The story of Sir Gawain and his encounter with the Green Knight is a story that is woven through the deception and trickery of characters who do not share the same same values ​​as Sir Gawain. do. His moral standing as a knight and a Christian is repeatedly tested by seemingly evil people. However, there might be a deeper root to this evil that is not directly addressed in the story. Although the role of villain can be attributed to many of the characters in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the true villain of the poem is paganism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay Paganism, an umbrella term coined by Christians to define pre-Christian religions, appears in the tale of Sir Gawain in several forms (Stone, paragraph 1). But before we get to that, it is necessary to explain how these recurring pagan acts and behaviors play into the role of the villain and therefore result in conflict for Sir Gawain. First, paganism does not follow Christian rules. First and foremost, pagans are polytheists, which directly contradicts the Christian belief that there is only one supreme God. A second difference that plays an important role in this story is the pagans' belief and use of magic to get things done. One could even argue that it is the belief in the individual that is at odds with the Christian belief that all faith and power should be placed in God alone. The Bible itself even warns against relying on magic and witchcraft, stating: “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them, nor make yourselves unclean by them. I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:31). So, knowing this, it is easier to understand the fear and awe that overcame Sir Author's knights when this immeasurably tall and imposing man on horseback entered the Great Hall during their feast (Gawain, p. 6). During this exchange, the Green Knight proposes a challenge to the King, as well as to the entire hall of knights, in which he calls on the most courageous every day. » This person must find the Green Knight and receive the same blow from the axe. by the hands of the Green Knight (Gawain, p. 11). However, this is all a ploy and is the catalyst that actually begins the story. Sir Gawain, one of King Arthur's knights, takes up the challenge in Arthur's place and beheads the Green Knight. And to the amazement of the entire hall, the knight picks up his severed head, rides off into the sunset, and reminds Sir Gawain of his side of the bargain (Gawain, p. 15). This is the first vile act of paganism and the problems that dealing with non-Christians causes. Thus begins Sir Gawain's battle, in which he must fight the temptation and deception of a religion that is not his own, of which he knows nothing and with which he has no connection. It could be compared to trying to win a game you've never played before, a game where everyone knows the rules except you. And pagan games like this are the ones that shake Sir Gawain in his virtue as both a knight and a Christian. Sir Gawain, as a knight, was aware of the virtues that accompanied this title and was described by the narrator as such. “Good was he, pure as refined gold, devoid of all malice, virtue enveloped him and grace…” (Sir Gawain, p. 22). These virtues, however, have been tested again and again by pagan deeds and people. We find it in another game in volume two. It was almost a yearand a day later, and Sir Gawain prepares to go in search of the Green Knight at the time of All Hallows' Eve. After months of traveling during which he had to fight hunger, animal attacks and the approaching winter, he prays to the Virgin Mary to find a castle so he can go somewhere for Christmas mass. A glittering castle appears to Sir Gawain, and believing that his prayers have been answered, he seeks refuge inside and is greeted by a tall, bearded host who is only too eager to welcome him inside (Sir Gawain, pp. 24-29). Sir Gawain is invited to the feast of the great host during which he asks him to stay a while to rest. He declares: “You will lie long in bed and, lingering, you will rest in the morning, and you will not get up for mass…” (Sir Gawain, p. 37). This should have been a wake-up call to Gwaine. What honest Christian would advise his guest not to get up for mass and not attend morning worship? But, for Gawain, the invitation to a few good nights' rest and free food allowed him to ignore this statement. Another wake-up call should have been his host's next statement about how he would allow his wife, his beautiful wife, to keep him company while he went hunting every day (Sir Gawain, p. 37). Why would he leave his beautiful wife alone with another man, knight or not? Next comes the pact between Sir Gawain and the host, in which he says that he will give Sir Gawain everything he hunted that day in exchange for everything he hunted that day. Sir Gawain also received that day (Sir Gawain, p. 37). So here is the beginning of another ploy by those who follow paganism to weaken Sir Gawain both in his virtue as a knight and in his faith as a Christian. The host's wife most certainly keeps Sir Gawain company; but only with the aim of seducing him. For three days she tried, but only managed to get kisses for her efforts. Notably, on the third day, she gives the knight three kisses and also manages to convince him to accept her belt, which she believes has protective power. The lure of the Lady's lace was so powerful that Sir Gawain even lied about his gain when exchanging his gifts with his host on page 64. He hesitates here, in the two most important aspects of his life. His virtue as a knight was compromised when he accepted a pact and lied during it for personal gain, and his chastity and virtue as a Christian were compromised when he allowed the lady of the castle to kiss and accept his belt. Paganism played a role in all of this, and this is especially seen towards the end of the poem, after Sir Gawain finds the Green Knight, is not beheaded, and the Green Knight explains everything. It turns out that Morgan la Faye, the witch, planned all of this, changing the host, whose name is Bertilak, into the Green Knight by changing his appearance and sending him to Camelot to come up with the initial joke that caused all the events. the next (Sir Gawain, p. 80). It was paganism that allowed these events to happen and caused Sir Gawain to lose his moral character. If pagan followers like Morgan la Faye, the Green Knight and his wife had not begun to resort to deception and sin to achieve their ends, Sir Gawain would have remained upright in his faith and continued to live in peace at Camelot. Paganism's use of trickery and magic are not the only things that would make evil in this story. What is extremely bad is that paganism allows the existence of supernatural beings; those who exhibit powers that only God should exercise. First, the Green Knight,.