Sir Gawain and The Green Knight: A Psychological Interpretation

The first to apply the psychoanalytical apparatus of Sigmund Freud, C.G. Jung, and comparative religion to Sir Gawain was Heinrich Zimmer, who interpreted the main plot elements of the poem in a wide, crosscultural context of myths and fairy tales in which the main incidents revolve around the archetypal theme of death and rebirth (Sadowski 34). Analysts such as Zimmer and Putter demonstrate the differential analysis of the text that will be performed according to the analyst's reliance on Freudian or Jungian analysis. Generally, Freudian analyses such as Putter focus more on the individual psychology revealed in the text. Analyses such as Zimmer's, however, which are based on Jungian psychology, tend to focus on the more collective and social psychology revealed in the text.

Traditionally, psychological interpretations of literary texts have not been concerned with the direct sources of the text, its literary qualities, or any other perceivably "non-psychic" related matters, such as the religious ideas reflected in the narrative (Sadowski 33). Instead, scholars performing psychological interpretations were primarily interested in the operation of certain psychic forces, processes, and motivations, whether conscious or unconscious, individual or collective, that generally are perceived to be implicitly present in various elements of the narrative. Such a literary interpretation is a dire

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tations of literary texts because it illuminates the hero's quest. In Sir Gawain, in particular, Haines argues that, rather than denying this sense of guilt as something a person should try to forget, the hero's duty is to force the realization that guilt is something people may not want to forget (35). Specifically, Haines's argument is based on the doctrine of the felix culpa, which pertains to the tension in the realization that Adam's fall from grace was actually fortunate because it allowed the opportunity for humanity to seek grace from God and be redeemed. This quest, which the hero performs on people's behalf, gives focus to their lives by replaying Adam's fall and redemption time and time again. Each time this ritual is performed, it allays their sense of guilt. Thus, Haines argues that every hero who does something wicked, repents, and is forgiven resembles Adam to some extent (35). He is careful to note that Adam's Fall as a specific event in history is not to be confused as an archetype. However, it is basic as a primary event in the history of the human race, which people are still living (Haines 35). Although Haines's analysis does not go so far as to inquire into the collective psychology revealed by the te
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Approximate Word count = 2692
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)