Everyman Play

Who is Everyman? Everyman, a Medieval morality play which was translated by an anonymous individual in 1510, expresses the values of Europe in the sixteenth century. In this time, religion, specifically Catholicism, was the dominant groundwork for society’s morals, values, and even laws. Whether due to the relatable allegories and personifications or the rise of the invention of the printing press at the time, Everyman quickly became one of the most popular theatre pieces and is still very well known today. A very common method for persuading people to believe the Catholic religion was to scare them. In some cases, the Catholics scared entire nations, using warfare to force them to believe in the same things as them; in others, simply

Because the play itself relies very little on action and scenery, it is up to the dialogue and physical presence of the characters to drive and reveal the plot. So in Everyman, if Death is not dressed in such a way that the audience immediately associates the actor interpreting Death with Death, then it becomes untrue to the audience and defeats the overall experience. Additionally, Everyman should experience a change in his costume along with his change of heart. In the beginning of the play, he is vain and materialistic, and he should be dressed to express this. In a modern adaptation, he would be dressed in expensive, name-brand clothing and walking with “swagger.” However, after Good Deeds teaches him what needs to be done of him, he should be dressed to show that he is no longer materialistic. This is a very important factor in holding truth to the

Everyman is me, Everyman is you, and Everyman is your cousin’s stepbrother twice removed. The other characters in the story exist to lead the path of this relatable man. He is certainly more than relatable because he, as a character, is an allegory for the human race. When encountered with Death for the first time, Everyman asks him what God wants from him, as any human would, and tries bargaining with him. Everything following suit is also relatable to every human — from seeking solace amongst friends, kin, knowledge, belongings, and even confession, he finally realizes that he may only reach God through his good deeds. Good Deeds, the character, is the only one who will go with Everyman to God and assures him, “Fear not: I will speak for thee.” Good Deeds is the personification of the Catholic belief that humans earn their place in heaven as well as their salvation through good works and tithes; no earthly human or thing will be taken with anyone when they die. The only thing their soul takes with them are the good things they have done in their