Comparative Essay on Don Quixote and Sir Gawain

Character Comparative Contrast (Essay 2)

In all of the literary works we've read this semester, all of them have contained characters with similar and distinctive qualities. Some of them were similar in the ways they handled what circumstances they were given, and others were not even near alike with their heroic actions or decisions. Two characters that I found to have similar as well as distinctive qualities was Sir Gawain from "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," and Don Quixote from "Don Quixote de la Mancha". These two characters just stood out to me. They both had moral and cultural values; some were more obvious than others.

In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, Sir Gawain's character carried out every description of the pinnacle; the pinnacle of loyalty, honor, integrity, and chivalry. Each one of Sir Gawain's challenges helped test and prove that he possessed these characteristics. The beheading of the Green Knight tested his loyalty to King Authur, and his courage by being able to stand up to the fierce knight. Him going on his journey to find the Green Knight's castle challenged his virtue, chastity, integrity, and courage once again. All of these events proved that he was worthy of being notary of these honorary stats. Even the Green Knight who was made out and portrayed as the enemy of Sir Gawain, for the sake of important themes to be analyzed and clear, looked highly upon Sir Gawain. The Green Knight who was constantly testing Sir Gawain through rigorous

Challenges and says to Sir Gawain near the end, "I'm convinced you're the finest man that ever walked this earth" (Norton, 251).

In the story of Don Quixote de la Mancha, Don Quixote's characteristics are visible. Don Quixote or in reality terms Alonso Quixano, is a middle-aged gentleman. He is foolish but basically kind-hearted. Although we only meet Alonso Quixano briefly his character is defined vividly. Don Quixote is a sane man but ends up going mad after reading too many books about chivalrous knights. His actions show he has a longing for a sense of purpose and beauty. Despite Don Quixote's delusions, he is fiercely intelligent and sane at times. He cogently and concisely talks about literature, soldiering, and government, among other topics. As the novel progresses Don Quixote slowly realizes the difference between reality