The Structural Analysis Of The Play 'Everyman'

1016 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: About morality play

The whole play of Everyman could be seen as a performance to entertain. Morality plays were very popular during the 15th century and they had a big attraction to viewers. According to the British Encyclopedia, “Together with the mystery play and the miracle play, the morality play is one of the three main types of vernacular drama produced during the Middle Ages. The action of the morality play centres on a hero, such as Mankind, whose inherent weaknesses are assaulted by such personified diabolic forces as the Seven Deadly Sins…” This fits the description of Everyman due to the fact that Everyman reflects mankind and the struggles he faces. This source also states that these types of plays highly relied on its audience and public support. …show more content…

This can be best noticed during their refusals they give to Everyman (“Everyman: A Structural Analysis”). First, Cousin states, “Nay, Everyman, I had liefer last bread and water all this five year and more” (346-347). Cousin informs Everyman that he would rather fast on bread and water rather than accompany him on the pilgrimage. Kindred represents lechery when he offers Everyman his maid instead of his own company on the trip. “Ye shall have my maid with all my heart; she loveth to go to feasts, there to be nice…I will give her leave to help you in that journey” (360-361, 363). Cousin and Kindred were both built up to not disappoint or betray Everyman due to the strong family bonds they all share …show more content…

This can be seen throughout his falling actions while seeking the help of the allegorical figures in his life. He begins by confidently speaking to the figures highly anticipating they will accompany him to begging for their assistance after many denials. Pride played a large role in Everyman’s life and his character. By the end of the play, he took any guidance he would. He submitted to flagellation in front of the eyes of other, sought guidance from a priest and depended on others. This is the opposite of what the reader/viewer would expect at the start of the play due to the fact that Everyman began by trying to buy him way out of his

Show More
Related

  • Night Thoreau Spent In Jail Transcendentalism

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    First of all, self-reliance of which many examples can be found throughout the play. For example, Henry

    Read More

  • Doubt: Comparing the Play and Movie

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    The differences between the movie doubt and the play have significant differences that would influence ones opinion about certain characters and situations in the story. Though the differences are few one would agree that at least one of these differences are game changers or at the very least they get you thinking and having doubts of your own.

    Read More

  • Animals' Behaviour Often Reflect One's Own

    724 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...wer and fear of losing it is precisely what drives him to extreme lengths with magnified confidence. As the tragic play concludes, his pompous brashness forcefully disintegrates along with his own life.

    Read More

  • An Analytical Essay on the Significance of the Players in Hamlet

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    The significance of the players exceeds the sole purpose of entertainment, as each possesses the power to unveil the "occulted guilt" (3.2.75) and conscience of the King.  Hamlet assumes the responsibility to advise these players with precise and adequate direction so that a "whirlwind of passion" (6) may not effectively separate Claudius from personally identifying with the play.  Hamlet's enthusiastic approach toward direction may be so that he encourages the players to "suit the action to the word, the word to the/ action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not/ the modesty of nature" (16-18).  However, this exercise of caution may justify Hamlet's too often delayed attempt toward the action of avenging his father's murder.  His direction confines him to the overflow of words as he experiences imprisonment within the truth of his own identity.

    Read More

  • Manhood in The Tragedy of Macbeth

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, he uses the theme of manhood to create motives for characters to act like a man. This is seen in many occurrences in Macbeth where characters try to act like men for certain reasons. Characters that apply this action are Macbeth, the first murderer, Macduff, and Young Siward. These actions are seen throughout the play, and play a key role in the development of the performance.

    Read More

  • To Believe Or To Believe: No Question About It: An Analysis of Hamlet's Fatal Flaw

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... of all time, with a protagonist that is plagued with indecision, but spurred by a desire to avenge his father’s death. At the time of the play’s writing, religion was by far the largest influence on the lives of ordinary people, and the protagonist’s defiance of God for most of the play could only end in tragedy.

    Read More

  • Dramatic Convention Analysis for Romeo and Juliet

    408 Words  | 1 Pages

    The light and dark imagery that Shakespeare uses in this passage describes Juliet as a young and eager lover. Romeo associates Juliet with light meaning goodness. Then Romeo says that Juliet looks like the excellent night. The night that Romeo speaks of represents Rosaline. Romeo basically says through with light and dark imagery, that Juliet is as good as Rosaline to love. Romeo then compares Juliet to a "winged messenger of heaven" who filled with lightness and goodness. He says that all humans look upon this kindness as the messenger "bestrides the lazy puffing clouds" while doing his errands. Romeo explains using this imagery that everyone looks at Juliet because she gives off a stunning and intricate outlook.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of Samuel Beckett's "Play",

    2004 Words  | 5 Pages

    Written in 1962-3, Play depicts three characters, a man (M), and two women (W1 and W2) trapped in urns with only their heads showing. These characters each present their own version of a love triangle, which once occurred between them. It becomes clear during the play that the characters, once tortured by each other, are now tortured by their situation. A spotlight acts as a "unique inquisitor," compelling each to speak when it shines on them, and to stop when it goes out. As this assault continues, the characters become increasingly maddened by the light, and increasingly desperate to make it stop. The play repeats itself, providing the audience with a sense that these characters have been saying the same words for an eternity, and will continue to do so until the light decides they can stop. Beckett demonstrates how "A style of living, theatrically communicable, is used to express a state of mind."

