The color green plays a prominent role in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The knight and his horse are emerald green as is the girdle that can defeat them. Does the color green have a deeper meaning? Indicate possible symbolism shown through the color green.
ENGL 201 | British Literature to 1800
Myra Seaman | Fall 2012
The color green is often associated with nature, growth, and fertility. The fact that everything about the Green Knight is, obviously, green connects him with nature and gives him a sort of ethereal aura. This allusion to nature is furthered by the poem embroidered onto the horse’s saddle blanket, which speaks of birds and butterflies.
By the end of the poem, the color green represents the fallibility of human nature, as Gawain fails to give the green belt to the lord. It then becomes a reminder of the limitation of humans, specifically when it comes to resisting temptation. In conclusion, I see the color green in the poem acting as a reminder of the purity of true nature in contrast to the corruption of human nature.
I agree with most everyone that green represents nature. The Green Knight completely embodies nature. I also believe that even though he is representing nature, he is representing the menacing part of it and how there is a struggle between humans and nature. The Green Knight to me is showing that nature is a powerful and beautiful force. When we are reading descriptions of the knight he is described as the “largest, and most attractive of his size” and that “his belly and waist were becomingly trim and every part of his body equally elegant in shape.” They also talk of green gems and fur which come from the earth, along with beadwork that had embroidered butterflies and birds upon it. I don’t really believe however that green symbolizes humanity. I think that would just be taking a color that is present throughout the story and saying it represents that quality just because the story talks about humanity and morals.
You hit the nail right on the head. I agree 100%. In the beginning of the tale, the color green is a stand-in for nature. With that being said, it is obvious that the Green Knight a very strong connection to nature.
Also, the way you connected green and the faults of humans. The fact that he was unable to give the green belt to the lord is a sign of limitations and ultimately failure. Meaning that humans might be noble and loyal, but they all have their faults, even the great Gawain.
The color green is mentioned almost every few lines in Sir Gawin and the Green Knight. Literally everything about the Green Knight is green; he is covered in green gems, he has ribbons of green, he even lives in Green Chapel. Although the color green is everywhere within the tale, the symbolism behind it changes over time. As Anna stated, green typically symbolizes nature and the natural world. Interestingly enough, initially the audience is introduced to the Green Knight as the antagonist, intruding upon the festivities of King Arthur’s court. He is described as the “tallest on earth” (164), this giant, intimidating man. On one hand, the audience equates his large stature as threatening and negative, but on the other hand he is adorned in green, the color of nature and the natural world. Later in the story we see each character’s (the Green Knight and Sir Gawin) morals clearly. Sir Gawin does not truly hold his honor through his actions leading up to meeting with the Green Knight. He has relations with the queen and enters the fight with the Green Knight using a special aid, the green girdle that would protect him. Essentially he was using trickery. The Green Knight, on the other hand, does not act out of the contest rules that were established at the first meeting; he stays true to his word. In this case, we see the Green Knight as having more moral standing than Sir Gawin, as Sir Gawin had corrupted his nature through using this belt against the Green Knight. Later he goes to wear this green belt, as a remembrance to his failure, to himself and to his honor.
I agree that the symbolic nature of the color green changes over time. Interestingly, the color green does not symbolize envy as we associate with the color today. When the Green Knight was first introduced, described as being “completely emerald green,” he seemed to portray an earthy quality (164). This suggests that he was one with nature, and considering that the elements of nature had a huge influence over community at the time, he could seem pretty menacing. However, towards the end of the poem, when Gawain was presented with the green girdle, he chose to keep it for himself to protect him from death, rather than exchange it with his host. He choses his humanity (not wanting to die at the hands of the Green Knight) over exchanging his winnings like he promised. So the color green transformed into symbolizing nature to symbolizing humanity, and the greed that comes along with it.
The function of the color green in this story is certainly very important, as is that of the girdle, whose significance changes many times over the course of the piece. However, it is not obvious to me why the color green specifically would be so important. The color green is traditionally a very ambiguous one that can be a representation of anything from life and birth, to decay, from wealth and prosperity, to connotations of witchcraft. I think more importantly the fact of the connections themselves between all of the green things, the girdle for example, are more important. It is clear from the first time it is introduced that its color is meant to link it in some way to the Green Knight, though Gawain does not seem to sense this. The “wife” tells Gawain that it will protect any person who wears it from death or harm, making it a sort of savior or beacon, but later we find out that this is not true, and it is not super natural at all. After Gawain faces the Green Knight and exposes himself as the host from the castle, he in a sense shames Gawain for his dishonesty. At this point the girdle becomes more of a badge of cowardice or sin but upon his return home, its meaning transforms again to a sign of unity and brotherhood amongst those who support him. I think the association with green in particular is less notable perhaps than the associations between all of the green things portrayed.
I like the way that you interpreted the use of green throughout this text. I was looking at the “green” like many others seemed to have seen it; a color that is used as a symbol for life, learning, and growth. The way that you paid more attention on the relationship between all of the green objects instead of just the color by itself is very interesting to me, and makes good sense.
