“‘By Goddez self,’ quoth Gawayn,

‘I wyl nauther grete ne grone;

To Goddez wylle I am ful bayn,

And to hym I haf me tone.’” (2156-2159)

(“Said Gawain, ‘By God himself,

I shall not moan or cry;

My life is in his hands,

His will I shall obey’.”)

The phrase “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense” translates as “evil be to him who evil thinks.” This motto suggests a form of absolute justice in which evil is ultimately punished. In the poem, Gawain faces his almost certain death with bravery and courage, defending his honor by fulfilling a vow made to protect his sovereign.

Along the journey Gawain was tried three times. On the third trial, he betrayed the lord with whom he had made a promise hoping to save his life. In return for these tests of his honor, “For bothe two here I the bede bot two bare myntes boute scathe. Trwe mon trwe restore, Thenne thar mon drede no wathe. At the third thou fayled thore, And therefore that tappet a the. (For both occasions I aimed at you two mere mock blows without harm. True man must pay back truly, Then he need nothing fear; You failed me the third time And took that blow therefore).” (2353-2357)

Gawain received a wound on the neck as just punishment for his actions against his word.

Then Gawain confessed:

“I biknowe yow, knight, here style,

Al fawty is my fare;.” (2385-2386)

(Sir, humbly I confess

My food name is marred.)

And the green knight forgave him. This is similar to the act of absolution allowed by the New Testament and seen earlier in the poem when Gawain left the lord’s castle.

Throughout the poem, good is rewarded and evil is punished; the motto “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense” is uplheld. Man’s good deeds are rewarded and vice is punished, but there is also a message that true repentance is deserving of forgiveness.