In gaining maturity, he will work to reestablish the chivalric code as one that centers on godly virtues and heavenly ideals.
There are many Christian symbols, which are entangled throughout the story. It has been said by many critics that the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was most likely a monk. During these times, monks were among the only people to be educated. This fact combined with the religious symbols makes this seem very plausible. Arthurian chivalry is founded upon Christian ideology and this tale is no exception. According to Robert Blanch, "the poet upholds Christian faith as the ultimate, saving grace for humanity. Ever pious, Gawain continuously finds guidance in God: from the image of the Virgin Mary on the inside of his shield to his prayers while journeying alone, to his narrow escape from the adulterous temptations of Lady Bertilak. It is, in a sense, faith in God that enables mankind to negotiate between the dangers of human society and the dangers of the natural world. To affirm this, the poem concludes with a supplication to Jesus Christ, the Savior."4 This negotiation is almost constant with Sir Gawain as he struggles with his faith in many instances.
We see this type of spiritual guidance throughout the tale and most concretely in the pentangle painted onto Gawain's shield, which depicts the face of Mary in its center. It is labeled a symbol of truth; the star has five points that interlock with each other, forming what is called the "endless knot." The action of the story comes to a halt as the narrator stresses the importance of Gawain's shield and what it symbolizes: "It is a symbol that Solomon designed long ago
As an emblem of fidelity, and justly so;
Therefore it suits this knight and his shining arms, For always faithful in five ways, and five times in each case, Gawain was reputed as virtuous."5 The reference to King Solomon may signify that Sir Gawain holds great wisdom because, as legend has it, King Solomon was known for his ability to rule wisely and lead his people to abundant success.
