Description: Drama class final exam research paper answering three questions based on the play Everyman. Paper goes into the dicussion of the cultural environment in which the play was written, discusses a major theme in the play, and includes my opinion of why this play should continued to be studied.
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1. A discussion of the cultural environment in which the play was written.
Everyman is known as one of the last surviving morality plays that falls into the genre of medieval drama. In fact there are “…four surviving versions of Everyman, two of them fragmentary” (Jokinen). The origins of the play are primary unknown as well as the author. There are however many speculations and estimated ideas to its birth. They play is said to have been written approximately near the end of the 15th century. Furthermore there are speculations that it is “…probably a translation from a Flemish play, Elckerlijk (or Elckerlyc) first printed in 1495, although there is a possibility that Everyman is the original, the Flemish play the translation” (Jokinen). Either way for the sake of this paper, the cultural environment researched was the late 15th century and early 16th century English era since that is what it is mostly identified with.
During the late 15th century and early 16th century in England there was a lot of death and despair, as well as wars and advances in weaponry were being made. But there was one event that stood out and really took its toll on all of England: the Black Death plague. The Black Death epidemic was going around England for at least three centuries and killed much of the population. This plague brought much despair and was considered unavoidable since there was no medicine that could cure or lessen this disease. Because of the fast spreading of this disease, regular common folk aided as doctors when they were clearly not trained in the field. Although there is no possible way of knowing now it is concluded that,
“…either the disease was such that no treatment was possible or the doctors were so ignorant that they did not know what caused it, and consequently could not administer the proper remedy. In any case very few recovered; most people died within about three days of the appearance of the tumors described above, most of them without any fever or other symptoms. The violence of this disease was such that the sick communicated it to the healthy that came near them, just as a fire catches anything dry or oily near it. And it even went further. To speak to or go near the sick brought infection and a common death to the living; and moreover, to touch the clothes or anything else the sick had touched or worn gave the disease to the person touching” (“The Black Death”).
With such devastation and fear about catching this disease it was only a matter of time before a society began to break. For those who were not carrying the disease there was no compassion towards those who were – no matter who they were.
People did everything and anything in their power to abandon or cease contact with the diseased. More troublesome was the fact how family members left each other to die, whether it was their brother, sister, uncle, or even father it did not matter. The worst-case scenario was when “…fathers and mothers refused to see and tend their children, as if they had not been theirs” (“The Black Death”). No matter whom they were, people of all social ranking including, were left without care and attendance. There were however some servants who for the right about of money would tend to the diseased.
“…most of them were coarse-minded men and women, who did little more than bring the sick what they asked for or watch over them when they were dying. And very often these servants lost their lives and their earnings. Since the sick were thus abandoned by neighbors, relatives and friends, while servants were scarce, a habit sprang up which had never been heard of before. Beautiful and noble women, when they fell sick, did not scruple to take a young or old man-servant, whoever he might be, and with no sort of shame, expose every part of their bodies to these men as if they had been women, for they were compelled by the necessity of their sickness to do so” (“The Black Death”).
The level of morality fell to an all time low during this era and thus the creation of Everyman perhaps can be said to have served as an eye opener. Even though it is impossible to know for sure, I firmly believe that this plague directly influenced the play. The events that took place during the plague (people abandoning each other and others helping each other for money) can be seen in the play. When Everyman finds out about the journey he has to take there is no one, except for Good Deeds, that will/can go on with him. During this time people were left without anything (no Kinship, Fellowship, or Goods) and thus had only their good deeds to depend on, which most people had none to fall back on.
2. A thematic analysis of the play.
Although there are numerous amounts of theme in Everyman the one that prevails most is the one of atonement. Atonement is after all the main purpose/point that the play has managed to get across. Atonement in the play is seen as Knowledge because in order for Everyman to atone for his sins he must first see the sees he has committed. It is only when Everyman is “… feeling most afraid and alone, he is given the opportunity to atone for his sins” (“Everyman Themes”). By acknowledging that he has been living a sinful life, so in other words, by having knowledge on his side Everyman is able to see what he has been doing wrong and is then able to go to confession. Knowledge is the most vital character in the play because without her Everyman would have never been forgiven by God.
