As
Chetna points out, The phrase ÒHoni Soit Qui Mal Y Pense,Ó means,
ÒShame on him who thinks evil of it.Ó I believe that this refers to
those who think evil of Gawain. Since, as Chetna points out, Gawain
never does anything thouroughly evil, the phrase must condem those to
shame who think evil of Gawain. Of course, Gawain is not an Òit,Ó but
from the French I have taken throughout highschool, I believe that the
ÒyÓ before ÒpenseÓ could refer to a person, especially since the
language in the book is so ancient.
I think that this phrase
applies specifically to my life in the sense that I have been taught to
not judge others. ÒOn the morne, as uch mon mynez that tyme/ That
Dryghtyn for oure destine to deye watz borne,/ Wele waxez in uche a won
in world for his sake:Ó (ÒOn the next day, when everyone remembers the
time/ When God who died for our salvation was born,/ Joy spreads
through every dwelling on earth for his sakeÓ) (55). Going to a
religious school and regularly attending church, I was always taught to
not judge, and especially during seasons like Christmas, which is the
main season during which the book takes place.
I
believe that this phrase is quite important to England because it
reminds the people there of two things very important to them: 1) Their
principles Ð including the idea of chivalry Ð and 2) their history. I
believe the importance of to the people of England is represented in
the very first sentence of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which tells
of great deeds of the past: ÒSithen the sege and the assaut watz sesed
at Troye,/ The borgh brittened and brent to brondez and askez, / The
tulk that the trammes of tresoun ther wrought/ Watz tried for his
tricherie, the trewest on ertheÓ (ÒWhen the siege and the assault were
ended at Troy,/ The city laid waste and burnt into ashes, / The man who
had plotted the treacherous scheme/ Was tried for the wickedest
trickery everÓ) (3).