Justice and Mercy in Piers Plowman

<p>Originally published by 1984 <i>Justice and Mercy in Piers Plowman </i>provides a clear and informative introduction to the complexities of Langland’s Piers Plowman. It identifies Langland’s major concerns and shows in detail <i>passus</i> by<i> passus</i> how these are developed by him in the first part of the poem – the <i>Visio</i>. It offers a close reading of the text and draws parallels where relevant with other medieval writings. There is a final brief chapter on the <i>Vita </i>which outlines the chief ways in which the themes of justice mercy and law that have been followed through <i>Visio </i>continue to be of major importance in the rest of the poem. By concentrating on the philosophical core of the work the climate of thought in which Langland wrote and the thematic integrity of the poem as a whole the author makes a difficult but unique and fascinating poem more accessible. </p>