Survey of Medieval Literature

Everyman

Everyman is a morality play, a genre with the purpose of showing the battle between good and evil for man's soul--and revealing the direction that man must take for salvation. Everyman is the most famous of the Medieval morality plays, and it explores the necessity of dissociating one's self from the transitory material world and approaching Death with a conscience cleaned by Confession. The earliest manuscript was printed in 1515, but it is believed that the story had Eastern origins.

The drama begins with God summoning Everyman to him through the messenger Death. The feared and powerful Death appearing as a servant to God in the opening scene makes it absolutely clear to the audience that God is in supreme command. When Death approaches Everyman and orders him to appear before God, Everyman does everything in his power to delay his inevitable judgment. "O Death," he cries, "thou comest when I had thee least in mind." He bribes Death with money and begs for more time to arrange his "accounts," but to no avail.

Death tells Everyman that whoever wishes to accompany him on his journey to God may do so, and Everyman immediately thinks on Fellowship. By chance, Fellowship happens to walking by and stops to greet Everyman. When he sees Everyman's sadness, he promises to do all he can to help his friend: "For, in faith, and thou go to hell, I will not forsake thee by the way!" But when Fellowship truly understands Everyman's plight, he cries off, unwilling to meet terror and doom though he promised his aid. Kindred and Cousin have the same response. Goods promises to cheer Everyman but then claims he cannot accompany him on his journey. Good Deeds speaks from the ground, telling Everyman he would gladly take the journey, but that he is too weak from lack of care. He sends Everyman to his sister, Knowledge.

Knowledge promises to guide Everyman on his journey. She first orders Everyman to seek Confession, to purify his soul. Confession awards him with Penance--a scourge to punish himself with. The patient suffering he undergoes gives strength to Good Deeds, who is able to rise and continue the journey with Everyman. Knowledge clothes Everyman in the garment of Contrition, an outfit without pride. Everyman calls his earthly virtues to finish his journey to the grave; Beauty, Strength, Discretion, and the Five Wits all promise to remain with him. Beauty turns back at the site of the grave, fearing decay. Strength, Discretion, and the Five Wits quickly follow. Knowledge tells Everyman that he will leave also when Everyman dies.

Forsaken by all but Good Deeds, Everyman enters his grave, praying for mercy from mighty God. Knowledge tells that Good Deeds will grant Everyman a place in heaven. The Doctor gives a summation of the play to the audience, pointing out that only Good Deeds would accompany Everyman to the grave, and that all else is folly.

In an allegory of the soul's approach to death, Everyman clearly explains the Church doctrine regarding the importance of the final sacrament and confession, as well as the need to disregard transitory attachments. The personification of such things as goods and beauty are striking--the utter lack of concern the other characters feel for Everyman's plight is moving.

The above image is a page from the manuscript of Everyman depicting Death's summoning. It can be found here.

posted by Ashley @ 11:07 AM