We as humans often evaluate ourselves and our perceived virtues on the scale of our peers; it is difficult for us to form an authentic vision of ourselves without the moral sovereign of others. The obvious problem with this universal human practice is that our analysis depends largely on the company we keep. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the poet explores Sir Gawain's moral development throughout his ordeal, often juxtaposing his supposed virtues with those of others, but ultimately, when alone, Gawain gains a sense of his true position moral. After Gawain's introduction, the reader begins to summarize his virtues. From his own mouth Gawain explains why he should accept the challenge of the Green Knight in place of the king: I am the weakest, the most deficient in wisdom, I know, And my life, if lost, would be missed less, indeed. Only through you are my uncle, I must be appreciated; I know no other generosity than your blood in my body. (Sir Gawain 34)Gawain bases his arguments by comparing his characteristics to those of the other knights. These arguments, while self-debating, paradoxically increase the reader's esteem for him. His humility is astonishing, and the fact that he accepts the challenge while the others - who Gawain had previously described as "There are no knights braver when fighting" (Sir Gawain 34) - did not, calls into question the validity of his being the supposed worst among them. The author gives the reader no indication that anyone in the court attempts to refute Gawain's bleak statement by only saying; Then they wisely whispered about it, And after that, they all said the same thing: That the crowned king should be left, and Gawain gave up the game. (Sir Gawain 34)This suggests that the common opi...... middle of paper ......y. When he returns wearing the lady's green sash as a reminder of his sin, the poet juxtaposes Gawain's shame at this mark "The burden [he] bears from being seized by cowardice and greed" (Sir Gawain 114) with the reaction of the court :And all the lords and ladies belonging to the Table laughed aloud, and amiably concluded that every brave man of the brotherhood should wear a band of whores, obliquely about him, of a bright green, the same shade as Sir Gawain and for his sake wear it. Thus it was considered renowned for the Round Table, and an eternal honor to the one who possessed it, (Sir Gawain 114-115) This comparison truly shows that Gawain has escaped the moral mediocrity and image obsession that seem to permeate the court of King Arthur. He no longer measures his virtue on the scale of others and has therefore achieved moral fulfillment.