Questions (fit 3)

2. I think Gawain upholds his respect at first, when the Lady comes into his room he asks her to leave so he can get dressed because he does not feel it is right she is there because she is married to the Duke. It is not very honest to the Duke when he kisses the Lady, but by doing that he is trying to maintain honor for the Lady. He is honorable by upholding his deal with the Duke and giving him in return a kiss that he earned. The next morning he starts to become a little bit more dishonorable to the Duke because he is up waiting for the Lady, he does not ask her to leave, and he kisses her twice. He is able to resist the temptation for the most part, and he does give the Duke the two kisses he received. The third time the Lady visits him, he is no longer honest to the Duke, he lies about the Girdle, and gives up on his original beliefs, forgets about his faith in the Virgin Mary and puts it all in a ‘magic’ girdle that is supposed to protect him. Gawain slowly loses his honesty and faith.

3. The climax would be when Gawain lies to the Duke and tells him he only got the three kisses when he also received the girdle. The whole reason why he was even at the castle is because he was on a journey to uphold a deal. His entire trip was based on being honorable to his people and himself as a warrior. As soon as he accepted the girdle and lied to the Duke he gave up his faith in himself and his shield, and was no longer honest.

4. The girdle symbolizes dishonesty and loss of faith. The lady tells Gawain that it has magical powers and will protect him which Gawain later finds out is a lie; because of this lie it causes Gawain to then lie to the Duke after their deal. The girdle also causes Gawain to give up his faith in the Pentangle, his shield, and the Virgin Mary. He forgot about his Christian beliefs and was thinking more Pagan, believing that the girdle was magic.

5.