Quest for the True Man
... ’/And smiled with tranquil eye;/ ‘In destinies sad or merry,/ true men can but try’” (562-565). ... In using the term “true men” to describe his situation, Gawain reminds his audience that it is his duty as a man and as an honourable knight to go forth in his journey. ... Secondary to his internal quest for self-improvement, Gawain is on a physical journey to complete his binding game with the Green Knight. His expectation in this surface quest is certainly death. ... / But I am bound forth betimes to bear a stroke/ From the grim man in green, as God may direct” (545-549). ... “Thus she tested his temper and tried many a time,/ Whatever her true intent, to entice him to sin,/ But so fair was his defense that no fault appeared,/ Nor evil on either hand, but only bliss they knew” (1549-1552). ... As much as many of us would like to believe it is not true, humanity is averse to change. ... “True men pay what they owe;/ No danger then in sight. ... In fact, the phrase “true men” is used again here as earlier in the text, joining Gawain’s original purpose to his end.