Camelot. From the moment the Green Knight is mentioned, he is portrayed as the enemy of the ‘good’ knights. He offers a proposal that is at first only accepted by King Authur. Suddenly, Gawain jumps into the picture and makes a respectful speech to take the place of Authur in the contest with the Green Knight. The Green Knight lets Gawain take a blow, only agreeing that Gawain take a hit from him one year and one day later. The Green Knight’s character is the perfect mentor. The Green Knight was never the enemy of King Authur or of Gawain. He was only portrayed this way so the themes could be analyzed more correctly and well understood. The Green Knight puts Gawain through a tough test, and near the end says to Gawain, “I’m convinced you’re the finest man that ever walked this earth” (162). He proves that he is Gawain's friend more than anything else. He pretends to be Bercilak and help Gawain find the Green Knight, who is actually Bercilak. The Green Knight and his beheading, hunting, and temptation tests Gawain’s courage, virtue, and chastity. Bercilak teaches Gawain an important lesson that sticks with him for the remainder of his life (Gibbons 1).Lady Bercilak plays a mentor for Gawain, also. She is introduced during the complications of the poem. Gawain is extremely attracted to her and finds her very hard to resist. Lady Bercilak is no saint either. She constantly makes moves and hints towards sexual activity with Sir Gawain. For example, she once says, “It’s surely a shameful thing if you’ll lie with a lady like this yet not love her at all” (168). The reader comes to find out that this is all a set up. The Green Knight has been planning these events the entire time. Lady Bercilak is merely a part of this plan, and she may very well be the most important part of his plan. Sir Gawain is supposed to be a flawless knight. He proves that he i...
