In many medieval tales, women play seemingly minor roles. Most are young girls, mothers and subordinates to other male heroes. Readers and historians understand that medieval women were controlled and limited to their husbands. However, there are few roles in which the feminine characteristics consist of supernatural/magical powers. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Poet of Pearls surreptitiously conceals the vital role of Lady Bercelak; her illustrious beauty, her seduction and her deceptive nature make Lady Bercelak the most powerful character in this Arthurian legend. When Sir Gawain first meets Lady Bercelak, the recognition of her beauty is important. There are many women throughout society who have attractive features, but Lady Bercelak's beauty cannot be perfectly defined. Sir Gawain explains that she “surpasses the queen herself” (2.945). Transcending the beauty of Queen Guinevere is unheard of, which makes Lady Bercelak an already curious character. Women with stunning charm are usually not the ones who keep it to themselves, but rather attract multiple men. These women aspire to seek maximum recognition for something so rare: giving up beauty. Its splendor seduces not only all the men of the kingdom, but particularly Sir Gawain. Lady Bercelak is an attractive and stunning character, and she undoubtedly knows it. Without modest consideration, Lady Bercelak exposes “her shining throat and her breast beautiful to behold” (2.955). She takes pride in her appearance, and this pride represents her lust and seduction. Behind the pretty, innocent, red face, there is a meaning to her beauty which is gradually decoded throughout the poem; these interpretations develop her crucial power, middle of paper no one can outsmart Lady Bercelak. In conclusion, Lady Bercelak knows above all. The Green Knight seems to know everything; however, what is in his wife's mind is isolated to him. With her beauty, seduction, and deception, Lady Bercelak poses a triple threat to anyone who enters her bubble, even her husband. Her power is essential to what she can accomplish and shows that without her character, the magical/supernatural element of the poem would be tenuous. After analyzing the text of the Arthurian poem, the reader recognizes that there is always something evil and exciting behind the pretty face of Lady Bercelak. Works Cited “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” The Poet Gawain: Complete Works: Patience, Cleanliness, Pearl, Saint Erkenwald, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Trans. Marie Borroff. New York: WW Norton & Co., 2011. 201-264. Print