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The King oversees the court case of Peace vs. Wrong and also deals with Lady Meed’s misbehavior. The King doesn’t abuse his power—he trusts Conscience and Reason’s input and is committed to keeping them as his advisors for his entire reign. The King represents an ideal ruler who makes thoughtful decisions based on Christian values.
King Quotes in Piers Plowman
The Piers Plowman quotes below are all either spoken by King or refer to King. 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:
).
Passus III Quotes
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.
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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
Passus IV Quotes
If he may make amends, let Bail manumit him
And put up pledges for his crimes and purchase recompense,
Amend that misdeed and be evermore the better.
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Explanation and Analysis:
In this passage, Wrong’s lawyer, Wisdom, attempts to persuade the King to allow Wrong to buy his way out of punishment for his charges of rape, murder, and theft. Wrong’s charges in the case of Peace versus Wrong are just about as severe as it gets, so it appears almost comical that Wisdom believes that money will “manumit him”—that is, free Wrong without further punishment. This moment gestures to the Medieval Church’s practice of distributing indulgences, which the Church decreed would decrease a person’s punishment in purgatory for his or her sins. Originally, indulgences were granted by the Pope in 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. Mole
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King Character Timeline in Piers Plowman
The timeline below shows where the character King appears in Piers Plowman. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Passus II
...before them. He warns Conscience of False and Favel’s impure intentions, and Conscience warns the King. The King promises to hang False and his companions for their evil intents and instructs...
(full context)
Passus III
The King decides that he will simply ask Meed which man she would like to marry, Truth...
(full context)
The King calls for Meed to be brought before him. When she arrives, he tells her that...
(full context)
...quests. In addition, meed is helpful for maintaining laws, helping beggars, and preserving peace. The King is thoroughly convinced by Lady Meed’s argument but allows Conscience the chance to respond.
(full context)
Passus IV
Sick of their fighting, the King orders Conscience to kiss Meed, but Conscience refuses to do so without permission from a...
(full context)
...them. Conscience and Reason arrive safely to court, where they are greeted warmly by the King.
(full context)
Before dealing with Meed and her marriage, the King must first oversee a legal case. A man named Peace accuses Wrong of three crimes—rape,...
(full context)
...render no mercy / While Meed maintains her mastery in the court of law.” The King is furious at Meed for almost interfering with the law with her bribery.
(full context)
When the King demands that Wrong face punishment for his crimes, Conscience warns him that unless the common...
(full context)
Passus V
...teach us: we’ll believe you the more.” Reason also has words of wisdom for the King, telling him to treat his people with love. Lastly, Reason addresses those who “seek Saint...
(full context)
