Theme Wynnere and Wastoure

edward iii (left) , black prince, 14th-century depiction. edward portrayed in wynnere , wastoure, while has been suggested (by israel gollancz) herald in poem can identified black prince.

wandering himself, poet lies down hawthorn tree , has dream vision, sweven (46), in sees 2 opposing armies, , gold , red pavilion raised on top of hill (rather in manner of tournament). inside pavilion richly-dressed, brown-bearded king, has been firmly identified edward iii of england. 1 army led wynnere, figure representing monetary gain , financial prudence; other wastoure, figure representing prodigality , excess. king, after sending herald intervene between 2 armies (105), agrees listen wynnere , wastoure s complaints against each other , give judgement on them.

there follows lengthy debate between wynnere , wastoure, each giving complex arguments against other , effects on society of principles represent. @ end, king gives judgement, though poem breaks off, @ line 503, before has been completed. appears endorse elements of both wynnere s sparing , wastoure s spending, though poem seems condemn both viewpoints unbalanced, selfish, , leading inequality , social abuses. seems poem forms sophisticated comment on pressures facing king , on principles of governance, additional satire directed against rising merchant class in person of wynnere. though subject feudal economy, poet s themes moralistic.

the poem within both strong mediaeval tradition of poetic debate, in 2 opposing positions argued, , within tradition of dream vision , in narrator falls asleep , witnesses event allegorical character (such in several of geoffrey chaucer s poems, or in piers plowman). has in common genre of chanson d aventure, in solitary, wandering poet overhears complaint or debate. wynnere , wastoure has form of relationship piers plowman tradition. critics, such john burrow, have argued langland influenced wynnere , wastoure, perhaps deliberately diluted style make more accessible southern readers.