A Blast from the Past
Now that I realized that there are chapter summaries in the front of the book to read in conjunction with the particular passus, everything makes a lot more sense. At first, I was a bit confused by Piers idea to bring in Hunger to torment the people in Passus Seven. I had immediately seen Piers as a humble man in the previous passus when he refused to take payment for his services, but then it was like he did a 180 degree turn in the next. He just didn't strike me as the kind of man to seek revenge on the people. I was definitely seeing some parallels between God/Jesus and Piers in the beginning of Passus Seven. When he stated, "I shall swynke and swete, and sowe for us bothe. And laboure for your love al my lyfe time. In covenaunt that thou kepe well holy cherch right."(Lines 26-28) This line just reminded me of Jesus working and ultimately giving his life so that people would believe in him and ultimately find redemption.
I also saw some parallels between Hunger and God as well. Not in the way he acted, but in the way the people acted toward him. By offering sacrifices of food to hunger, it reminded me of the offerings and the tithes people make towards God. I also saw a Cain & Abel reference within this passus. In Line 282, the narrator states, "Than were folk fayne, and fedde Hunger with the beste." It just reminded me of the debate between Cain and Abel, pre-murder of course, in which they debated over what kind of offering should be given to God. Abel contested that God should be given the best, just as Hunger was given.
I also saw some parallels between Hunger and God as well. Not in the way he acted, but in the way the people acted toward him. By offering sacrifices of food to hunger, it reminded me of the offerings and the tithes people make towards God. I also saw a Cain & Abel reference within this passus. In Line 282, the narrator states, "Than were folk fayne, and fedde Hunger with the beste." It just reminded me of the debate between Cain and Abel, pre-murder of course, in which they debated over what kind of offering should be given to God. Abel contested that God should be given the best, just as Hunger was given.
The summaries in the front of the book helped me too. I couldn't understand how Piers would go from being helpful to harmful.
ReplyDeleteI really like your analysis of how Piers sort of resembled God in Passus Seven, I didn't think of it that way, but now I see what you mean.
I like your thought on the resemblance between Hunger and God is manifested through people's reactions towards them and the reference to Genesis. It is very intriguing to think about it in this way.
ReplyDeleteThe summaries definitely helped me follow the plot during Passus 5-8 when we were introduced to many new characters that disappeared and reappeared between pages. Something that confused me was the fact that Hunger is supposed to represent a basic human instinct, yet he rejected the simple foods that many offered him. I am having a little trouble following your comparison of Hunger to God because he grabs and thrashes an innocent man's face and rejects offerings, but I did notice the same reference to Cain and Abel in the story.
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