits significantly different characteristics from Malory's portrayal, she still maintains basic elements of his character like lineage and loyalty. Overall, Gawain will remain an integral part of Arthurian legend because he becomes an adaptable character.

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