in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus as the belief that while "He was dead Christ liberated the righteous who lived before His time from Hell." (pg.104 foot#8)Red Cross will finally reach Arthur's level of heroism on the third day of the dragon fight.The climax of the allusions to Christ comes at the end of the tale with the dragon fight. Over this three day period Red Cross goes through a period of transformation where in each day he typifies and represents something different. The fact that the fight takes three days is in direct correlation with the crucifixion of Jesus and His Resurrection on the third day. On day one of the battle Red Cross is shamefully defeated:And th'English Bath, and eke the german Spau,Ne can Cephise, nor Hebrus match this well:Into the same knight backe overthrowen, fell.(I.xi.st.30)This blow dealt by the dragon to Red Cross symbolizes the end of the first day's battle and the "crucifixion" of Red Cross.Each time Red Cross is wounded or has a set back represents a sin or non-chivalric quality. He is beaten so badly because of all of the mistakes or sins he commits. At one point on the first day Spenser describes Red Cross as "'almost made affeard' meaning temptation(dragon fight handout);" this symbolizes his first sin. When Spenser is describing Red Cross's beard, he is explaining "corruption" which is expressing Red Cross's susceptibility. On the day one Red Cross is without Christ. Satan is larger than life to a man without Christ, but to a man with Christ he becomes tiny. On the first day "Red Cross typifies man under law. (dragon fight handout)" The law is symbolized in the form of Red Cross' armor. When the dragon sears Red Cross through his armor with flame, Red Cross gives up: "he thought his ... arms to leave and helmet to unlace. (I.xi.st26)" By attempting to remove his armor, "Red Cross gives up trying to obey the law since, according to Paul in Romans 7, trying makes the sin worse. (dragon fight ...
