Jaime's paper

Jaime McMeans
EN 620/Dr. Atkinson
16 January 2008
The Ladies of Good and Evil

In William Langland’s Piers Plowman, Lady Meed seems to represent evil and all that keeps man from living a life of virtue. In contrast to her, Holy Church encompasses goodness and wisdom that all men should emulate. As the Dreamer encounters these two women, the reader is led to wonder whether these obvious, outward roles represent the true character that lies beneath the surface.
The first lady that the Dreamer becomes acquainted with is Holy Church. She appears to him and begins to explicate the strange dream that the man has been experiencing. She points out right from wrong and insists that the Dreamer pay heed to her words. In doing so, this character represents authority, such as the church, and its persistence in governing the lives of its members. For every action, there is an explanation and a reason why the follower should be for or against what has taken place. Holy Church quickly speaks of the three necessities that man should strive to balance in his life. She states, “Arne none nedful but tho, and nempne hem I thinke. / […] That one is vesture from chele the to save; / [That other is] mete atte mele for myseise of thiselve, / And drynke whan thow dryest" (I.21-5). Again, Holy Church is presenting her ideas as the law that men should follow and fully expecting the Dreamer to obey her commands. Through her knowledge of all of the “good” in life and her willingness to share it with others, Holy Church is seen as a positive influence on the Dreamer.
Later, the Dreamer seems to question the validity of Holy Church, as he is yet to know her identity. He says, “Thanne had I wonder in my witt what woman it were / That such wise wordes of Holy Writ shewed, / And asked hir on the hieghe name, ar heo thennes yeode, / What she were witterli that wised me so faire” (I.71-4). She then introduces herself as Holy Church, and the Dreamer immediately repents and seeks her knowledge for further guidance in the ways of his life. Here is where critic C. David Benson begins to find fault in Holy Church’s disposition. He states, “The ultimate message of Holy Church is the love and mercy of Christ, but, not unlike the real Church, her tone can be harsh and her emphasis is often on the negative power of sin. […] Holy Church tells the Dreamer what he should do, but not how he can go about accomplishing it” (196). The Dreamer discovers no true help in this character, and at times, even fears her.
Soon afterward, the Dreamer struggles to determine how he is to use this overwhelming knowledge bestowed upon him by Holy Church. He questions his own ability to differentiate between the good and evil that he faces in life. He states, “’Yet have I no kynde knowing, […] yet mote ye kenne me better / By what craft in my corps it comseth and where’” (I.138-9). The manner in which she responds seems completely out of character for one who presents herself as so good and kind. Holy Church states, “’Thow doted daffe […] dulle arne thi wittes: / To litel Latyn thow lernedest, lede, in thi youthe’” (I.140-141). Her scolding here damages her reputation with the reader, and she further complicates her image when she leaves the Dreamer to fend for himself against those she considers evil without ever truly telling him how to deal with such a situation. Benson states, “Her role is that of a strict, chiding mother” (195). She may know what is best for the Dreamer, but she frightens him and seems to reprimand him more than using her valuable knowledge to teach him how to battle the evil in his life.
In complete contrast to Holy Church is Lady Meed. From the beginning of Passus I, the reader is led to view Lady Meed as the epitome of tribulation. As soon as the Dreamer catches a glimpse of Lady Meed, he is enraptured by her appearance, but Holy Church is quick to point out various negative traits that accompany Lady Meed. She states, “’That is Meed the maid who has harmed me very often’” (II.20). She mentions lies and ill-fated manners as well as the numerous sexual sins that Meed commits on a seemingly regular basis. To further prove her point, Holy Church informs the Dreamer that Meed is soon to be married to False Fickle-Tongue. This further implicates Meed as a questionable woman. As a warning to him, Holy Church says to the Dreamer, “Don’t let your conscience be overcome by coveting Meed” (II.51). Holy Church presents Meed as nothing more than a common whore who brings destruction upon all of the lives she touches.
However, Meed becomes a quite complicated figure to assess when considering her concern for others. While her obvious flaws lead the reader to judge her harshly, Benson feels that Lady Meed’s actions reveal a surprisingly redeemable character. Though her wrongs are many, Lady Meed is still an incredibly kind woman. She begs the Friar to have mercy on several different individuals, and, in return, she promises to supply the funds for improvements to the church. While still an act of bribery, Meed is attempting to make a better way for others. Benson states, “Meed is trying to buy a way out for the wicked from the consequences of their sins. But what Meed does for lecherous folk with money is exactly what Christ has done for all mankind with his life. He has bought us, paid for our sins through death, and Langland reminds us of the payment throughout the poem” (198). Whether the reader agrees with her method, the meaning behind her actions stems from the goodness of wanting to help those who cannot help themselves.
Benson quotes, “The allegory of Meed and Holy Church is a dynamic one, each figure is much more than merely the equal and opposite of the other, and neither is quite what she seems on the surface” (195). There is no doubt that Holy Church is meant to represent good and that Meed is meant to represent evil. However, the characteristics of each of the women can at times be mirrored in the other. It is very likely that Langland meant for his readers to look beyond the obvious and to truly see the characters for all the good and bad that each possesses.





















Works Cited
Benson, C. David. “The Function of Lady Meed in ‘Piers Plowman.’” 193-205. Literature
Resource Center. Tanner High School Lib., Tanner, AL. 14 January 2008.
Langland, William. Piers Plowman. New York: Norton, 2006.