Deception, lies, seduction, trickery. We may use these words to describe the latest prime time sitcom, but they also describe two Great Books. In fact, the history of these devices goes back even further to the first people when Eve is deceived by the crafty serpent whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. Interestingly, these same tools can be used to test the hearts of man. On the surface, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Tolkien and School for Scandal by Sheridan are extremely different works. One is a medieval tale of the Knights of the Round Table and the other is an 18th century comedy of manners. Similarly, in each story, the climax occurs as the deception is unveiled and the hearts of the characters are revealed.
First, the mysterious Green Knight enters King Arthur’s castle wanting not war, but a “game” or a “Christmas pastime”. He challenges a knight to agree to strike ”blow for blow” with his ax and offers to be the first to receive the blow. Not a knight speaks up, so Arthur steps up to meet the challenge until Sir Gawain interrupts. He implores his uncle that “the match shall now be mine”. Sir Gawain claims that he is only honored because he is the king’s nephew and that he is the weakest, most feeble in wit, and the least loss. Gawain also states that “this affair is so foolish that it nowise befits you”. Arthur gives Gawain his blessing and the Green Knight positions himself for the fatal blow to the neck. When the ax decapitates the knight, he picks up his own head and tells Gawain to meet him at the Green Chapel in a year’s time.
As the story unfolds one year later, Gawain honors his commitment to this game and goes in search of the Green Knight. He finds a lord who can direct him to the Green Chapel and Gawain rests for several days at this castle. The lord goes hunting each day and makes a deal with Gawain that they shall exchange whatever each has gained for the day, the lord from the wood and Gawain from the castle. While the lord is hunting, his wife tries to seduce Gawain and he gracefully refuses, pointing out that she has already taken taken a husband far better than he. She settles for a courteous kiss and leaves him. When the lord returns with his catch of venison, he gives it to Gawain, who bestows a kiss on the lord. Gawain explains that he would gladly give more, but that is all he gained that day. The lord wants to know about the one who granted Gawain his kiss, but Gawain ends the inquiry by stating that was not part of the agreement. When the lord returns from the hunt the next day, he presents Gawain with the boar from his hunt, and Gawain bestows two kisses on the lord. The next day, the lady of the castle offers Gawain a costly ring to remember her, which Gawain again refuses gracefully. He has nothing of value to give in return. Additionally, the lady then offers the green girdle from her waist, which Gawain starts to refuse. As the lady continues to explain the the girdle protects the wearer from death, Gawain falls to the temptation to protect his life, for the next day he goes to meet the Green Knight. They agree to hide this from her husband and the reader thinks the deception is beginning.
But, alas, the reader and Gawain have been deceived all along by the lady and the lord, who is the Green Knight. Together, they have arranged these tests of the knight and his success will affect their meeting at the Green Chapel. At the end of the day, the lord returns with a fox and Gawain bestows three delicious kisses without revealing the green girdle. Gawain says farewell to all at the castle and is guided to the Green Chapel where the haunting sound of the Green Knight sharpening his ax permeates the forest. Gawain positions himself for the blow, but the Green Knight strikes to the side, making Gawain flinch. The Green Knight ridicules Gawain for flinching and a second blow misses as Gawain remains still. Finally, the Green Knight’s ax nicks the neck of Gawain, who jumps away to counter any further blow. Now, the Green Knight explains that he and his wife have orchestrated these encounters to test him. The first blow missed because Gawain kept his word and returned after a year. The second blow missed because he resisted the wife’s advances and surrendered all he had gained to the lord the first two days. The third blow nicked because he did not surrender the girdle on the last day. The Green Knight proclaims that Gawain is “the fair knight most faultless that e’er foot set on earth…But in this you lacked, sir, a little, and of loyalty came short. But that was for no artful wickedness, not for wooing either, but because you loved your own life; the less do I blame you.” Gawain is horribly remorseful about his choice and wears the girdle to remember is failure. We see deception used by the Green Knight to trick Gawain and the reader. Gawain’s character is tested and, although his fault is viewed as minor, he is forever humbled by his failure. The reader is also deceived. Is the character of the reader also tested through the story?
