Amanda's Paper

Amanda Hulsey
EN 620/ Atkinson
15 January 2008
The Allegory of Meed
In the second passus of Piers Plowman, the author introduces the allegorical character of Meed. The text relays that the meaning behind the name portrays numerous connotations throughout the verse and is a constant source of debate as to whether the name is classified as good or evil. The text glossary notes that the term “meed” means a “reward, recompense, the profit motive,” but the term can also include ideas such as “bribery, gift, just compensation, and heavenly salvation” (631). In this essay, I will provide examples that justify Meed as a representation of evil through her actions of dishonesty and bribery.
From the first description of Meed, Holy Church describes her as someone who has a background of dishonesty. She states that Meed has hurt her and criticized her husband, Lewte, to law officials. She also explains the deceitfulness of Meed’s father stating that he, “nevere soothe seide sithen he come to erthe,” meaning that he did not utter an honest word the entire time he was alive (II. 26). To add to the evidence of untruthfulness, Holy Church states that Meed is to be married to False Fickle-Tongue. Liar unites these two which shows that dishonesty reigns over the marriage (II. 41-44).
Conscience also attests to the dishonesty of Meed when he is called upon by the King to be her husband. He testifies “For she is tikil of hire taile, talwis of hir tonge” (II. 131). This statement suggests that she has a quick, or lying, tongue. He states that her deceitful tongue has influenced many young women to follow her example, and it also lures men into her bed and causes them to lose all of their belongings. Conscience continues to berate Meed as a false woman. He states “For she is favorable to the Fals and fouleth Trewthe ofte” (II. 154). For these insincere actions, Conscience refuses to marry Meed.
In addition to dishonesty, bribery floods the actions of Meed. In Will’s dream, he witnesses the marriage of Meed. He notes that many types of men gather to win her affections and the chance of being her husband. Of all the men present, she is enamored with Simony and Civil. The text associates Simony with, “buying and selling the functions, spiritual powers, or offices of the Church” and Civil with, “civil (as opposed to criminal) law, especially noted for its bribery and corruption in the later Middle Ages” (27). Her interest in these two men over the others displays Meed’s interest in these corrupt manners.
Meed continues her practice of bribery when she is taken to the King’s palace to find a husband. The King’s men show kindness to Meed and promise to protect her and she repays them by giving them each, “coupes of clene golde and coppis of silver” (III. 22). Subsequently, a friar enters and offers to resolve Meed of her sins and act as a liaison. For this care, she bestows the friar with a noble. She also asks the friar to forgive those who engrave their good deeds on the stained-glass church windows even though it is seen as an abomination of God. Meed promises the friar if he will forgive these people, she will provide him with monies to invest in the church. She vows “And I shal kevre yowre kirke, yowre cloystre do maken,/Wowes do whitten and wyndowes glasen” (III. 60-61). This promise includes a new cloister, white-washing of the church walls and a new roof for the church in exchange for his loyalty to her.
Even the extravagant dress of Meed contributes to the practice of bribery. Will places heavy focus on the dress Meed, and describes her attire in intricate details. Translated, Will notes
I looked on my left side as the lady told me/And was aware of a woman wonderfully dressed./ Her gown was faced with fur, the finest on earth;/ Crowned with a coronet-the king has none better./ Her fingers were filigreed fancifully with gold,/ And rich rubies on them, as red as hot coals,/ And diamonds most dear of cost, and two different kinds of sapphires,/ Pearls and precious water-stones to repel poisons./ Her robe was most rich, dyed with red-scarlet,/ With ribbons of red gold and with rich stones (II. 7-16).
The emphasis on the rich, extravagant clothing of Meed illustrates her desire for money and the benefits it provides for her in life.
Meed takes the opportunity to defend her actions to the King to try to prove that the vices she obtains are no worse than those of Conscience. She notes all of the positive, redeeming qualities she possesses. Being that only a small portion of the dream of Meed contains these honorable traits, one can see that the focus of the text is the deceitful qualities of this lady which are meant to be the dominant traits of this allegorical character.