e is not only acting for himself but his whole assembly of knights. When he goes back and tells his adventure, they all seem to be humbled by Gawain taking the girdle, when in fact they are actually just laughing at themselves, because they also have to wear the girdle. Although humor plays an important role in the poem of the Green Knight, Tolkien also adds psychological effects in the poem as well.The element of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight that involves the most psychological devices is when Lady Bertilak tries to seduce Gawain. While this is happening, Bertilak is out hunting game to give to Gawain as a gift. In return for Bertilak’s gift, Gawain would also give a gift to Bertilak. Each day Bertilak presents a different animal to Gawain, and Gawain gives Bertilak a kiss. Gawain is not aware that with every different animal Bertilak hunts, Gawain embodies the characteristics of that animal when the Lady attempts to seduce him. As the days go on, Gawain’s characteristics become complex and more involved. Finally on the third day he embodies the fox, which is cunning and sly and will do anything to get out of a peculiar situation. So Gawain does exactly this; he takes the girdle so he can escape from the evil temptations of Lady Bertilak. Along with every other dimension, this too has an opposing dimension. I feel that this particular event in the story also is highly soaked in Christianity. As Lady Bertilak tries to seduce Gawain, she represents sin. Sin tries to seduce Gawain into accepting the wicked offers that are presented, but Gawain knows the consequences and refuses too bow down to sin and evil temptations. He did this since his family of knight’s honor is at stake. In some ways this resembles the Christian story of Adam and Eve. Eve is tempted with an evil apple by Satan, which she will take, but not only does she eat it, she persuades Adam to eat the apple as well. Lady Bertilak may repres...
