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Perception of death in the play of everyman
Perception of death in the play of everyman
Perception of death in the play of everyman
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In the one-act play Death Knocks, Woody Allen constructs a humorous allegory revolving around an ordinary man, Nat Ackerman, and his unanticipated encounter with death. In the story, death is personified as an actual character and resembles his victim’s overall appearance. However, Death is not simply portrayed as a typical frightening character but more as an uncoordinated klutz. With the intention of preventing Death from accomplishing his mission, Nat challenges Death to a game of gin rummy and wins one more day of life. In Woody Allen’s Death Knocks, the ironic dramatization of death enables Nat to utilize humor as a coping mechanism to alleviate the common fears associated with dying.
By assigning human-like characteristics to Death, Allen portrays his character to be unthreatening to Nat. After entering Nat’s house through his bedroom window, Death states, “I nearly broke my neck. I’m shaking like a leaf” (1067). Instead of making a frightening first impression, Death stumbles into the room complaining about his ailments. Nat proceeds to question Death as he tries to make sense of his current situation and asks Death if he is a part of some joke (1067). Nat is unable to take Death seriously and is somewhat amused at his attempt to abruptly enter his house and take his life. He even implies that Death did not quite meet his expectations. As Nat examines Death more carefully, he claims, “You look a little like me” (1068). Despite the resemblance of the two, Nat continues to make fun of Death’s appearance which makes him seem even less intimidating. Death’s appearance and actions contrast the typical stereotype of a grim reaper which enables Nat to feel more at ease about his current predicament.
Death ultimately fails ...
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... The concept of death is commonly associated with negative feelings, sadness and grief. The fear of death consumes many victims. No one can control when or where death will come for them. However, if the fear of death takes precedence over the joy of life, then the experiences life has to offer will be missed. Life and death should not be viewed as opposing forces, but rather as an opportunity to enjoy playing the game of life, just as Nat did while playing a game of gin rummy when confronted by Death. The prominent focus of Woody Allen’s play Death Knocks is to combat the fear of death with humor and to relieve the anxiety associated with this inevitable life event.
Works Cited
Allen, Woody. Death Knocks. 1968. Approaching Literature: Reading + Thinking + Writing. 3rd ed. Ed. Peter Shakel and Jack Ridl. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 1066-1072. Print.
Perkins, Geroge, and Barbara Perkins. The American Tradition in Literature. 12th ed. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009. Print
Meyer, Michael, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999.
Meyer, Michael, ed. Thinking and Writing About Literature. Second Edition. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2001.
Updike, John. "A&P." Thinking and Writing About Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2001. 981-86. Print.
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Abcarian, Richard, Marvin Klotz, and Samuel Cohen. Literature: the Human Experience. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. Print.
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“The Road Not Taken.” Literature and the Writing Process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan et al. 8th ed.
Bressler, Charles E. Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice. 5th ed. New York: Longman, 2011. Print.
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In the play “everyman” death is depicted as something that is terribly feared as no one seemed ready for it, death is perceived as something that takes one away from the pleasures of this world.