Dowel, Dobet, Dobest?
In Passus Nine, Piers Plowman
begins searching for the allegorical characters Dowel, Dobett, and Dobest
because Truth tells him that “but Dowel you helpe” (Passus 8, Line 178) which
means that unless Dowel helps him by giving instructions, Piers would sin. Therefore, Piers actively
looks for Dowel in hope of understanding who and where he is. There are some
descriptions about the three characters in Passus Nine where Thought tells
Piers that Dowel is “trusty of his taylende, taketh but his own, and is not
drunklew ne deynous” (Line 75). So Dowel is characterized as self-sufficient,
humble, and trustworthy. Then Dobet is better than Dowel as in he not only
depends on himself, but also acts selflessly by giving away his fruits of
labour to people in need (Line 79). However, I am not sure about Dobest. I
think Thought is saying that Dobest in the most moral one among these three
because he devotes himself fully into religious life and is supported by the
King.
If Dowel, Dobet, and Dobest
represent three different levels of devotion to faith and religion, and assume
that Dobest is the most desirable one, then why Truth only asked Piers to find
Dowel in the first place? Is it because in order to obtain pardon, Truth knows
that Piers should start from the very basics so that he can perfect himself and
become a better man progressively?
I believe that Truth does believe that Dowel is the starting place for everyone, and that by sending him there, the narrator will find the start to a better life. However, I believe the highest level that Truth refers to, Dobest, is actually the kind of person who hunts down wicked, as the passage states that he drives away the evil that can plague the lower forms of good. He not only gives to those need it, but allows a system where they can thrive. Another interesting thing to note is that none of them really have anything to do with the bible, perhaps suggesting that being good and being a holy man are not inherently the same thing. This is supported later when Scripture says even heathens can go to heaven.
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