Piers Plowman Passus 4-5
[good work on Peace! but do give us some line numbers for reference]
This section of Piers Plowman had some interesting developments, which I understood surprisingly well. The more middle English I read, the easier it seems to become. Or maybe I'm just misinterpreting all of it, guess I'll find out.
Anyway, here's what I think happened in passuses 4: the King demands that Mede and Conciens kiss, and Conciens refuses on the grounds that it would not be beneficial for any of them and Mede is corruptive and he doesn't want anything to do with her. the only way he will concede is if Resoun says that it is good, and so he goes off to get Resoun and bring him back to the palace.
In the meantime, Peace shows up at the place complaining about Wrong and all the injuries he has suffered because of him. He wants to see that Wrong is punished, until Mede says she'll repay him with gold for everything which Wrong ruined (crops, stolen animals, beaten workers, etc.), and then he's all on board the forgiveness train. More on that later. The King says that Mede can't bail Wrong out because then he won't learn his lesson, and they all doubt he will repent. Resoun seconds this argument, and the King declares that he wants Resoun to advise him always.
Now passus 5: the Dreamer wakes up and falls back asleep and he sees Conciens giving a sermon. Repentance echoes his sentiments, prompting Will to break down in tears and four of the seven deadly sins to give their confessions. The first is Envy, who is guilty of bringing down the repute of his neighbor by speaking slanderously behind his back, but acting genially to his face. He is jealous of his neighbor, whose good luck brings Envy discontent, and, true to his embodiment of Envy, says he wishes he could be sorry but it's not in his nature. Next is Covetyse, who readily admits that he knows his sins, and promises he will do better to come by money honestly. Then follows Gluttony, who didn't make it to the sermon or confession because he got distracted at the market on the way, drank a gallon of ale, and passed out for two days. Finally came Slouthe, who said he would leave his lazy ways and make an effort to come to church as much as a monk.
A sidenote/analysis/investigation into the character of Peace: His actions make complete sense in the context of his name. As he says after listing his complaints, "'And I am not so hardy onys for hym to loke" (A_4_46). He is unable to bring up his grievances to Wrong directly, because that would be confrontational, which is directly against his nature as Peace. However, he is being abused, and wants the issue solved while staying true to his morals. This is why he is so eager to forgive when Mede offers him gold: compensation is a peaceful solution to the problem that will not end in conflict. Peace totally forgets justice and is willing to overlook the injuries in the interest of avoiding conflict.
More on Envy: Envy says he can not by sorry, which makes sense, because he can only be envy. As he says, "'I am sory,' quod Envy, 'I am but selde other; / And that maketh me so mad, for I ne may me wedge'" (A_5_104-105). He can not repent or avenge himself because he is envy, all of his actions are out of envy, and he can not change. This is the same with Wrong; it is impossible for him to change his ways because change of actions would have to come through a change of identity, and that is not likely.
This section of Piers Plowman had some interesting developments, which I understood surprisingly well. The more middle English I read, the easier it seems to become. Or maybe I'm just misinterpreting all of it, guess I'll find out.
Anyway, here's what I think happened in passuses 4: the King demands that Mede and Conciens kiss, and Conciens refuses on the grounds that it would not be beneficial for any of them and Mede is corruptive and he doesn't want anything to do with her. the only way he will concede is if Resoun says that it is good, and so he goes off to get Resoun and bring him back to the palace.
In the meantime, Peace shows up at the place complaining about Wrong and all the injuries he has suffered because of him. He wants to see that Wrong is punished, until Mede says she'll repay him with gold for everything which Wrong ruined (crops, stolen animals, beaten workers, etc.), and then he's all on board the forgiveness train. More on that later. The King says that Mede can't bail Wrong out because then he won't learn his lesson, and they all doubt he will repent. Resoun seconds this argument, and the King declares that he wants Resoun to advise him always.
Now passus 5: the Dreamer wakes up and falls back asleep and he sees Conciens giving a sermon. Repentance echoes his sentiments, prompting Will to break down in tears and four of the seven deadly sins to give their confessions. The first is Envy, who is guilty of bringing down the repute of his neighbor by speaking slanderously behind his back, but acting genially to his face. He is jealous of his neighbor, whose good luck brings Envy discontent, and, true to his embodiment of Envy, says he wishes he could be sorry but it's not in his nature. Next is Covetyse, who readily admits that he knows his sins, and promises he will do better to come by money honestly. Then follows Gluttony, who didn't make it to the sermon or confession because he got distracted at the market on the way, drank a gallon of ale, and passed out for two days. Finally came Slouthe, who said he would leave his lazy ways and make an effort to come to church as much as a monk.
A sidenote/analysis/investigation into the character of Peace: His actions make complete sense in the context of his name. As he says after listing his complaints, "'And I am not so hardy onys for hym to loke" (A_4_46). He is unable to bring up his grievances to Wrong directly, because that would be confrontational, which is directly against his nature as Peace. However, he is being abused, and wants the issue solved while staying true to his morals. This is why he is so eager to forgive when Mede offers him gold: compensation is a peaceful solution to the problem that will not end in conflict. Peace totally forgets justice and is willing to overlook the injuries in the interest of avoiding conflict.
More on Envy: Envy says he can not by sorry, which makes sense, because he can only be envy. As he says, "'I am sory,' quod Envy, 'I am but selde other; / And that maketh me so mad, for I ne may me wedge'" (A_5_104-105). He can not repent or avenge himself because he is envy, all of his actions are out of envy, and he can not change. This is the same with Wrong; it is impossible for him to change his ways because change of actions would have to come through a change of identity, and that is not likely.
I think you're analysis of the text is pretty good and I think I like you're interpretation of Peace. It makes for him to want to avoid conflict, though there is stilll something to be said on the difference between peace and pacificity (don't know if that's a legit word, but I mean letting yourself get run over by other people for the sake of no conflict. I think there's a difference between peaceful people, and anti-conflict people.)
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that you describe the characters as being static, unable to change or act differently from the one role they are ascribed. I'm not sure that I completely agree with Envy's inability to act any other way besides jealous, as she is seeking innocence and purity from her sins. I am not sure if she will be successful in changing her characterization, but it seems she is definitely making an effort.
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