Reflections drawn upon the reading of the play ‘Everyman’ as far as the issue of Death is concerned– Analysis and Presentation in detail of the author’s perception of Death and the treatment of the issue of Death on his behalf in the play ‘Everyman’
[The author’s name]
This research paper is to present you with the reflections drawn upon the reading of the play ‘Everyman’ in terms of the way Death is treated in this play on behalf of his author. The mentality of the author concerning the issue of Death as depicted in this particular play of his is to be presented and analyzed in detail. Since the author of the play is still anonymous nowadays, the analysis of the way Death is presented in this play will be mainly based on the context of the play in combination with the wider social and cultural background within which this play was written. The sociohistorical context of the period in which the play was written will be taken into consideration so that a detailed and full presentation of the topic of this research paper can be achieved. The presentation of the treatment of Death in the play ‘Everyman’ will be rationally justified according to the plot and context of the play. A comparison will be drawn between the treatment of Death in that period and the treatment of Death nowadays. The research paper will conclude in finding possible similarities between the way Death was treated then and the way it is treated now. Reflections will be drawn upon the power of the effect this play holds nowadays in terms of its context and its way of treating the issue of Death. Since Death has always been an issue generating lots of heated debates, it is interesting to explore the way such a play can contribute to the evolution of nowadays’ debates.
Reflections drawn upon the reading of the play ‘Everyman’ as far as the issue of Death is concerned– Analysis and Presentation in detail of the author’s perception of Death and the treatment of the issue of Death on his behalf in the play ‘Everyman’
‘Everyman’ is a play which was written during the Renaissance years. It is a written piece of work belonging in the late 15th century which is a period of time characterized by a constant and ongoing conflict between the mentality and culture of the medieval years which were left behind and the new, arising mentality and ideology of the spiritual and wider cultural movement of Renaissance.
It is important for one to keep in mind the main characteristics of each one of these opposing movements before moving on to any analysis and interpretation of any kind concerning any written work. Since literary production has always been a kind of portrait of the period in which it was produced, it is easily understood that there can be no interpretation or analysis of any kind of literary work unless the wider sociohistorical context within which it was produced is taken into consideration. As a result, ‘Everyman’ can be treated as a lighthouse showing the way to the new arising mentality and philosophical ideas generated by the movement of Renaissance. Renaissance was part of the wider spiritual movement of Enlightenment. People had started rejecting old status and traditional ideas and had begun widening their horizons and daring to think in innovative ways, free of hesitations and fears. Therefore, Death and all the fear which had been accompanying it as a phenomenon, had started being treated as a natural situation, which simply signifies the ending of mortality and may probably mean the beginning of something else. Beliefs and ideas concerning the continuance of life in other forms, skepticism even on the belief of eternity of human life, new religions concerning reincarnation, rejection of religious beliefs as far as hell and severe punishment after death were concerned, nihilism as a new philosophical trend, have been some of the major spiritual changes – to name but a few – which came along with the birth of Renaissance. As a result, the treatment of Death went through a variety of attitudes and beliefs. Irony, criticism against traditional beliefs, awakening question seeking for the real truth were the immediate results in terms of people’s behaviors and ways of thinking. ‘Everyman’ is a play which depicts all these changes.
The anonymous writer of the play appears to have adopted the new arising philosophy of life. He appears to hold an intense irony towards Death itself and all the beliefs concerning Death. The main thematic core of the play and the message the writer appears to wish to put across is that people ought not to be afraid of Death or on the other hand hold indifference towards it. The writer of the play seems to believe that Death is a very important social and philosophical issue which affects beyond any shadow of a doubt people’s lives. But the author seems to wish to focus on the fact that the effect of Death on people’s lives lies in their own hands. There are no magic apocalypses revealing the mystery of Death. Death certainly exists. What is born ultimately reaches its ending and dies. But no fear or ignorance ought to be allowed to cover the mystery of death. According to the writer of the play ‘Everyman’, Death is a part of people’s lives which ought to be treated rationally and logically.
In the preceding medieval years, people had fallen victims of their fear of what happens after death. The need to believe that they can control their life forever, and they can ensure a post in paradise, led them to become victims of those who promised them eternal salvation at any cost. People had been treated for years as ignorant and naïve. They had been led to forget and neglect the beauty of life. They had been made to misinterpret the meaning of their lives. No happiness, no enjoyment, no joy had place in people’s everyday lives. People used to accept every difficulty or misery or deprivation as part of their procedure to prove to God that they are good and patient enough to win their position in heaven.
