Skip to main content

Why did John Aycliffe have great power over the peasants in Crispin: Cross of Lead? How did he control their lives?

John Aycliffe had great power over the peasants because he was the steward of Stromford. In feudal England, a steward held a very important position; basically, in the absence of his lord, the steward was the de facto lord of the estate. He had the power to decide the fate of the villagers under his rule.


With Lord Furnival rumored to be dying, John Aycliffe's power was further reinforced by the Furnival family's need to...

John Aycliffe had great power over the peasants because he was the steward of Stromford. In feudal England, a steward held a very important position; basically, in the absence of his lord, the steward was the de facto lord of the estate. He had the power to decide the fate of the villagers under his rule.


With Lord Furnival rumored to be dying, John Aycliffe's power was further reinforced by the Furnival family's need to announce a trusted successor before other claimants came forward. With this in mind, John Aycliffe immediately declared Crispin a wolf's head: his goal was to prevent Crispin, the illegitimate son of Lord Furnival, from claiming the title of lord. Since John Aycliffe was steward, he could order the death of any villager without fear that he would be called to account for his actions.


The text tells us that John Aycliffe effectively controlled the peasants by meting out draconian punishments for the smallest infractions. As 'judge, jury, and willing executioner,' John Aycliffe ensured that the villagers lived in constant fear for their lives.




In the absence of Lord Furnival, he was in charge of the manor the laws and the peasants. To be caught in some small transgression - missing a day of work, speaking harshly of his rule, failing to attend Mass - brought an unforgiving penalty. It could be a whipping, a dipping of the ear, imprisonment or a cut-off hand. For poaching a stag, John the ale-maker's son was put to death on the commons gallows. As judge, jury and willing executioner, Aycliffe had but to give the word and the offender's life was forfeit. We all lived in fear of him.





Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more