MovieChat Forums > The Green Knight (2021) Discussion > Old Woman in House with Alicia

Old Woman in House with Alicia

posted 3 years ago by bistritapcv (1661)
9 replies | jump to latest

Did they ever explain that old woman in the house who never spoke and was always blindfolded?
(I don't think it was Lady Justice)

[–] Ace_Spade (9388) 3 years ago

They didn't explain her, but she was one of the least strange things in that house, so who knows?

If she was literally there, she was probably the mother of the lady (or the lord), and was just living with them. It's equally possible that Gawain has conjured her in his mind, and only he sees her. She might, then, represent his guilt or his secrets and shames. Or, it's possible that she's meant to be a spirit of some kind - an angel or a god.

[–] brrrrStickem (64) 3 years ago

I don't remember where I read it and it was probably just someone's opinion even., but I thought I saw where the older lady was supposed to be Morgan le Fay.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

aka gawain's mother, right? (i'm not totally up on the poem or the folklore).

that's the interpretation i heard as well...that it was gawain's mother monitoring his quest.

i believe neither the lord or lady ever acknowledged her presence, so that would kinda support the idea that she was a spirit overseeing gawain.

[–] brrrrStickem (64) 3 years ago

No, that would not be Gawain's mom. Morgan is more perceived as a sorceress in modern times, but was more of a witch or fairy in past times. Here is the Wiki, for here linked. I guess I can see it fitting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_le_Fay

[–] Ace_Spade (9388) 3 years ago

On The Green Knight's Wikipedia page, it says that Gawain's mother is Morgan Le Fay. Liberties were taken with the original story, so it's possible.

But, I'm not sure where they got that from, since the credits just list her as "Mother". We do know that Gawain is Arthur's nephew, so it's possible. Compound that with the fact that Gawain's mother is involved in a creepy, magic ritual, and that might suggest that she is Morgan Le Fay.

All that said, I haven't seen this confirmed by the writer, so who knows?

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

right, i think that was what i heard someone say on one of the podcasts that i follow - that they made gawain's mother the sorceress.

she is shown doing some kind of ritual while the knights are all together. i believe the implication (this is all very fuzzy to me, even though i saw the movie twice) is that she summoned the green knight to test her son, because he was being such a cad.

that would support the idea that the old woman was her mother, checking in on her kid while on his quest.

[–] Ace_Spade (9388) 3 years ago

I think Wiki, et al, are correct: she's supposed to be Morgan, which adds an interesting dimension because Morgan's role in Arthurian myth shifts so often that she might be antagonist or helper, depending on the stance one takes.

Within the context of The Green Knight, I agree that she summoned the Knight to test her son and to try to change him from being a slothful lad, aimless, who noncommittally (is that a word?) beds whores and still is not a knight, into somebody with honour - maybe even a hero.

Is she the old woman? That I don't know. She could be, and having her be the "monitor" makes sense, but isn't she also the fox? The Lord of the Manor catches the fox. Did he perceive Morgan, too?

Or is the fox somebody/something else entirely?

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

good questions, that i am sure i don't know the answer to!

though i think we can say that the lord & the lady never acknowledged the old woman at all. they never looked at her, she was never introduced. so i'd say the movie wants us to think they don't perceive her.

[–] Ace_Spade (9388) 3 years ago

I think there are layers and layers to this movie that will take me months to pick apart. I'll definitely be watching it again some time to try and drink deeper.