I, however, choose to look at the green as a color choice chosen deliberately to represent self-growth and learning. But now, with your interpretation, I am starting to combine both of these ideas and can use both the color and the relationship between everything to represent the overall meaning from the story. The objects that are green throughout this story (the knight, the girdle, the knight’s horse, etc.) are, in a way, all things that have the ability to either help Gawain grow as a knight and a person or feel shame for being dishonest and not fulfilling his quest.
I agree with Aubrey. The color green is not nearly as significant as the objects that are green themselves. I believe the color was used to tie everything together. The color green in this story absolutely ties into the symbolism of wealth and life. For instance the Green Knight, is obviously wealthy from his descriptive appearance in the beginning of the poem. Life can also be associated with the girdle because Gawain believes that it will keep him alive against the Green Knight. I think the transition from the Green Knight in the beginning of the poem, to Gawain then traveling a year later and being given a green girdle, signifies to the reader that these moments are of importance. It also foreshadows that the girdle and the Knight are related in some way. When the Knight explains to Gawain that the girdle is not magical, Gawain brings it upon himself to feel ashamed. Upon returning to his Kingdom, King Author and his men support him by wearing green belts as well. This brings the color full circle, showing honor and unity.
I also agree that the color green is connected to nature and the power of nature. I also think that the color is meant to represent honor and glory. .I choose to say honor because the color takes the form of the girdle and the Green Knight’s armor. He was honorable and kept his word, even with his crazy antics like having someone chop his head off with an axe and then agree to let him do the same a year later. When Sir Gawain receives the green girdle, I felt that it was his chance at proving his honor and gaining the glory from keeping his own word to the Green Knight.
The color green definitely withholds a deeper meaning than just being a color. The color green is mentioned several times throughout the story, meaning there is likely significance. I also agree that the color green represents nature and growth, and maybe even wealth; however, throughout the story, the representation of the color green changes throughout the story. When he receives the green girdle, I thought that because it was green, it was going to actually prevent him from being harmed, but when I found out that it actually does not, the significance of the green girdle changes. Not only does the color green in general change significance, but also each object or person that is green changes to a different meaning of its own so they are not all the same. In the story, Sir Gawin uses the belt in defense to the Green Knight. He then wears the same green belt after, and this time the belt represents a different meaning. When he uses the green belt this time, it shows how he has grown as a knight. The color green can be interpreted differently reader to reader, but I believe it is clear to most that green does not just have one meaning throughout the whole story.
The color does take a few forms, from relief-giving (the life-saving belt) to dread-inducing (the green knight himself). My favorite is the Green Chapel. I expected a church but instead the Green Knight is guarding “nothing but an old cave” 2182. The editors indicate it resembles a prehistoric burial chamber, meaning likely a pagan site.
I find this very interesting, especially considering the Green Knight admits to following the will of Morgan le Fay, Arthur’s sorceress half-sister. Indeed, the entire idea was concocted “to make a trial of your pride, and to judge the great reputation attached to the Round Table” 2457. The Green Knight’s appearance is her doing.
I wonder if the green is representative of the sort of latent paganism which is always trying and tempting the faithful of Britain, even while celebrating the Birth of Jesus openly as Gawain’s host does. Certainly, green is a deeply symbolic pagan color (ex. the Green Man). The Green Knight even arrives in Arthur’s hall carrying a holly-branch 205, another pagan symbol.
I really like your interpretation of the color green with other religious elements. I think it’s fascinating how many elements of the poem people have related the color green to. To me, I found the Green Chapel fascinating as well. After all, throughout the entire poem, we were given incredibly rich detailed descriptions of King Arthur’s castle, as well as the White Castle. And yet, when Gawain stumbles upon the Chapel, I was expecting to get another lavish description, but was met with just a green mound. I think the whole aspect of green throughout the poem, and how it is able to make so many elements interconnected demonstrates a fairy-like mythical sensation in the whole poem. To me, the color green represents the mythical, magical, more unknown subculture that was part of many works around this time.
The color green is repeated frequently in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The green is most frequently associated with the Green Knight, including his green gems, green ribbons, and the green chapel he lives in. Green is most closely associated with life, growth, and earth; green can also symbolize nature and wealth. When the Green Knight was described as being completely emerald green, to me, that meant that he was devoted to nature. Toward the end of the poem, the association with the color green seems to change. When Sir Gawain enters the fight with the Green Knight, he uses the green gridle to protest him. Sir Gawain later wears the belt as a remembrance of his failure; he chose to keep the gridle to protect himself rather than keep his promise. From the beginning to the end of the poem, the color green transforms from a symbolization of nature to a reminder of failure and greed.
It did not even occur to me that the Green Knight might be dressed to show his devotion to nature. I immediately interpreted him as being evil or sinister. I associate the color green with serpents and toxic entities, and sometimes the raw emotions of envy and deception. I saw the color green as adding a mystical element to the story as a whole. The fact that it was “emerald” green instead of say, “forest” green, made me think of the emerald castle in The Wizard of Oz. There was quite a lot of deception happening behind those curtains as well. Overall, I saw the Green Knight as the serpent in the garden of eden, tempting Gawain away from chivalry into some realm of seduction.