One-line summary: Everyman is a thought-provoking allegorical play that explores the universal themes of life, death, and the pursuit of salvation through the journey of its protagonist.
The Journey Begins: Everyman’s Call to Account
Everyman, a morality play written in the late 15th century by an anonymous author, tells the story of a typical individual facing the inevitability of death and the consequences of their actions in life. The play opens with God, observing the sinful nature of mankind, deciding to send Death to summon Everyman to his final reckoning. Everyman, representing all of humanity, is suddenly confronted with the reality of his mortality and the need to account for his life’s deeds before God. Faced with this daunting task, Everyman seeks companionship and assistance from his friends, family, and worldly possessions, only to discover that they all abandon him in his hour of need.
The Journey Continues: The Search for Companionship
As Everyman embarks on his journey towards judgment, he encounters various allegorical characters who personify the virtues and vices that shape human existence. These characters, such as Fellowship, Kindred, Goods, and Knowledge, symbolize the different aspects of human life and the attachments that often distract individuals from their spiritual path. Everyman desperately seeks companionship and support from these characters, hoping they will accompany him on his journey to face God’s judgment. However, one by one, they all refuse to join him, citing their inability to accompany him beyond the grave. Everyman’s disillusionment grows as he realizes that his worldly relationships and possessions hold no value in the face of death.
The Journey’s End: Everyman’s Redemption
As Everyman faces the harsh reality of his solitude, he encounters the character of Good Deeds, who is weak and feeble due to Everyman’s neglect. Good Deeds, accompanied by her sister Knowledge, agrees to accompany Everyman to his final reckoning, representing the importance of repentance and righteous actions in achieving salvation. Everyman’s journey becomes a quest for redemption as he repents for his sins and seeks to strengthen his bond with Good Deeds. Together, they face the final judgment, where Everyman’s actions are weighed and his fate determined.
Throughout the play, Everyman serves as a representation of humanity’s struggle with mortality and the pursuit of spiritual salvation. The allegorical characters and their interactions highlight the transient nature of worldly attachments and the importance of cultivating virtuous deeds. Everyman’s journey serves as a reminder that in the face of death, one’s material possessions and relationships hold no value, and only the accumulation of good deeds can provide solace and salvation.
- Death is an inevitable part of life, and every individual must face their mortality.
- Worldly attachments and possessions are transient and hold no value in the face of death.
- Repentance and righteous actions are essential for achieving spiritual salvation.
“All earthly things is but vanity: Beauty, Strength, and Discretion do man forsake, Foolish friends and kinsmen that fair spake, All fleeth save Good Deeds, and that am I.”
In conclusion, Everyman is a timeless allegorical play that forces its audience to confront the universal themes of life, death, and the pursuit of salvation. Through the journey of its protagonist, Everyman, the play explores the transient nature of worldly attachments and emphasizes the importance of repentance and virtuous deeds in achieving spiritual redemption. It serves as a powerful reminder that in the face of death, one’s actions and relationships are what truly matter.
