Sir Gawain's internal conflict centers on his sense of guilt for violating the chivalric code by accepting a gift from the lady and not being honest about it, contrasting his desire for self-preservation with the knightly virtues he is supposed to embody.
One of Sir Gawain's main internal conflicts in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight revolves around his sense of guilt for violating the chivalric code. According to this code, knights were expected to exemplify honor, honesty, and loyalty. Gawain's internal struggle stems from accepting a gift from the lady and then hiding this fact, which is a betrayal of his agreement with the lord of the castle, which stated that they would exchange everything they gained during the day. This concealment is a significant violation of the chivalric code, as it represents both a failure to be honest and a breach of hospitality and trust.
Gawain's sense of guilt and shame when he realizes his error highlights the internal conflict between his personal desire for self-preservation and the idealized knightly virtues he is supposed to uphold. This anguish is part of the poem's broader exploration of the complexities and challenges of adhering to the chivalric code in a nuanced and morally ambiguous world.
The probable question may be:
How does Sir Gawain's violation of the chivalric code, particularly in accepting a gift and not being honest about it, create an internal conflict for him in the narrative? How does this conflict reflect the tension between his personal desire for self-preservation and the knightly virtues he is expected to embody?