Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

why does gawain decline the green knights invitation to celebrate the new years together at the end of the poem

why he says "no, sir" to the invitation of the green knight

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It was that damned scarf (baldric) that Gawain took from the Green Knight's wife. Gawain had broken the Knight's code of honour by accepting it. He did not disclose this to the Green Knight, they had an agreement to share everything, Gawain even kisses the Green Knight as the Green Knight's wife had kissed him (yuck!), the scarf that was given to him. Gawain expected to lose his head and felt the scarf would protect him. The Green Knight didn't feel this was such a big deal but Gawain did. He felt humiliated at this act of cowardice. He gave into temptation and used the scarf.Gawain didn't want to be reminded that he was a "girly pants" by visiting the Green Knight's castle again.

It was that damned scarf (baldric) that Gawain took from the Green Knight's wife. Gawain had broken the Knight's code of honour by accepting it. He did not disclose this to the Green Knight. They had an agreement to share everything, Gawain even kisses the Green Knight as the Green Knight's wife had kissed him (yuck!). Gawain expected to lose his head and felt the scarf, given to him by the Green Knight's wife, would protect him. The Green Knight didn't feel this was such a big deal but Gawain did. He felt humiliated at this act of cowardice. He gave into temptation and used the scarf.Gawain didn't want to be reminded that he was a "girly pants" by visiting the Green Knight's castle again.