    Read More

  • Hamlet Comparison Essay

    1709 Words  | 4 Pages

    To conclude, reading the plays of Shakespeare is not only about an entertainment, there is more about learning manhood and the importance of the role that morality plays in everyday life. That is the reason of Shakespeare’s plays are so popular because through his work, he illustrates that: life is a play, which is performed on the earth stage, and his world stage will continue influences the past, modern and further.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Actors and Acting in Hamlet

    1907 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many would perceive madness and corruption to play the most influential role in Hamlet. However, it could be argued that the central theme in the tragedy is Shakespeare's presentation of actors and acting and the way it acts as a framework on which madness and corruption are built. Shakespeare manifests the theme of actors and acting in the disassembly of his characters, the façades that the individuals assume and the presentation of the `play within a play'. This intertwined pretence allows certain characters to manipulate the actions and thoughts of others. For this reason, it could be perceived that Shakespeare views the `Elsinorean' tragedy as one great puppet show, "I could see the puppets dallying".

    Read More

  • The Theme of Masculinity in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth‚ the theme of masculinity is explored. As Macbeth matures‚ there are times when his masculinity is put to the test, mostly after the murder of Duncan. There are four main themes in which masculinity is presented in the play.

    Read More

  • Analysis of the Play "EveryMan" by Anonymous Author

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this play Everyman makes a point and big emphasis that death is inevitable to every human being. This play is simply in its morality and in its story. You shouldn’t be so keen on all the material things in life and forget the purpose of your life. Your personal pleasures are merely transitory, but the eternal truth of life is that death is imminent and is eternal. It is the bitter truth that everyone has to accept it. If you are born you will die one day. Science does not believe in religion. But one day Science will also end in Religion. Everyone should live their life fearful of God and accept Christ as their Savior.

    Read More

  • Essay On Human Nature In Macbeth

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the early 1600’s, William Shakespeare penned an Aristotelian tragedy ‘Macbeth’ which provides his audiences both then and now with many valuable insights and perceptions into human nature. Shakespeare achieves this by cleverly employing many dramatic devices and themes within the character of ‘Macbeth’. Macbeth is depicted as an anti-hero; a noble protagonist with a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. This tragic flaw of Macbeth’s, heavily laden with the themes of ‘fate or free will’, and ‘ambition’, is brought out by Shakespeare in his writing to present us with a character whose actions and final demise are, if not laudable, very recognisable as human failings.

    Read More

  • Everyman

    365 Words  | 1 Pages

    Throughout the play Everyman asks the characters to accompany him on his journey to death. He starts with Fellowship, his friends, who promises to go with him until they are informed of the destination. They desert Everyman at that point. He calls upon people who are closer to him, Kindred and Cousin, his kinsmen. They also promise to “live and die together,” but, when asked to accompany Everyman, they remind of the things he never did for them and desert him. Everyman then calls upon Goods, his material possessions. Goods explains to him that they cannot go on the journey with him, so he is once again deserted. Good Deeds then gets called upon. They say that even though they want to go on the journey, they are unable to at the moment. They advise Everyman to speak to Knowledge. Knowledge is the one that brings Everyman on the journey to cleanse himself. They first go to Confession, which gives him a penance. Once he does his penance, Good Deeds is able to rise from the ground. They then call upon Discretion, Strength, Five Wits, and Beauty. At first they follow him on his journey, but when they approach his grave they race away as fast as they can. When he finally sinks into his grave, the only one that accompanies him is Good Deeds.

    Read More

  • Evolution Of Modern Tragedy

    1546 Words  | 4 Pages

    While this change, as well as the changes in play production and the culture in the audience that views these plays, has had a great impact on the evolution of the tragedy, the basic ideas laid down by Aristotle remain adhered to, if not always in the way he wrote them. The tragic hero, Willy Loman, is of little virtue, being in financial trouble and growing more and more reminiscent in his old age. His fall is aided by his tragic flaw, that his pride in “selling yourself” will get one anywhere hey need to be in life, slowly tears his life apart, as well as creating unrealistic expectations of his son, thus bringing his demise. The play arouses fear and pity just as well as any classical work, possibly even more effectively due to the reatability of the “common man.” Just as in The Hairy Ape, the tragic hero dies, forcing the underlying evil on to the audience. This evolution to the common man can be explained through the evolution of society alongside tragedy. In the time of Aristotle, the best way to make a commentary on both societal and familial issues was through the eyes of nobility, which dealt with both. As time went on, however, the emergence of new societal and social issues such and women’s or worker’s rights led to the more effective tragic hero to be that of the “common man,” for they saw these issues in a was the aristocracy never could. These societal changes combined with the readability of the common man led to a shift in the tragic hero, yet never changed the underlying meaning of tragedy laid down in Aristotle’s

    Read More

More about The Structural Analysis Of The Play 'Everyman'

Open Document