Sir Gawain Fit 3 Continued

2) What is your impression of Gawain during this section? How do you think he behaves? Does he uphold his honor while not dishonoring the lady and the lord? 
Gawain is a very honorable night who has excellent will power and self control. I am impressed as most men would likely be unable to control themselves when dealing with a women so beautifully contrasted to the ugliest of woman. Gawain plays his role perfectly and balances on the edge as he is able to keep from going against his code my being to frisky with the Lady but does just enough to please her with his kiss. I do not believe he loses even loses his honor when he accepts the girdle. His faith does falter a little but it is a flaw that humans posses and needs to be gotten over. My impression of Gawain is very, very, very, poor and I don't really like him because he is a baby and doesn't know when to get down on himself or when to get over it. He is all heart broken when he realizes the green girdle doesn't save him. However i believe if he were truly a hero he would have been upset and down on himself right after he had taken it and before his fight. WOuld he not be mad at himself if the girdle did protect him?

3) What is the climax of the book?

After Gawain is teased by the Green Giant the first two times the third strike come and nicks Gawain on the neck. Gawain jumps back and starts to prepare for the battle that isn't about to come. "He lifts the weighty weapon, lets it fall straight" page 82 line 2309 This is the climax because it is the point where we find out if the girdle works or not and if Gawain is going to die. Too bad it was only a trick...

4) What does the girdle symbolize? 

The girdle represents Gawain's over obsessive love for his life on earth. Even though he chooses to believe in God and his powers to save him he chooses to except the girdle. The girdle is a symbol of human nature and its tendency to take advantages of sometimes unrealistic or fake ideals that will hopefully save us. This confuses me though because the book never says that Gawain isn't going to die and get his head chopped off. So why would he be relying in god to save him? Or is he supposed to be sure enough that he's going to heaven so that he isn't scared of dying?

5) There are a few allusions to Christ, Mary and faith (or failure of faith) can you pick a couple out and discuss why they are there? 

pg 74 line 2059 "I will certainly, God Willing, return with a great gift" This is a interesting place to put this line. Gawain has just put on his armor and wrapped the girdle around him tightly. However, he still says that his fate is in Gods hands. You would think that if he were to truly believe this at this time and that his fate was really "God willed" he would not be wearing the girdle. This is another reason why I don't like Gawain, if he is going to get all sad and pouty about being a poor christian then he should realize he is doing it now, rather than just when his pagan qualities are proven fake. 

Right before this the arming of night seen is described. Unlike the first time Gawain sets off in his armor there is a less Christian vibe to it. The first time he describes his shield and its picture of Marry and it's pentangle , "he was found without fault in his five senses." However, in the second arming more attention is paid to his armor and its protecting qualities than its symbolism of faith. Instead of Gawain looking to his shield for protection both physically and spiritually he puts both of those into his girdle that is tied around him. This lack of God and faith is used to show Gawain's falter in belief and to help us see the change the castle has caused him.