Gawain is Not a Hero? Tensions Between the Heroic and the Complex Subject in Representations of Sir Gawain in Art

Sir Gawain, as depicted in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (SGGK), has traditionally been represented in illustrations accompanying translations of the poem. I have previously referred to this as an "established visual language"—a framework that oscillates between portraying Gawain as a conventional heroic figure and as a complex, introspective subject. On one hand, he appears as a visual cipher of the knight: depicted in action, traveling, and fighting. On the other, artists attempt to convey his interiority—his regret, fear, and anticipation. While these representations may appear to depict the same Gawain, they reveal an underlying fault line: where iterations of Gawain, such as the man of action vs the introspective subject reflect significantly, and uncomfortably, on one another.

This plenary will explore Gawain as both a site and sight of crisis, moving beyond the traditional monomyth. Unlike conventional heroes, his transformation remains unresolved, complicating the notion of heroic incorporation. This ambiguity, rather than diminishing his significance, presents compelling opportunities for contemporary artists who seek to reimagine this figure in new and innovative ways.