Piers plowman essay

Piers Plowman from the early-15th century manuscript in the National Library of Wales Piers Plowman is considered to be one of the most analytically challenging texts in Middle English textual criticism. There are 50–56 surviving manuscripts, some of which are fragmentary.

"Piers Plowman," which is also sometimes titled as "William's Vision of Piers Plowman," is a poem by English writer William Langland. The poem was written during the 1300s in Middle English, which was the form of English spoken in Great Britain after the Norman conquest of the British Isles.

At first Piers Plowman seems to be a simple peasant who knows the way to Truth. As the poem progresses, he is revealed to be at various points: a priest, Christ, and Peter, founder of the Church. Is Miss Money a purely evil character in the poem? No. She is complex, representing both bribery and just reward.

Conscience recounts the life and Passion of Christ and how Piers/Peter was given his power by Grace/Christ. Will finds out about Pentecost; once more sees Piers as a ploughman; and witnesses Pride attacking Unity/Holy Church. He wakes up and records his dream.