Does Sir Gawain keep his promises to others?

The most important promise that stands out in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the promise that Sir Gawain makes to the Green Knight at the beginning of the poem. His promise to meet the Green Knight in a year to have done to him what he is about to do to the Green Knight (cut off his head) is a tough promise to keep, even for a knight.

When the knight asks Sir...

The most important promise that stands out in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the promise that Sir Gawain makes to the Green Knight at the beginning of the poem. His promise to meet the Green Knight in a year to have done to him what he is about to do to the Green Knight (cut off his head) is a tough promise to keep, even for a knight.

When the knight asks Sir Gawain to recount their agreement, Sir Gawain says, “And that I swear to you honestly, by my pledged word” (l. 484: section 18).

By all accounts, yes, Sir Gawain does keep his promise to the Green Knight. He leaves King Arthur’s Court the following year to seek out the Green Knight and the Green Castle to fulfill the Green Knight’s challenge. As the nephew of King Arthur, Sir Gawain will do whatever he needs to do to keep his promise and not disappoint his uncle. He tells Berchilak, “I’d rather die than be doomed to fail” (l. 1090: Section 43).

Remember, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which also includes Sir Gawain, present many characteristics of chivalry: loyalty, bravery, honor, etc. The important word here is "honor." Since knights are bound by the honor code, they must also keep their promises, even the ones that they make to themselves.