Bertilaks first hunt is for female deer. His hunting method involves blowing horns and releasing dogs to scare up the dear and trap them near the hunters. This type of hunting requires very little skill and is more of a hail marry than anything. Bertilaks is basically just going out hoping for the best and getting what he can without putting forth any real technique or picking out the animals he wishes to kill. The first time the Lady goes after Gawain she does relatively the same thing. She walks in and makes it clear she is there because she likes Gawain. Much like Bertilak who goes in guns blazing making a huge racket "bugle-sounds echoed around the wood" the Lady goes in without using any real technique except for throwing herself at Gawain. "...the door is shut firm and fastened with a hasp...my mind and body are only for your pleasure." Both in the hunt and in the bedroom no real plan or technique is used to capture their prey. Both Gawain and the deer are blocked from escaping and then the Lady and Bertilak start shooting wildly hoping to come out with what they want but not really taking the time or care to see what it is they are shooting at.
The Boar is a very tough beast that requires a bit more tactic than deer. When Bertilak goes after the boar he must track it down and then throw volleys of arrows at it but the arrows are of no use as they wont penetrate the rough hide. Gawain, much like the boar, takes a plan to bring down. The Lady goes after him and tries to persuade him by flattering him. Much like the boar Gawain is described as having the muscle to force anybody he wants to have fun with him, which is seen in the boar when it destroys dogs and men during the hunt. The hunt of Gawain and the boar are comparable as it took more strategy to take down the boar but the boar was able to withstand the attacks because of its thick hide, or in Gawain's case his chivalry.
The fox and the lady are compared in the third hunt/bedroom seen. The fox is a trickster and a graceful animal while the tactics used by the lady are much the same and she is even described as wearing a fine fur robe. The fox is able to evade the hunters by slipping back and forth and back tracking making the capture of the fox being much more difficult than killing deer or boars with sheer force and power. Like the fox the Lady plays games with Gawain by using her good looks and charm to evoke his boyish hormones in an attempt to seduce him. However both the fox and the Lady's charm fail as the fox is skinned and the Lady gives up after she doesn't get any.
The first two hunts are nicely done, but be consistent keep Gawain the animal. Look at how Elise compares Gawain and the fox.
ReplyDeleteHail Mary - it's like praying to God.