Throughout the poem, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,"
Sir Gawain encounters numerous trials testing his religious faith and his devotion to
Christianity. When Gawain go forth on his journey to find the Green Chapel, he
discovers that he has become lost; it is only after praying to the Virgin Mary that he
finds his way. As he, then, continues, Gawain suffers from anguish that he must
inevitably encounter the Green Knight. However, rather than praying to Mary as he has
done before, Sir Gawain decides to use the girdle given to him by Bertilak's
wife.
From the Christian perspective, Gawain has fallen
from grace. After he suffers the consequences of his lack of faith, Gawain is forced to
reevaluate his faith when the Green Knight points out his betrayal. Gawain's rejection
of assistance from the Virgin Mary indicates his human fraility and his
sin.
In addition, when Sir Gawain sets out upon his quest
for the Green Knight he has a shield that has a pentagon on the outside and the picture
of Mary on the inside. The five points of the pentagon represent a set of his virtues,
his five senses, his fidelity founded upon the five wounds of Christ; and his force,
founded on the five joys of Mary, and the five knightly
virtues.
As the fair maid inspires the knights to courtly
love and chivalrous deeds, Mary inspires Gawain to be a good
Christian.
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