Gawain's Quest

The detailed description of the changing of the seasons really starts before Gawain departs from Camelot in part 2. At this time, the season is Autumn. I believe that the changing of the seasons represent Gawain's emotions as he goes along his journey to eventually arrive to see the Green Knight. Throughout this journey, the seasons transform from a warm, pleasant and cheerful summer to a cold, dreary, and gloomy winter. Gawain arrives in Gringolet on New Year's Day, which is known as the promised day. When the giant knight first appears, he is wearing green to correspond with the warm pleasant weather. However, he eventually switches back to Sir Bercilak, who has a long, deep brown beard. The brown reminds one of the bare bark on trees during the winter. In a way, the descriptions of the seasons and how they change in the story is similar to the description of a man's life. When he is young and full of energy in the beginning, everything seems so bright and peaceful like the color green. Then, as the man continues through his life journey, everything begins to slowly die. The colors start to dull and fade into a brown color until it completely withers away, similar to the end of man's life.

A song that comes to mind when thinking of this story is one called "I Hope You Dance" by LeAnn Womack. This song is all about making the most out of every day of your life, even on your worst days, we need to find the best parts of that particular day. It is also a song that makes you think about how quickly life goes by, and how we should take advantage of every good and knowledgable opportunity given to us in this life, because one day, we won't have a chance to do it all over again. So readers, I hope you dance :)

"May you never take one simple breath for granted, God forbid love ever leave you empty handed."

-LeAnn Womack