John Ball 1381 Cast Off the Yoke of Bondage
About |
This speech was presented during a period of political unrest in England by a priest named John Ball. He lead the Peasant's Revolt, a major uprising in parts of England in 1381. He fought heavily against the government since the excommunicated him and made it forbidden for anyone to hear him preach. He rose up against this and the measure in fact increased his popularity and made his opinions more wide spread. This speech is perhaps one of the most well known and well preserved of his. The purpose of this speech was to motivate the public and preach the message against the social hierarchy and class systems.
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The Speech |
When Adam delved and Eve span, Who was then the gentleman? From the beginning all men by nature were created alike, and our bondage or servitude came in by the unjust oppression of naughty men. For if God would have had any bondmen from the beginning, he would have appointed who should be bond, and who free. And therefore I exhort you to consider that now the time is come, appointed to us by God, in which ye may ( if ye will ) cast off the yoke of bondage, and recover liberty.
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Analysis |
This speech is evidently not a poem, however it possesses many features alike to that of a poem. It uses the element of rhyme in the first sentence as Ball questions that back when their forefathers worked and lived, who had the upper hand? The language is very sophisticated and reflects that of the time, presenting us with a speech that radiates confidence and well thought-out points. Furthermore, the speech demonstrates Ball's talent for making sure that a message resonates soundly with the audience. For example, the whole speech helped provoke a revolt against the upper classes and the church because the peasants were unhappy with how they were being treated and the injustice served to them by the lords of manors.
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