No One is Perfect

When Gawain is staying at Bertilak's home, he comes into contact with Bertilak's wife. When Gawain is with Lady Bertilak he is trying to adhere to the code of chivalry. Gawain is put in a very difficult situation. If he were to refuse her advances, he would break his responsibility as a knight to be courteous. Yet at the same time if he were to accept, he would then break his chastity. This is evident at one point when the lady says to him, "Yet to think that you're the brilliant Gawain boggles my mind" (Wilhelm 444). Her accusing Gawain of not being himself causes Gawain to believe he has failed to be courteous and "fearing he had failed in his flawless behavior" (444). Throughout the rest of the story Gawain is in a constant battle of what it means to follow the code of chivalry.
This leads to the overall theme of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in that everyone has their own flaws. Being unable to stick to the code of chivalry is nothing to be worried about. The Green Knight pointed out to Gawain that "you have a small flaw, my friend: you lack some faithfulness" (471). Gawain admitted to his flaws and that "from now on, I'll beware" (471). To be able to admit to one’s own flaws is a noble thing.