An Analysis of the Perception and Treatment of Death in Everyman

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The author of the play Everyman views death from the Catholic point of view. The moral message to live each day with the goal of eternal life in Heaven in mind sets the tone of the play. Everyman illustrates that every man’s soul needs to be saved before death or he will not have eternal life with God. The author views death as the foundation of man’s spiritual journey with God in Heaven or as the initiation of the soul’s damnation. The author portrays death as God’s messenger. The play underscores a message that the treatment of death is similar for every man, as he is held accountable for his actions and deeds in life upon facing death. Additionally, the only way to avoid death is to strive towards achieving ever-lasting life with God in Heaven by living a Godly life on earth by avoiding the seven deadly sins and by accepting that Jesus Christ was sent to earth to ultimately be sacrificed for the sins of every man. Indeed, man should not be headlong to rebuke this, whereas the Bible states, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV). According to the strict rules of Christianity, if man leads a righteous life and controls his anger, fear and other negative emotions, he will still go to Hell if he does not accept Jesus Christ as his Savior (Morse, 2007).

The author further illustrates the moral message he wishes to convey to man with the dialogue, “Look well, and take good heed to the ending” (Line 11), “Ye think sin in the beginning full sweet” and “Which in the end causeth the soul to weep” (Lines 13 & 14).

Not all cultures view death as the author of Everyman does. For instance, according to research by Francesco Campione, death is seldom spoken of in Italian Ho...

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