# The Green Knight — Sir Gawain and the Green Knight character guide

> The Green Knight in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Green Knight, The Knight

**First appearance:** 0002-sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight

## Who they are

A giant stranger who rides into Camelot's Christmas feast glowing all over green, offering a deadly game of blows that no knight dares refuse.

## Relationships

### [Sir Gawain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/sir_gawain)

_rivalry_

Gawain and the Green Knight are bound by a deadly Christmas challenge that transforms into a test of honor and mutual respect.

### [Bertilak de Hautdesert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/bertilak_de_hautdesert)

_psychological_

Bertilak and the Green Knight are the same person, with the Green Knight being a magical guise Bertilak assumes to test the Round Table.

### [King Arthur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/king_arthur)

_rivalry_

Arthur faces the Green Knight's challenge at his court, but Gawain steps in to take the blow, making Arthur a secondary participant in the rivalry.

### [Lady Bertilak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/lady_bertilak)

_psychological_

Lady Bertilak acts as an agent of the Green Knight (her husband), using her charm to test Gawain's integrity as part of the larger magical game.

### [Morgan le Fay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/morgan_le_fay)

_psychological_

Morgan le Fay is the sorceress who enchants the Green Knight (Bertilak) to challenge Camelot, manipulating events from behind the scenes.

### [Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/christ)

_social_

Christ is invoked in the poem as a symbol of Christian faith and chivalric virtue, contrasting with the pagan magic of the Green Knight.

### [Sir Gawain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/sir_gawain)

_rivalry_

Gawain and the Green Knight are bound by a deadly Christmas challenge that transforms into a test of honor and mutual respect.

### [Bertilak de Hautdesert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/bertilak_de_hautdesert)

_psychological_

Bertilak and the Green Knight are the same person, with the Green Knight being a magical guise Bertilak assumes to test the Round Table.

### [King Arthur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/king_arthur)

_rivalry_

Arthur faces the Green Knight's challenge at his court, but Gawain steps in to take the blow, making Arthur a secondary participant in the rivalry.

### [King Arthur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/king_arthur)

_rivalry_

Arthur faces the Green Knight's challenge at his court, but Gawain steps in to take the blow, making Arthur a secondary participant in the rivalry.

### [Sir Gawain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/sir_gawain)

_rivalry_

Gawain and the Green Knight are bound by a deadly Christmas challenge that transforms into a test of honor and mutual respect.

### [Morgan le Fay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/morgan_le_fay)

_psychological_

Morgan le Fay is the sorceress who enchants the Green Knight (Bertilak) to challenge Camelot, manipulating events from behind the scenes.

## In the story

### [Sir Gawain and the Green Knight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight)

Enters Camelot as a mysterious, supernatural challenger proposing a beheading game.

### [Fit I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/fit-i)

Enters Arthur's court, issues the beheading challenge, survives decapitation, and departs with his head, reminding Gawain of their pact.

### [Fit IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/fit-iv)

Reveals himself as Bertilak de Hautdesert. He explains the three feints correspond to Gawain's fidelity in the exchange of winnings, and that the girdle was a test arranged by his wife.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/chapters/endnotes)

Noted for the skillful revelation that he is the same as Gawain's host.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters/the_green_knight
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sir_gawain_and_the_green_knight_se/characters