Beatrice’s anxiety to convince Wistan that Britons and Saxons get along shows that she understands how dangerous things can get if Wistan decides Saxons are being mistreated. Sir Gawain’s explanations, however, seem inadequate. He fails to account for the fact that, as Wistan says, women and children
were slaughtered during war and it is highly unbelievable that entire Saxon villages that had been threatened and even plundered by Arthur’s armies would simply accept him as a leader because he was generous. Wistan is of this same opinion, which is why he continues to challenge what Gawain is saying. Gawain is choosing to share the image of Arthur that he wants people to remember but refusing to admit any of Arthur’s faults or mistakes, thus endowing him with a much better reputation that he would otherwise have.