A Comparison of Religion in Sir Gawain and Green Knight and Othello Ess

Role of Religion in Sir Gawain and Othello Respect for religion and government is an all important(p) part of any country, but what happens to a country when these values stick to change? England was beginning to go through this change in 1603 when Othello was pen by William Shakespeare. Comparing the religious themes and heroes of Othello to the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which was indite during the Middle English era, will demonstrate just how far England had come. two heroes are clearly religious, but Gawain maintains his faith until the end, while Othello falls into the fleece of temptation. The spiritual hero of Middle English is quite different from the sad hero of the Machiavellian era. To begin, look at a night in the life of Sir Gawain. It is Christmas Eve and Gawain is in need. He needs a brand to stay in his search for the Green Knights castle and he has travelled a long way. What does he do? Gawain could boast of his great expertness to find his way and gallop on. He could give up and go home as many others would. He could become so completely discouraged after all his hard work with no results, that he wishes someone would just thrust a sword into his side and shed him out of his misery. Gawain doesnt do any of those things though. That is just non Sir Gawain of Camelot. He is not that kind of hero. And at that holy ride He prays with all his might That Mary may be his guide Till a family comes in sight. (736-739) If that wasnt enough, Gawain continues praying when he realizes that it is Christmas Day and he is missing mass I beseech of Thee, Lord, And Mary, thou mildest mother so dear, Some harborage where... ...troduction new overcritical comments, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (1-6) Dinney, Larry. Religion and customs in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. New Brunswick Rutgers University Press, 1995. Gardner, John. The Complete Works of the Gawain Poet. pelf The Unive rsity of Chicago Press, 1965. Gawain Poet. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams et al. 6th ed. 1 vol. New York W.W.W. Norton & Company, 1993. 1200-254 Jones, Eldred. Othello- An Interpretation Critical Essays on Shakespeares Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (39-55) Snyder, Susan. Beyond the Comedy Othello Modern Critical Interpretations, Othello Ed. Harold Bloom, Pub. Chelsea House New Haven CT 1987. (page 23-37)