The Middle Ages were a harsh time for women, bound by strict roles and subservient to men, there was little room for women to exercise their own intellect or will. Men were seen as leaders and strong breadwinners, while women were judged based on looks and viewed as needing men in order to function. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, women both undermine and fortify men, illustrating the contradictory role of the women in the middle ages. The role of Virgin Mary, Morgan La Faye and Lady Bertilak illustrate the antithetical role of women through the undermining and strengthening of men. Gawain gains strength from Virgin Mary, Morgan Le Faye creates the Green Knight subterfuge and Lady Bertilak uses manipulation to undermine Gawain into breaking his bargain but at the same time he is able to gain strength from the girdle she gave him. Each woman demonstrating the ability to break free of the strict traditional roles imposed on women of the Middle Ages.
Men's reliance upon women was unheard of in the Middle Ages, especially in order to gain strength. However, Gawain's reliance upon the Virgin Mary for strength, "had the shape of her image inside his shield,so by catching her eye his courage would not crack" shatters the portrayed roles of the sexes in the medieval times (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 650). Gawain gains his courage to never loose heart by looking at Virgin Mary, contradicting the image of women relying on men. His reliance upon Mary is such that he does not have an image of God or man that he looks to for strength but rather that of a woman. While it was believed women needed men to survive, it is clearly shown Gawain needs Virgin Mary. When he feels as though he is lost and can no longer go forth he turns once again to Mary, "Let Mother Mary guide him/ towards some house or haven" (738-739). Even though Gawain acknowledges God, his true plea is directed at Mary, asking her to help him while only asking God to hear him, "Father, hear me/and Lady Mary, our Mother most mild/ let me happen on some house" (738-755).
