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The Life of a Wealthy Moralist
John Gower (c. 1330–1408) was a towering figure of the 14th century whose fame once rivaled that of Geoffrey Chaucer. Unlike many of his contemporaries who struggled financially, Gower hailed from a wealthy Kentish family. This financial independence allowed him to hold official posts in London and remain deeply involved in the political inner circles of the nobility.
He was a personal friend of King Henry IV, who rewarded Gower's loyalty and literary contributions with an annual gift of two casks of wine. In 1397, he married Agnes Groundolf, who cared for him through his final years. By 1400, Gower described himself as "old and blind," passing away in 1408. He is buried in Southwark Cathedral (formerly St. Mary Overie), where his tomb famously depicts him resting his head on his three greatest books.
Trilingual Mastery: French, Latin, and English
Gower’s most unique contribution to the Middle English period is his "Trilingual" status. He believed that to be a complete poet, one had to master the three literary languages of his day. His career is structured around three monumental works, each in a different language:
- 1. French: Speculum Meditantis (Mirour de l'Omme): Originally written in Anglo-Norman French, this work was lost for centuries until it was rediscovered in 1895. It is a massive manual of moral instruction, examining the battle between virtues and vices.
- 2. Latin: Vox Clamantis (The Voice of One Crying): (Asked in Exam) Modeled partly on the works of Ovid, this Latin masterpiece is a blistering social critique. Its most famous section deals directly with the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, which Gower viewed with horror and characterized as a nightmare of animalistic chaos.
- 3. English: Confessio Amantis (The Lover’s Confession): (Asked in Exam) His final major work, written in the native English tongue, shifted his focus from pure morality to the complexities of love.
Confessio Amantis: The English Masterpiece
Written at the request of King Richard II (who reportedly met Gower on a barge on the Thames and asked him to write "some new thing"), Confessio Amantis is a massive frame narrative containing over 30,000 lines.
The poem uses the framework of a lover (Amans) confessing his "sins" against love to Genius, the priest of Venus. Genius responds by telling a series of stories that explore the Seven Deadly Sins through the lens of romance and ethics. Unlike the rougher alliterative verse of Langland, Gower wrote in smooth, fluent octosyllabic couplets, providing a rhythmic stability that influenced future poets like Thomas Hoccleve and even William Shakespeare (who used Gower as the narrator in Pericles).
Reputation and the "Moral Gower"
Chaucer and Gower were close literary companions. In fact, Chaucer famously dedicated his masterpiece Troilus and Criseyde to "moral Gower." This title stuck, and Gower has been known as the "Moral Poet" ever since. While his fame declined after the 16th century—often seen as too "preachy" compared to Chaucer’s humor—the 20th century saw a massive revival of interest in Gower’s structured, ethical storytelling and his linguistic versatility.
Match the List Checkpoint
Vox Clamantis
The Latin poem modeled on Ovid that addresses the social upheaval of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt.
Confessio Amantis
The English masterpiece written in octosyllabic couplets that explores the Seven Deadly Sins.
Speculum Meditantis
The French manual of moral instruction that was lost for centuries and rediscovered in 1895.
Moral Gower
The famous nickname given to John Gower by Geoffrey Chaucer in his dedication of Troilus and Criseyde.
Active Recall: Check Your Mastery
- Q: Which specific historical event does Gower critique in his Latin work Vox Clamantis?
A: The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. - Q: At whose royal request did John Gower compose his English work Confessio Amantis?
A: King Richard II (later dedicated to Henry IV). - Q: What are the three languages John Gower wrote in to earn his reputation as a "trilingual poet"?
A: French, Latin, and English. - Q: In which 20th-century Shakespearean play does John Gower appear as a chorus/narrator?
A: Pericles, Prince of Tyre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Gower often overshadowed by Chaucer?
While Gower was technically proficient and more "consistent" than Chaucer, he lacked Chaucer's immense humor, psychological depth, and variety of characters. Gower remained a strictly "moral" poet, focused on instructing the soul through allegory. In contrast, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales felt more alive, messy, and human, which appeals more to modern readers.
What was Gower’s stance on the Peasants' Revolt?
In Vox Clamantis, Gower uses a "dream vision" to describe the revolt. He depicts the peasants not as suffering humans, but as animals (asses, oxen, flies) gone mad. As a member of the wealthy landed class, Gower was terrified by the breakdown of social order and used his poetry to beg the young King Richard II to restore divine and earthly justice.
What makes 'Confessio Amantis' unique for its time?
It is the first major long poem in English that successfully blends the "religion of love" (courtly love) with serious moral and ethical philosophy. By making a Priest (Genius) the storyteller, Gower suggests that the way we treat our lovers is a direct reflection of our moral character and our standing before God.
Did Gower and Chaucer ever have a falling out?
There is some minor scholarly debate about this. In later versions of Confessio Amantis, Gower removed a greeting to Chaucer, and in The Man of Law's Prologue, Chaucer seems to criticize some of Gower's choice of "immoral" stories (like incest). However, most historians believe they remained respectful colleagues and friends until Gower's death.