It is when Knowledge enters the play she has the ability to change the feeling of despair into a rising feeling of joy. She basically stands for Everyman’s only hope to see the errors he has committed through his life. Knowledge being the principal belief of salvation has the ability to give Everyman a chance to begin his atonement. Prior to the entrance of Knowledge, Everyman believed all was lost and in his own damnation. His self-pity is not only not helping in his atonement but also making him blind to the true aid that is available to him. Upon the arrival of Knowledge she solely promises to accompany him in his journey thus the burden of having to be alone is lifted from Everyman’s shoulders. Obviously though in man’s journey to judgment day nothing can truly accompany him (besides good deeds) and so towards the end of his journey Knowledge must depart “…indicating that learning has only limited utility in saving one’s soul” (“Drama for Students”). Knowledge of his sins alone cannot save Everyman’s soul. But by having Knowledge on his side, she is able to lead Everyman to Confession.
In the play Confession “…represents an act he must go through to attain purification but also, since the parts of the sacrament are successive and cumulative, each stage carries him that much closer to Heaven” (Thomas). Knowledge and Confession go hand in hand because Everyman cannot get to “heaven” without having both. Confession is by far the finest chance for salvation that Everyman has. By agreeing to go to Confession, Everyman has shown that he has learned of and from his sins. Everyman now completely understands his separation from God and more or less asks for forgiveness. Knowledge helped Everyman see his sins but now he needs Confession to be able to help him do penance. Penance meaning working off sins committed; in other words Everyman must do some cleansing. Confession lets Everyman know he will help in anyway:
“I will comfort as well as I can, / And a precious jewel I will give thee, / Called penance, voider of adversity; / Therewith shall your body chastised be, / With abstinence and perseverance in God’s service. / Here shall you receive that scourge of me, / Which is penance strong that ye must endure, / To remember thy Savior was scourged for thee / With sharp scourges, and suffered it patiently; / So must thou, ere thou scape that painful pilgrimage. / Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, / And by that time Good Deeds will be with thee. / But in any wise be siker of mercy, / For you time draweth fast; and ye will saved be, / Ask God mercy, and he will grant truly”. (Crawley)
Confession advises Everyman every step of the way, and makes it clear that if he wants to be purified he must do penance. Confessions tells Everyman that in order to be forgiven he must suffer like their Savior did. He lets Everyman know that it does not matter how big his sins were as long as he wants and seeks forgiveness, then he shall be forgiven. God forgives all that ask for his forgiveness and so Everyman does not need to be worried. Confession assures Everyman that once he has done his penance Knowledge and Goods Deeds will accompany him. After doing penance Everyman has amended all his sins and can now go in his journey with peace of mind.
3. An answer to the following question: Why should people continue to read and discuss this play?
From the moment I read Everyman for a class over a year ago it has served to being one of my all time favorite plays. It is so simple and direct to the point but yet carries such a powerfully strong message. For that reason people should continue to read and discuss this play: because it teaches a lesson in life. It can serve to humanize people as well as remind people of the almighty thing called karma. The actions one do defines one – many people don’t realize that simple notion and thus are more or less corrupted. The good deed one does for others is what carries one and shapes our essentially being. No amount of money, power, or material possessions can buy a person into heaven – sort to speak – so it goes without saying that no amount of those things can make someone “good” in heart and soul. It is an amusing fact that even though when the play was written there weren’t as many material possessions as today it still carries the message. This play teaches how material possessions can condemn you rather than feel your essential being. This play effects everyman in this world: it transcends race, region, and social bearing. It has to be read and discussed for many years to come because it is rare that there is a play that everyone can relate to. The play is entitled Everyman for a reason after all – even people of all religion backgrounds can agree.
The story of Everyman is a story of morality; it teaches a lesson, a moral. No matter what time and place we are in, it is a safe assumption to say we all need a lesson in morality. The rate of crime is so high and it keeps rising with each passing day – why – it is because human beings have been come so engulfed in obtaining material possessions. What most people don’t understand – or want to understand – is that no matter how many material possessions they have or obtain, they will not make them happy. Happiness can only be obtained through good deeds, which is essential what the play teaches. Fun and good times (Fellowship) will not help any human being when it is time for judgment day. Not that there is anything wrong with having a good time, it is just not something one can depend on to help define them.
Works Citied
- Crawley, A.C., ed. Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays. Orion Group, 1993.
- “Drama for Students.” 7 (2000). Literature Resource Center. Everyman. London: Orion Group, 1956.
- “Everyman Themes.” <http://www.answers.com/topic/everyman-play-4>.
- Jokinen, Anniina. “Everyman.” Luminarium. 30 Apr. 1996. 13 June 2008 <http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/intro.htm>.
- “The Black Death.” EyeWitness to History. <http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com>.
- Thomas, Helen S. “The Meaning of the Character Knowledge in Everyman.” Winter 1960. Literature Resource Center.