This is what the author of the play ‘Everyman’ comes to criticize and question. According to Genji T. (1953), the author of ‘Everyman’ uses ‘allegorical characters to examine the question of Christian salvation and what Man must do to attain it’. Everyman’ is the name of the play’s leading role. Whether the meaning of the word ‘everyman’ is a ‘meaning which was attributed to this word after the first publication and appearance of this play or it existed and the writer used this preceding word in order to emphasize on the meaning he / she wanted to put across through the plot of his play’ like Cawley, A. C. (1989) mentions is something which has not been answered even nowadays. One thing is for sure. ‘Everyman’ is a man who represents all humans, every single individual living at any period of time and being faced with the fear of his own death. The opening scene of the play is a Messenger addressing the audience. The Messenger informs the audience on the purpose of the play. This is a play which will show people the real nature of human life. People are just passers-by whose life is of certain, limited expectancy and they are about to die at one specific moment. No one is eternal and no one has come on earth to stay forever.
Then God appears addressing the audience and expressing his complaints. Although what the Messenger has just told them is true, there seems to be total negligence on behalf of mortals towards serving God properly. God says that people live their lives without fearing God, as if they consider themselves immortal and this is a fatal mistake. ‘In worldly riches is all their mind’ (Everyman) and this why people will not win their position in heaven. And then another messenger, Death comes to announce to a man, ‘Everyman’ his death. Everyman is not happy and is also desperate to find someone to help him and travel with him towards his Death. He is too afraid to die alone. He cannot travel to his Death. He needs to find a companion. So his quest begins and this is where the evolution of the plot takes place. Everyman addresses a number of people to help him deal with his fear of his own death, but all his efforts prove to be vain. ‘Everyman’ needs serious help, so he has to find characters who are by all means widely accepted as personalities holding a serious profile which can be of beneficial help to him in his journey to life after death.
The characters drawn by the writer are all the abstract ideas which are supposed to represent the ethical values and principles upon which people of that time used to organize their lives and their way of living. These abstract ideas are Fellowship, material Goods, and Knowledge. The plot is built upon the interactions taking place between ‘Everyman’ and each one of these characters. All characters approached by ‘Everyman’ serve the play’s aim. The play wants to emphasize on making it clear that the journey to life after death is a journey that people do on their own without any companionship.
Therefore, Fellowship denies following him to this journey because it is a journey that she does not want to experience. Then Kindred and Cousin enter. They also deny their help to him. The journey to life after death is similarly intimidating to them. The Material Goods and richness to whom Everyman turns for help seem unable to help him as well. After all if God sees that Everyman has spent his life in order to become rich and wealthy then heaven is not to be enjoyed by him. God has always been against material wealth. The person that Everyman turns for help afterwards is Good Deeds. Unfortunately there seems to be total weakness on their part to accompany him. Everyman has not spent his life in doing good things so how could ‘Good Deeds’ be powerful enough to follow him to such a long journey?
Knowledge who is presented as the sister of Good Deeds is the only one who seems able to help ‘Everyman’. She advises him to go to Confession so that by admitting his sins and his mistakes there may be a hope to get a place in heaven.
A number of more interactions follow with Everyman following step by step the advice given to him by Knowledge. He goes to Confession, he goes to Priesthood. He interacts with Discretion, Strength, Beauty and Five Wits.
The end of the play finds Everyman getting into the grave accompanied by his Good Deeds. A doctor is the person who gives the epilogue to the play. The audience is advised to have room in their lives for Discretion, Knowledge, Beauty, Strength, Five Wits. This is the only way that common mortals according to the last message of the play can ensure that Good Deeds will accompany them to their journey to life after death.
Irony is the main feeling and impression covering the play ‘Everyman’. Good and Evil seem to be the opposing powers which are represented by different powers. Materialism and wealth is bad. Confession and knowledge cannot walk side by side with comfort and wealth. There seems to be a great confusion in people’s lives as far as their principles and ethical values are concerned. ‘Everyman’ depicts also the ironic nature lying in what is considered to be ‘Good Deeds’. How good can ‘Good Deeds’ be considered to be truly if they are performed only as a means of earning a place in heaven? This is an arising question which is of value even nowadays.
Death is the means through which a severe critique is given by the writer on the way all values have fallen into the hands of being exploited. If people were not afraid of death, would they have tried to make sure that they live a virtuous life? This is another significant question arising from this play. ‘Everyman’ seems a play which has a lot to teach to people of nowadays. People nowadays need their compass of ethical nature in a world mixed up by multiculturalism and misinterpretation of cultural values. ‘Everyman’ reminds people that each journey of self - significance, each journey which aims at revealing things of one’s inner self is to be performed individuality if one wishes to keep his / her identity and have knowledge of his / her identity and wishes.
References
Banham, M., ed. 1998. ‘The Cambridge Guide to Theatre’. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cawley, A. C. (1989). "Everyman", Dictionary of the Middle Ages.
Cawley, A. C. (1961).Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays, ‘Everyman's Library Scholars' Lab University of Virginia Library
‘Everyman’ e-text retrieved from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/everyman.asp
Genji T. (1953). ‘A Study of "Everyman" with Special Reference to the Source of its Plot’. pp.33–39
Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2008), ‘Western Civilization: A Brief History (1st ed.) California: Cengage
