Good Parliament and the Belling the Cat Fable in Piers Plowman
Poet involved
What happened
The Good Parliament of 1376, meeting in the twilight of Edward III's reign, witnessed an unprecedented attack by the Commons on corrupt royal courtiers, including the impeachment of several ministers. This assembly, a landmark in parliamentary history, introduced the office of Commons Speaker. The political turmoil and sense of failed reform deeply influenced the poet William Langland, who incorporated a version of the 'belling the cat' fable into the B-text of 'Piers Plowman' to allegorize the cowardice and failure of reform.
Literary impact
The Good Parliament provided direct inspiration for Langland's famous 'rat fable' in the prologue of 'Piers Plowman' (B-text), where rodents debate how to restrain a predatory cat. The fable, likely influenced by a sermon from Thomas Brinton, reflects Langland's disillusionment with parliament's inability to enact meaningful change. This topical engagement makes 'Piers Plowman' one of the most politically attuned poems of the era, influencing the later 'Piers Plowman tradition' and social protest poetry.
Source: DeepDyve
