Conscience Character Analysis in Piers Plowman

Conscience is first introduced as the knight whom the King wants Meed to marry. Later, Conscience becomes one of Will’s most important and most enduring teachers, appearing in the majority of Will’s dreams. Conscience proves himself a friend to Patience and Reason, the target of Pride and Antichrist, and a faithful follower of Piers Plowman. Although he is initially a teacher figure advising Will on his quests, Conscience eventually becomes the pilgrim, vowing to wander the world until he finds Piers Plowman—the only person who can save the Christian community.

Conscience Quotes in Piers Plowman

The Piers Plowman quotes below are all either spoken by Conscience or refer to Conscience. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

She makes men misbehave many score times.
In trust of her treasures she troubles a great many.
…Poisoned popes, impaired Holy Church.
…She’s as common as the cartway to comers and goers,
To monks, to messengers, to leper-men in hedges.

Related Characters: Conscience (speaker), Meed, King

Page Number and Citation: 43

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, a knight named Conscience explains to the King why Meed is evil, and consequently, why Conscience refuses to marry her. As an allegorical character, Meed represents gifts and rewards, which may sound innocent or even charitable. However, Conscience highlights that in practice, such rewards are actually bribes. He blames Meed for weakening Holy Church (who represents a perfect, pure Christian Church untouched by humans), and for poisoning several popes. These accusations reveal a belief that corruption in the form of bribery is destroying the Church. The idea of corruption among the clergy, especially as it relates to bribery and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque err

…Contrition may
be used
To scrape your coat clean of all kinds of filth.
…Do-Well will wash it and wring it with a wise confessor.
…Do-Better will scrub it and scour it…
…And then send you to Satisfaction, to let the sun bleach it.
…Do-Best will keep it clean from unkind deeds.

Related Characters: Conscience (speaker), Hawkin, Do-Well, Do-Better, Do-Best

Page Number and Citation: 225

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, Conscience explains to Hawkin how he can clean his coat effectively. As Hawkin explicitly states earlier in the poem, his coat represents the Christian life, and the stains are visual reminders of his constant sins. Conscience’s method for cleaning the coat of its stains (that is, cleaning the Christian life of sin) draws on the sacrament of penance, which is comprised of three parts: contrition, confession, and satisfaction. Contrition means genuine guilt for one’s sins, so Hawkin must truly be remorseful for the wrongs he has committed. Contrition is the first step in penance and is the first step Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam con

Surely you know…
That knight, king, conqueror can be one person.
To be named a knight is fair, for men shall kneel to him.
To be called a king is fairer, for he can make knights;
But to be called a conqueror, that comes by special grace,
…To make lads lords of the lands he wins
And foul slaves of free men who will not follow his laws.

Related Characters: Conscience (speaker), Christ / Jesus, Will

Page Number and Citation: 325

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Conscience responds to Will’s question regarding if the man who looks like Piers Plowman, but is bloody and carrying the Cross, is actually Piers or Jesus. Conscience’s explanation of Christ outlines many of Christ’s attributes. Like an ideal knight, Jesus is moral, worthy of respect, and is committed to protecting the people. Like an ideal king, Jesus is powerful, just, and cares for his people. Like an ideal conqueror, Jesus creates order. Lastly, like a simple plowman, Jesus is humble, approachable, and works alongside his people. In addition, by depicting Christs as “knight, king, [and] conqueror” who Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nis

This Jesus…when he was just a boy,
Turned water into wine, as holy words relate.
And there God of his grace began to Do-Well.
…And when he’d grown more mature…
…fed with two fishes and with five loaves
Near-famished folk, more than five thousand.
Then he comforted those full of care and acquired a greater name
Which was Do-Better...

Related Characters: Conscience (speaker), Will, Christ / Jesus, Do-Best, Do-Better, Do-Well

Page Number and Citation: 329

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Conscience explains to Will how Do-Well and Do-Better manifested in Jesus’ life and ministry. Conscience says that Jesus “began to Do-Well” when he “Turned water into wine,” which refers to Jesus’ very first miracle, performed at a wedding at Cana. The event is described in the Bible John 2:1-11 and also alludes to wine as the blood of Christ in the Eucharist. When Jesus’ miracles were performed on a larger scale and directly helped people—like when he fed a crowd of five thousand people with two fish and five loaves of bread—he began to Do-Better. Like many Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Volupt

He lies drowned in dream…and so do many
others.
The Friar with his physic has enchanted the folk here,
And given them a drugged drink: they dread no sin.

Related Characters: Peace (speaker), Conscience, Contrition, Friar Flatterer

Page Number and Citation: 363

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, Peace responds to Conscience’s call for his cousin, Contrition, explaining that Friar Flatterer has drugged the Christian community. The significance in this passage is that Contrition has been drugged and now exists in a dazed, lifeless state—meaning that in the Christian community, people no longer feel sincere guilt for their sins, despite contrition being a crucial element to the sacrament of penance. The fact that it is Friar Flatterer who administers this “drugged drink” clearly points to the clergy as being the source of this moral lapse, as they lead astray those who depend on their religious guidance. The Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error

…I will become a pilgrim,
…To seek Piers the Plowman, who might expunge Pride,
And see that friars had funds who flatter for need
And contradict me, Conscience; now Kind avenge me,
And send me heart and health till I have Piers the Plowman.

