Gawain vs. Lear

            Throughout history, authors have written plays in which "hero" is a recurrent theme. In most stories, at least one character is viewed by others as a hero. To be labeled a hero, a character must possess necessary qualities such as honor, loyalty, bravery, and faithfulness. The authors of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and King Lear present two very different types of heroes. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale about a man in his quest in becoming a hero, as opposed to King Lear who is already seen as a hero. .
             Gawain first shows his loyalty to the king by stepping in and accepting the Green Knight's challenge. Gawain takes the axe from King Arthur and says, "Would you grant me this grace?" He shows courage greater than all by coming forward, earning respect of the King and the Knights of the Round Table. After losing to the Green Knight, Gawain keeps his word by returning to the Green Chapel, thus proving his loyalty to his word.
             Another heroic quality Gawain displays is his ability to admit his faults. He falls for the temptations of the wife, only thinking it would save his live. After realizing it had no magical ability, he continued to wear it as a sign of his weakness and sinfulness. The King, however, saw it as a sign of his honor. To show their support, Arthur and his followers wear green silk baldrics that look just like the girdle. In their eyes, he had been initiated into knighthood and had grown from young and inexperienced, into Sir Gawain, a respectable knight and hero.
             In Shakespeare's play "King Lear," the main character, King Lear, starts off as a respected and powerful king. As the story progresses the king loses his power because of his own stupidity and blindness. He hand over all his power to his two daughters, who he later finds out were plotting against him the whole time. When Goneril and Reagan are in power they try to make Lear appear to be incompetent.