A student paper on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight suggests that in accepting the green girdle from the lady of the castle, Sir Gawain is changing his “lady” from the Virgin Mary to the green lady. That works at several levels: Sir Gawain has Mary’s portrait on the inside of his shield, so that he gazes at her when he goes into battle. He also is shown praying to Mary at several crucial points in the story. His fall comes when he trusts another lady, and wears this other lady’s token, as he goes to his final encounter with the Green Knight. He is an Adam who leaves the true bride for a false temptress.
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