This still doesn't make Gawain feel cleansed of his sins. He understands that he will be forced to bear the shame and disgrace of his sin for the rest of his life. .
The observer's opinion of whether Sir Gawain is forgiven is the complete opposite of Sir Gawain's. In the passage, it is mentioned that the lady kissed the constant knight. The question arises as to the author's meaning of constant. It is obvious that it doesn't mean that Gawain is constant in his moral decisions, as he has just made an unethical decision. It also wouldn't mean that he is determined or steadfast. He had just caved in to his want for life and threw his morals aside. Another improbable definition would be that of unwavering faith. Sir Gawain had just given up on God (Howard, p. 203).
It is possible that the author is being sarcastic, yet this had not been the previous style of writing. So what is the author saying by labeling Gawain "the constant knight" (Stone, p. 91)? A likely possibility is the author's disdain with the conditions of chivalry and knighthood. He is mocking the misconception of the knights of King Arthur's court and offers the idea that it is more corrupt and conceited than commonly believed. Therefore being labeled a constant knight is the author's way of accepting Sir Gawain's decision, as it would have been standard with the other knights, though not necessarily condoning it (Pearsall, p. 103).
The question as to whether or not Sir Gawain is right in choosing his life over his morals is mentioned when the Green Knight reveals himself as Lord Bertilak. The Green Knight feels it was excusable for Gawain to accept the girdle, as his decision was well motivated. Sir Gawain did not fall due to lust for a woman or to the offer of a "well-wrought thing" (Stone, p. 89) such as the gold ring, but to his love of life which Lord Bertilak finds to be "less blameworthy" (Stone, p. 109) Lord Bertilak perceives Sir Gawain as a noble and honorable knight and invites him back to his castle to celebrate the New Year.