In School for Scandal, deception is also used, but Sheridan makes this clear to the reader, starting with the title. The school for scandal is lead by Lady Sneerwell who is attempting to break up Charles Surface and Marie with forged letters by Snake, hoping to have Charles for herself. She also has Joseph, Charles’ brother, working for the break-up so he can have Marie and her inheritance. Joseph enjoys a fine reputation while Charles is viewed as wild, overindulgent, and extravagant. Marie can see through Joseph’s facade and shuns his advances. Lady Sneerwell has taught Lady Teazle, the young wife of Sir Peter, the tools of malicious gossip, affairs, and backbiting, which is destroying her marriage. The play is mocking these vices in British society and the ruthless deception is obvious and used for selfish gain…until Sir Oliver enters. Joseph and Charles are Oliver’s nephews and prospective heirs and he desires to understand their true character since reports about them are conflicting. He has not seen his nephews in many years and hides his identity from them. He poses as a money lender named Premium to Charles, who is in tremendous debt. Charles auctions all of the family portraits to Premium, but will not part with the one portrait of his uncle. Charles proclaims, “No, hang it. I will not part with poor Noll. The old fellow has been very good to me, and, egad, I’ll keep his picture while I’ve a room to put it in.” Premium presses Charles to sell the portrait for as much as all of the rest, yet he will not succumb. Premium pays him double the price anyway and departs. Immediately, Charles sends money to old Stanley, a poor relative, and this is reported to Oliver. Now, Oliver sees Charles as honorable and charitable.
Meanwhile, Lady Teazle is caught in a rendez-vous with Joseph and hides behind a screen when her husband enters the room. Sir Peter has come to visit Joseph because he is concerned about an affair between his wife and Charles due to Lady Sneerwell’s scandalous lies and letters. As Charles comes to call, Sir Peter jumps in the closet so Joseph can question his brother about the affair. As he is hiding, he sees the dress behind the screen and Joseph explains that he is not an “absolute Joseph” and there is a French milliner waiting. Charles denies any relationship with Lady Teazle, yet suggests that Joseph and Lady Teazle were together. Joseph whispers that Sir Peter is in the closet and Charles pulls him out of the closet. Sir Peter explains that his suspicions have been relieved and he dismisses the suggestion about Joseph as a joke. Now, Lady Sneerwell is announced and Joseph leaves the room to stop her from entering. As Joseph returns, Charles is pulling the screen down to have a look at the French milliner pointed out by Sir Peter. Charles is amused at the sight of Lady Teazle and throws back lines to Sir Peter and Joseph that had been used against him. “Brother, I am sorry to find you have given that worthy man so much uneasiness! Sir Peter, there’s nothing in the world as noble as a man of sentiment.” Charles exits and Joseph tries to lie about the ordeal. Lady Teazle admits to seeking an affair with Joseph, but she repents due to the kind and generous words she overheard her husband speak.
Finally, Sir Oliver proceeds to meet Joseph as old Stanley, but Joseph refuses to help him by declaring two lies – that his uncle is so stingy that he never sends money, and he gives money to his brother so there is nothing left for Stanley. Oliver is furious and the character of the brothers is revealed through the deception. Also, Lady Sneerwell’s plan is discovered as Snake is bribed to tell the truth about the concocted relationship between Charles and Lady Teazle. So, Maria and Charles are free to pursue their relationship and Charles declares, “even scandal dies if you approve.” Although we have been aware of all the deception, we have followed the journey of Sir Oliver as he sought to discern the character of his nephews. Behind a disguise, he was able to see past the apparent flaws or assets on the Surface to see what was in the heart. Is the heart of the reader reveled, too?
It has been said that “Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.” Deception was used to test the character of Sir Gawain, Joseph, and Charles because they thought their deeds were not being seen by the person that mattered. Their actions may have been different if they knew who was watching. So, we are given a glimpse of who they really are. The response to failure also reveals character. Joseph lies to excuse the appearances of Lady Teazle behind the screen and never admits to wrong doing. In contrast, Sir Gawain has succeeded in many tests and the most important ones. Yet, he is not proud of his success but is full of remorse about his failure. In addition, we also see the character of those who use deception. The Green Knight and Sir Oliver desired to understand the heart of another and respond accordingly without benefit to themselves. Lady Sneerwell and Joseph were purely seeking their own gain and were willing to hurt others to prevail. As we read these works, we are challenged to consider how our character will fare when tested. Is our heart pure, loyal, compassionate, trustworthy? Is there something or Someone guiding and filling our heart? How do we respond when we fail? Do we judge others by the flaws or assets on the Surface but fail to look deeper into the heart? Are our motivations concerned with what is best for another or are we consumed with our own selfish gain? The Great Books can be admired for their greatness, or we can rise to greatness as we learn from them. May our aim be the latter.
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.” —Thomas Paine
“Any of us can achieve virtue, if by virtue we merely mean the avoidance of the vices that do not attract us.” —Robert S. Lynd
“My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am.” —Author Unknown
“To speak ill of others is a dishonest way of praising ourselves. A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.” —Doug Larson