Analysis of the Play "Everyman"

Introduction

The play is a superior and engaging knockabout farce, but it loses a few strands along the way. Why Vince is perpetually pursued by Stephen Fletcher's twitchy accountant is not apparent. In addition, Frank's romance with Michelle Butterly's Maureen felt shoehorned. Musical interludes don't always work, while numerous characters played by David Carlyle are, while well-played, simply irritating and smack of the tiresome 'scousey play' genre.

The morality play, Everyman, found in, Norton Anthology of English Literature, teaches Christians how they can save their souls after death. It is an interesting play that engages the reader in a series of events one may think when death has beckoned. Christians often believe, “Adam's sin must die of nature” and believers feel they must repent and ask for forgiveness and then their souls are saved. This play is relevant for the twenty-first century, because people still believe in a higher being and still look for answers when death calls. Even the non-believers have been known to look for peace and redemption on their death bed, with or without the religious process (Cohan, p. 20).

Discussion

In many religions, there is places of afterlife in which you stride to get to once you leave your earthly being; this place is known as Heaven in the Christian faith. Heaven is described as the holiest place a person can go; its entrance is marked with pearly gates and you are greeted by St. Peter into the cloud filled sanctuary where God dwells and angels fly freely. How exactly does a person gain access to such a divine place as Heaven? What happens if a person loses sight of God's intent for man? In the 15th century, play, Everyman, God calls onto Everyman to seek out these answers for He fears man has lost sight. With a deeper look, into symbolism, and good deeds it explains the religious meaning within the play, Everyman.Author's Perception of Death and Treatment of Death

The play is marked by Everyman's journey to find someone to go to Heaven with him. In the Catholic faith, this is known as Viaticum, a form of Eucharist or communion. Viaticum is Latin for “provisions for a journey”. Provisions for a journey are given to those who may be facing death or who are dying. This rite prepares a person to receive eternal life from God, and gives them the confidence to go before Him. Everyman's journey symbolized the trials and tribulations a person must overcome before they can reach heaven. If Everyman had not been given this journey he would not have grasped the understanding of how God plays a role in each person's life. Every person is allowed the following to prepare themselves for the afterlife and going before God: Baptism, confirmation, penance, extreme unction, Eucharist, prayers, and virtuous deeds. When Everyman gives his testament, Knowledge advises him to seek out priesthood, it is after this that Five-Wits explain the purpose of him going (Garvey, pp 45-78).

In the play Everyman, death is personified and treated as an agent of God that goes to visit the plays protagonist, Everyman. The unknown author ...