In a comparison of Steve Rogers, alias Captain America, and the devout pilgrim of William Langland\u2019s allegorical dream narrative, Piers Plowman<\/em>, it is clear that their values conflate on multiple levels. In this blog post, I will address three moral values. These values \u2014 drawn from the construction of Captain America and explained throughout The Virtues of Captain America: Modern-Day Lessons on Character from a World War II Superhero<\/a><\/em> by Mark White \u2014 are courage, responsibility, and humility.<\/p>\n While adherence to these values runs rampant throughout Piers Plowman<\/i>, I am especially concerned with Passus VIII. Throughout lines 19-111, \u201cPerkin the Plowman\u201d (l. 1) converses with a knight and instructs him in the art of courage in the face of temptation, responsibility to himself and those he serves, and exhibiting humility with all beings that he encounters. (It could also be said that Piers is instructing the knight on how to defend himself against such “super villains” as Covetousness, Sloth, and Hunger.)<\/p>\n Thus, Piers challenges the knight to remain virtuous in the face of temptation and highlights the internal courage necessary for the promotion of pure judgement.<\/p>\n \u2018Sikerliche, sire knyhte,\u2019 sayde Peris thenne, \u2018Certainly, sir knight,\u2019 said Piers then,![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/files\/2015\/04\/Lake_Douce104_f27r.jpg\")
<\/a>Covetousness. William Langland, Piers Plowman<\/i>; England, 1427; Oxford Bodleian MS Douce 104 fol. 27r.<\/h5>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/files\/2015\/04\/Lake_Douce104_f31r.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nSloth. William Langland, Piers Plowman<\/i>; England, 1427; Oxford, Bodleian MS Douce 104 fol. 31r.<\/h5>\n
\n\u2018Y shal swynke and swete and sowe for vs bothe,
\nAnd labory for tho thow louest al my lyf tyme,
\nIn couenant \u00feat thow kepe Holy Kerke and mysulue
\nFro wastores and fro wikked men \u00feat \u00feis world struyen;\u2019
\n\u2026
\n\u2018And a \u021dut a point,\u2019 quod Peres, \u2018Y preye \u021dow of more:
\nLoke \u021de tene no tenaunt but treuthe wol assente;
\nAnd when \u021de mersyen eny man, late mercy be taxor
\nAnd mekenesse thy mayster, maugre Mede chekes.
\nAnd thogh pore men profre \u021dow presentes and \u021dyftes,
\nNym him nat, and aunter thow mowe hit nauht deserue;
\nFor thou shalt \u021delden hit, so may be, or sumdel abuggen hit.
\nMisbede nat thy bondeman\u2014the bette may \u00feou spede;
\nThogh he be here thyn vnderlynge, in heuene, paraunter,
\nHe worth rather reseyued and reuerentloker sitte:\u2019
\n(Piers Plowman<\/i>, ed. A.V.C. Schmidt, C.VIII.23-43)<\/p>\n
\n\u2018I shall toil and sweat and sow for us both
\nAnd labor for those you love all my lifetime,
\nOn condition you protect Holy Church and me
\nFrom wasters and wicked men who spoil the world\u2019
\n\u2026
\n\u2018And still one point,\u2019 I ask of you further:
\nTry not to trouble any tenant unless Truth agrees
\nAnd when you fine any man let Mercy be assessor
\nAnd Meekness your master, despite Meed\u2019s moves
\nAnd though poor men offer you presents and gifts
\nDon\u2019t take them on the chance your not deserving
\nFor it may be you\u2019ll have to return them or pay for them dearly.
\nDon\u2019t hurt your bondman, you\u2019ll be better off;
\nThough he\u2019s your underling here, it may happen in heaven
\nHe\u2019ll be sooner received and more honorably seated.
\n(Economou pp. 70-71, ll. 19-44<\/a>)<\/i><\/p>\nHunger. William Langland, Piers Plowman<\/i>; England, 1427; Oxford, Bodleian MS Douce 104 fol. 38r.<\/h5>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/files\/2015\/04\/Lake_Douce104_f38r.jpg\")
<\/a>Ultimately, the values exhibited within this passage show that heroism does not necessarily mean that one has to be an Avenger or a devout pilgrim. Like Captain America, Piers is an advocate for the success of the common man, and their conflation proves that values and virtues can transcend both social classes and centuries.\u00a0 The character of Piers is manifest as a plowman instructing a knight, proving that even in the fourteenth century\u2014and like today\u2014virtues can be found among all social classes and depend more on personal integrity than anything else. Furthermore, as possibly the most celebrated \u201cknight\u201d today, Captain America proves that these values have not been lost, despite the six centuries separating his wars from those of the Piers\u2019 compatriot. Through the success of Captain America and the entire collective of the Avengers within pop culture today, it is clear that just as these values can transcend societal levels in Piers Plowman, so too can they transcend the centuries, remaining valuable to people throughout time, and even appearing in theaters today.<\/p>\n