The Arthurian legends served as a means of centralizing Celtic culture and providing the Celtic people with their own myth in the 14th and 15th centuries CE. One such Celtic myth from the late 14th century is that of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Many interpretations have explained the Green Knight as a symbol of spring and a Christ-like figure. The tale actually depicts several significant myths, such as those of Christ and a quasi-spring divinity, for the European people. The Green Knight and Bertilak, however, are a better representation not of a transcendent conception but of a mortal essence: the consciousness of Sir Gawain. The symbolism of the Green Knight and Bertilak as the conscience of Sir Gawain provides a cyclical development of Sir Gawain's character by juxtaposing the characters of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, juxtaposing the characters of Sir Gawain and Bertilak, and initiating the Gawain's repentance for his sinful pride. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThe character symbolism of the Green Knight and Bertilak as Sir Gawain's conscience is first introduced with the juxtaposition of Green Knight and Sir Gawain. At the beginning of the tale, Sir Gawain is established as a good and just knight without any faults, through dialogue and narration in the Arthurian court. He is the only knight to challenge the goliath Green Knight to replace King Arthur. The Green Knight is described as unarmored but carries a battle axe, which he does not intend to use when he challenges the Arthurian court. Once Gawain accepts the Green Knight's challenge. Gawain wishes to protect his king and the court, while the Green Knight wants to harm the court. Gawain's Christian faith in God seems to be the source of his courage and confidence against the Green Knight. As Gawain sets out on his journey, King Arthur speaks of Gawain's integrity as Gawain might have spoken with the words: "'In fates sad or joyful, true men can only try'" (ll. 564- 565, pp.1471). The Green Knight is part of a test of virtues at the beginning of the tale and therefore serves as a critique to Gawain's conscience. Sir Gawain continues his pilgrimage to the Green Chapel in hopes of finding the Green Knight and, ultimately, his true self. Sir Gawain and Bertilak are then juxtaposed to reinforce the symbolism of Bertilak and the Green Knight as the conscience of Sir Gawain. In Gawain's moment of despair and need for rest, the vision of the castle in the High Desert gives Gawain hope. Gawain's restored hope with his vision of Bertilak's White Castle presents the castle as a safe haven and Bertilak as a savior. Once Gawain meets Bertilak, he examines him carefully, as if he knows him. Bertilak's familiarity suggests that Gawain recognizes certain characteristics that remind him of the Green Knight, or rather characteristics that remind him of himself. His astonishment in the presence of Bertilak is expressed in the lines: “Such a beautiful mortal as Christ never created like him. Whatever his place of birth, it seemed that he might well be without equal on earth in matters of martial rivalry” (ll. 869-874, p. 1479). Bertilak seems to want to be hospitable and honest towards his guest. The agreement between Bertilak and Gawain is to exchange whatever each receives during the three days. Bertilak's three days of hunting vividly symbolize Gawain's journey and his near future. Bertilak is relentless and merciless in his hunt for defenseless animals, just as Gawain is.