William Langland (1332—1400)

Write a short note on William Langland.

Nothing can be definitely known about the life of William Langland. He was born about the year 1332. He lived in extreme poverty. He was a man of independent thoughts. He is famous for his book-Piers The Plowman. It provides us with an inner insight into the life of the people. Like the Canterbury Tales, Piers The Plowman has a prologue that describes how the author falls asleep on a May morning on the Malvern Hills. Piers The Plowman is a remarkable allegory; more concerned with religious, ethical, social and economical problems of his time. It was a social satire. Perhaps it was the first great English satire. His ethical point is distinct and indicates that man’s chief duty is to seek truth.

Truth, work and love are the central theme of this poem. His reformative enthusiasm is seen in this book. He was moral realistic. Piers The Plowman is a graphic picture of contemporary life and manners. It is a great satire on social and religious misinterpretation. It is a powerful allegory of human life and morality Langland is found to scold bitterly the lazy, the drunkard, the exploiter and the social cheat. The hero, Piers, symbolizes the moral living-a life of truth, action and love. The book bears the reformative zeal. Langland, reformative zeal is equally obvious in political, social and religious matters.