Related Characters: Conscience (speaker), Piers Plowman, Kind, Friar Flatterer

Page Number and Citation: 363

Explanation and Analysis:

This passage makes up the last few lines of the poem, when Conscience, distraught by the corruption that has destroyed Unity (the Christian community) vows to find Piers Plowman. Throughout the poem, Conscience comes to represent both one’s integrity (the modern-day word, conscience) and one’s awareness (consciousness). The significance of this is that Conscience is the only one who has the awareness that the Christian community is falling apart, as well as the ethical understanding that the state of the Christian community is sinful and dangerous. This ending is actually hopeful and empowering, because Conscience remains untouched by Friar Flatterer’s Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum

Conscience Character Timeline in Piers Plowman

The timeline below shows where the character Conscience appears in Piers Plowman. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...to marry Truth. Theology declares that Meed and False must go to London to ask Conscience in front of a court of law for permission to wed. Upon hearing this, False... (full context)

...Along the way, Soothness passes the group and arrives at court before them. He warns Conscience of False and Favel’s impure intentions, and Conscience warns the King. The King promises to... (full context)

...False, but that he forgives her. He asks if she will take a knight named Conscience as her husband instead. Meed readily agrees. However, when Conscience is called in and is... (full context)

Contesting Conscience’s charges, Meed argues that gifts are a good thing. By giving meed (rewards), a king... (full context)

Conscience explains that there are two types of meed— rewards given from God to those who... (full context)

Quoting the Bible, Meed retaliates by reciting, “He will acquire honor who gives gifts.” Conscience is quick to point out that Meed has intentionally left out the second half of... (full context)

Sick of their fighting, the King orders Conscience to kiss Meed, but Conscience refuses to do so without permission from a man named... (full context)

...follow behind closely. They, too, are headed to court but “to be charged of suits.” Conscience knows that Wisdom and Wit are greedy and potentially dangerous men, so he warns Reason... (full context)

...A man named Peace accuses Wrong of three crimes—rape, theft, and murder. With help from Conscience, the King knows that Peace is being honest and that Wrong is “a wicked wretch.”... (full context)

Social Hierarchy, Community, and Selfishness Theme Icon

When the King demands that Wrong face punishment for his crimes, Conscience warns him that unless the common people are obedient, “It’s very hard…actually to effect this.”... (full context)

Conscience appears to Will in another dream and invites him to a dinner with Clergy, Scripture,... (full context)

...is none leftover for Will and his companions. Gesturing to Patience to keep Will quiet, Conscience asks the Master to continue explaining Do-Well and Do-Better. The Master continues, saying that Do-Well... (full context)

Conscience asks their other dinner companion, Clergy, to put in his two cents about Do-Well. Clergy... (full context)

...two kings. He calls Patience a liar, but is unsurprised, “for pilgrims often lie.” Angered, Conscience declares that he will become a pilgrim like Patience in order to experience and learn... (full context)

...“sobriety and sincere speech and steadfast belief.” Not long after embarking on their journey, Patience, Conscience, and Will come across a wafer-seller named Hawkin, or Activa Vita. Hawkin’s coat is splattered... (full context)

...he still can’t manage to keep the coat clean for more than a few moments. Conscience explains to him that contrition will “scrape your coat clean,” “Do-Well will wash it and... (full context)

...dream, he sees Piers Plowman coated in blood, carrying a cross. Will calls out to Conscience to ask if the man before him is Jesus or Piers Plowman. Conscience appears and... (full context)

Will asks why Conscience refers to him as Christ, not Jesus. Conscience says that Will should already know “That... (full context)

Conscience explains that when Jesus turned water into wine, he began to Do-Well. When he fed... (full context)

Grace counsels Piers Plowman and Conscience to gather up the common people so that Grace can distribute among them “Treasure to... (full context)

...the entire earth. Seeing his chance, Pride gathers his followers and prepares them to attack Conscience, the Christian community, and the cardinal virtues. He instructs his followers to, “Blow them down... (full context)

Conscience tells the Christians to take refuge in Unity, since the group isn’t strong enough to... (full context)

...plants Guile in its place. Antichrist develops a large following, including many friars. Once again, Conscience calls out to the Christian community to take refuge in Unity. Conscience tells the people... (full context)

Despite the momentary peace, Fortune, Lechery, Covetousness, and Simony resume their attack on Conscience and Unity. Simony talks the pope into appointing bishops who are allies of Antichrist. (full context)

...giants,” and hundreds of “Proud priests” dressed as soldiers and carrying large knives. In desperation, Conscience cries out to Clergy for help, saying, “…I’ll fall / Because of imperfect priests and... (full context)

Hypocrisy wounds many of the Christians, so Conscience calls for a doctor, who gives the patients “a sharp salve” and makes them do... (full context)

Conscience welcomes Friar Flatterer and asks him to heal his cousin, Contrition. Friar Flatterer promises to... (full context)

Conscience vows to become a pilgrim and search for Piers Plowman, for he is the only... (full context)

Conscience Character Analysis

Conscience Quotes in Piers Plowman

Passus III Quotes

Passus XIV Quotes

Passus XIX Quotes

Passus XX Quotes

Conscience Character Timeline in Piers Plowman