Reflection Of Everyman

“Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won’t last forever. We must take it or leave it.” – C. S. Lewis. As a first year drama student, I am inspired by the phrase quoted above to give a reflection of a play which happens to be well styled by the words of Lewis. The play whose basis has not been established yet is a morality play – “an allegorical play popular especially in the 15th and 16th centuries in which the characters personify abstract qualities or concepts (as virtues, vices, or death)” – (Merriam-Webster 2015) which dates back to the late 1400’s in the duration of Medieval Theatre (also referred to as the dark ages – a time where productions were staged between 600 and 1600

Everyman is rooted onto a background where a staged play had to teach a moral lesson. This occurred in the late 1400s during the medieval time, also known as theatre of the dark

This is because in the drama he is the leading character and the tragic hero. This is projected through making the drama revolve around Everyman. Everyman is the only character who has a well portrayed direction of character development in the play; which described his feeling of invincibility, which eventually leads to his downfall where he seeks for accompaniment from his friends, family and possessions. On the other hand, there is no definite development shown by the rest of the characters, which immediately classifies them as supporting lead characters.

Inciting Incident:

God observes his creation and realises that man– which is everyman – do not abide by his laws anymore and they keep turning their backs against God. After observing, God then makes a decision to send death to everyman, but everyman delays to answer his calling.

Rising