Sir Philip de la Vache
Philip de la Vache was the son of the wealthy landowner Richard de la Vache. He was known for his lavish hospitality. He was also involved in the British attempts to conquer Calais, a region of France directly across the English channel whose ownership was disputed for much of the Middle Ages. Between 1386 and 1389 he lost favor at court and was temporarily stripped of his positions there. However, he later regained the King’s approval.
In “Truth,” Philip is something of an absent presence. His situation seems to have inspired the poem, which advises its reader to abandon concerns with the highs and lows of court life in favor of God’s divine mercy. The poem suggests that he is preoccupied with gaining influence and power, when he should worry more about “ruling” himself and molding himself into a more virtuous person who God is more likely to reward with eternal life in heaven. However, the poem doesn’t bring up any details of his situation or personality, and its advice would apply equally well to any nobleman.
The Speaker
At first glance, the speaker of the poem seems a lot like Chaucer. He addresses his friend and advises him to focus on those parts of his life he can control and which will make him a better person, rather than destroying himself by attempting to change the inherently unpredictable and unjust world. However, this seems quite different from the man behind many of Chaucer’s other poems. Rather than ironical, humorous, and somewhat cynical, the speaker of ‘Truth” is earnest and religiously devout. This could be a result of Chaucer’s relationship with the poem’s addressee, or it could signal that Chaucer here is adopting a role—here, that of the pious and disciplined counselor—in order to make a more palatable poem.
