The return of Kaym (Cain)
In Passus Eight, a priest refutes Plowman's pardon from Truthe, citing a line from the Bible that suggests that a pardon alone probably can't get you into heaven (~line 95). The priest explains that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell with no exceptions. This section made me wonder whether the narrator and/or the author believe in redemption and penance despite the Church's claim that there is no way to change one's placement in the afterlife. However, Wit turns this debate upside down when he says that everyone is born in sin.
Wit gives us some new genealogical information that we didn't see in the other bible readings: "Seth and his sister were spoused to Kaymes kyn" (118, line 161). Seth was supposed to replace Abel and continue his devotion to God, and many important Bible figures including Jesus descend from Seth. Now we know that even Seth's bloodline is tainted because it mixes with Cain's line from the start, and all of humanity descends from Cain. There is no doubt that Wit hates all of Cain's descendants because he quotes God saying he regrets creating humans (118, line 164). Wit goes on to claim that marry each other sinfully. Does this mean that it is sinful to create a relationship with another person, or that sin brings people together and is the foundation for human connections?
Wit gives us some new genealogical information that we didn't see in the other bible readings: "Seth and his sister were spoused to Kaymes kyn" (118, line 161). Seth was supposed to replace Abel and continue his devotion to God, and many important Bible figures including Jesus descend from Seth. Now we know that even Seth's bloodline is tainted because it mixes with Cain's line from the start, and all of humanity descends from Cain. There is no doubt that Wit hates all of Cain's descendants because he quotes God saying he regrets creating humans (118, line 164). Wit goes on to claim that marry each other sinfully. Does this mean that it is sinful to create a relationship with another person, or that sin brings people together and is the foundation for human connections?
I think sin is something that connects humankind. Although we are all flawed, Christianity emphasizes the fact that we all can be redeemed. There were definitely some mixed messages as to whether the narrator should strive to improve himself or just accept his fate, but I think this is trying to show that even if people say you can't move past your previous actions, keep improving yourself and work towards becoming a better person.
ReplyDelete