📚Middle English Literature Unit 5 – Langland's Piers Plowman: 14th Century Vision

Historical Context

• Written in the late 14th century during a time of social and religious upheaval in England
• Reflects the economic and social changes brought about by the Black Death (1348-1350) which decimated the population
• Composed during the reign of King Edward III (1327-1377) and the early years of King Richard II (1377-1399)
• Influenced by the teachings of John Wycliffe and the Lollard movement which criticized the wealth and corruption of the Catholic Church
• Set against the backdrop of the Hundred Years' War between England and France (1337-1453)
• Mirrors the social hierarchy and feudal system of medieval England with its distinct classes (nobility, clergy, and peasantry)
• Echoes the growing discontent among the peasantry leading to the Peasants' Revolt of 1381

Author Background

• Little is known about William Langland's personal life and background
• Believed to have been born around 1332 in the West Midlands region of England (Worcestershire or Herefordshire)
• Likely educated in a monastery or cathedral school given his knowledge of Latin and theology
• May have been a cleric or held a minor religious position based on his familiarity with church practices and teachings
• Possibly lived and worked in London for some time as evidenced by his descriptions of city life and characters
• Thought to have revised and expanded Piers Plowman throughout his life with at least three distinct versions (A-text, B-text, and C-text) surviving

Literary Form and Structure

• Written in Middle English alliterative verse a poetic form popular in medieval England
• Composed in a series of dream visions or allegorical dreams experienced by the narrator Will
• Divided into a prologue and twenty passus (steps or stages) each focusing on a different aspect of Will's spiritual journey
• Employs a complex narrative structure with multiple dream levels and allegorical characters representing abstract concepts (Conscience, Reason, Holy Church)
• Uses the dream vision framework to explore religious, social, and political issues of the time
• Incorporates elements of satire, social commentary, and religious instruction throughout the narrative
• Draws on a wide range of literary and religious sources including the Bible, church teachings, and classical literature

Key Themes and Allegories

• The search for truth and spiritual enlightenment as represented by Will's journey to find Do-Well, Do-Better, and Do-Best
• The corruption and failings of the Catholic Church as depicted through the characters of False, Lady Meed, and the Seven Deadly Sins
• The importance of honest labor and the dignity of the working class embodied by the figure of Piers the Plowman
• The need for social justice and reform in the face of inequality and oppression
• The path to salvation through faith, good works, and the guidance of the Holy Church
• The transitory nature of earthly life and the ultimate judgment of the soul in the afterlife
• The role of reason, conscience, and free will in shaping one's moral and spiritual destiny

Language and Style

• Composed in Middle English the vernacular language of 14th-century England
• Uses alliterative verse characterized by the repetition of initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables
• Employs a complex and dense poetic style with long lines, varied syntax, and rhetorical devices (metaphor, simile, personification)
• Incorporates Latin quotations and references to biblical and classical texts throughout the poem
  • Example: "Qui loquitur turpiloquium is Luciferes hyne" (He who speaks evil is Lucifer's servant)
• Reflects the influence of Old English poetry (Beowulf) and Middle English alliterative works (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight)
• Uses a mix of concrete imagery and abstract allegory to convey moral and spiritual truths
• Employs a range of linguistic registers from colloquial speech to elevated religious discourse
• Includes regional dialects and vocabulary specific to the West Midlands region of England

Characters and Symbolism

• Will the narrator and dreamer who represents the individual soul seeking truth and salvation
• Piers the Plowman a humble laborer who embodies the virtues of honesty, hard work, and Christian charity
  • Symbolizes the ideal of the simple, Christ-like life and the potential for spiritual redemption through faith and good works
• Holy Church the personification of the true Christian faith and the guide to spiritual truth
• Lady Meed a wealthy woman who represents the corrupting influence of money and worldly gain
• Conscience an allegorical figure who serves as Will's moral compass and inner voice
• Reason a personification of human intellect and the faculty of discernment
• The Seven Deadly Sins (Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Avarice, Gluttony, Lechery) allegorical characters who represent the vices and temptations that lead individuals astray
• The Three Lives (Do-Well, Do-Better, Do-Best) the stages of the Christian life and the path to spiritual perfection

Social and Religious Commentary

• Critiques the corruption and abuses of the Catholic Church including simony, nepotism, and the sale of indulgences
• Condemns the greed and hypocrisy of the clergy who prioritize worldly wealth over spiritual duties
• Exposes the social injustices and inequalities of medieval English society particularly the exploitation of the peasantry by the nobility and the church
• Advocates for the rights and dignity of the working class and the importance of honest labor
• Promotes the idea of a more egalitarian and communal society based on Christian values of charity, humility, and compassion
• Challenges the rigid social hierarchy and the belief in the divine right of kings and nobles
• Encourages individuals to seek spiritual truth and salvation through personal faith, moral living, and the guidance of the true church
• Reflects the growing religious dissent and the influence of reformist movements (Lollardy) in late medieval England

Legacy and Influence

• Considered one of the greatest works of Middle English literature and a masterpiece of medieval allegorical poetry
• Influenced later English writers including Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, and John Bunyan
• Helped to establish the dream vision genre as a major form of medieval literature
• Contributed to the development of vernacular English as a literary language distinct from Latin and French
• Provided a vivid and critical portrait of medieval English society and its social, political, and religious tensions
• Anticipated many of the ideas and concerns of the Protestant Reformation in its critique of church corruption and emphasis on individual faith
• Continues to be studied and admired for its complex poetic structure, rich symbolism, and enduring themes of spiritual quest and social justice
• Adapted into modern English translations, stage productions, and artistic works inspiring new generations of readers and scholars