The Experience of Death Depicted in the Plays Everyman and The Sandbox

1426 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The theme of death in literature

Death, to the surrounding people, can often be seen as a horrible and depressing time in one’s life, while the same result may occur in the person going through the time period. One must remember, though, that no matter how the person has lived throughout their life, everyone must die eventually, for it is the circle of life. The playwright, Everyman, notes of the importance of having devotion and loyalty in Jesus Christ, for that is the only way to Heaven. Also, the play and The Sandbox greatly illustrate how a person near death is feeling and his emotions, while also describing the sympathy of others around him and their experiences.

According to Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary, death is merely “the permanent cessation of all vital functions in an animal or plant.” To fully appreciate the gravity of such a definition, it is important to first have an understanding of vocabulary and know what the more difficult terminology in the definition means, for example, cessation. It is “a ceasing; stop; pause.” If each of the less frequently used words in the definition were rewritten, the meaning would read that death is a lasting stop of all extremely important organisms that used to depend on each other in order to survive.

In the play, Everyman, A.C. Cawley incorporates his view of belief regarding what happens to a person after death. The prime character, Everyman, runs into an angel from God, who reports to Everyman that he must go before God and account for all of the things that he has done on Earth. On Earth, though, Everyman lived as the world did and participated in secular things which are displeasing to God. Because of the way in which he ran his life, Everyman pled with the angel to let him stay on Earth for a lit...

... middle of paper ...

... buried under the ground, while their souls are either in Heaven or Hell forever.

Overall, in facing death, it is often seen as a horrible and depressing period in life. In further evaluation, Everyman and The Sandbox greatly analyze the individual who was close to death and expresses his emotions. Also, both playwrights describe the sympathy of others around him and their experiences and actions. Everyman goes on to say that life is not about doing good works and living how the secular world lives, but in believing in Jesus Christ. If individuals have faith in Jesus Christ, they will be able to live for all eternity with Him. Typically for Christians, although it is mostly seen as sad and disheartening, death should actually be represented as joyous, for the deceased will have the privilege to stand before God and tell his testimony and enter the Gates of Heaven.

Show More
Related

  • The Theme Of Death In The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    Death is an inevitable part at the end of human life, despite how many people try to avoid it. Sometimes death is seen as a sacrifice, as noticed in “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst. However, not all sacrifices are deaths, as seen in “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. In both stories, upon analysis and comparison, one can see the similarities and differences involving the theme of sacrifice. When the two stories are put side by side, one will see that Connell and Hurst both use death in a way that displays character development. This is shown when Brother of “The Scarlet Ibis” becomes regretful and Rainsford of “The Most Dangerous Game” becomes what he once hated, the reader will also realize how the characters’ personality traits

    Read More

  • Haunted by Humans

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    Death has feelings as much as any human, imagining, getting bored, distracted, and especially wondering (350, 243, 1, 375 respectively). Odd, one could say for an eternal metaphysical being. But then again, not that queer once having considered how Death spends his time. He is there at the dying of every light, that moment that the soul departs its physical shell, and sees the beauty or horror of that moment. Where to a human witnessing a death first hand (even on a much more detached level than our narrator) can easily be a life changing event, Death is forced to witness these passings for nearly every moment of his eternal life. Emotional overload or philosophical catalyst? Death gains his unique perspective on life through his many experiences with the slowly closing eyelids and muttered last words. Yet in this...

    Read More

  • Everyman Essay

    840 Words  | 2 Pages

    The character Everyman is in the time between life and death for human beings. Everyman represents the accountability aspect of human beings. The definition of the word Everyman is an ordinary or typical human being. According to the play, it is God’s plan that every human being or “Everyman” is held accountable for his or her actions and the life they have lived on Earth “Therefore I will, in briefest space, from every man in person have a reckoning shown”, God sends Death to Earth to summon Everyman. “Go thou to Everyman, and show him my name a pilgrimage he must on him

    Read More

  • What Is Everyman's Perception Of Death In A Play

    1504 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the text, Everyman does not want to die or talk about death. He does not want to leave his wealth or riches. According to the text Everyman says, “It’s not fair! I deserve more time. You show up here with no warning, why, it makes me sick just thinking about it” (Everyman). In the article, Learning from Everyman: Thoughts on Spirituality, Love, and Death in the Lives of Older Couples the author states that everyman is, “We find him to be self-centered as well” (Ramsey). Give me twelve years. I’ll really turn my life around. I’ll have the cleanest book by then and it won’t... frighten… me so much to stand before God. Death. Oh Death. Spare me till I can become a better man. I swear I’ll do it” (Page 7). Everyman begs and pleads with Death to not make him go down this journey, but Death explains to him that everyone must come to terms with death and talk about it. This is true because death is

    Read More

  • Death and Emily Dickinson

    1312 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Death, the end of life: the time when someone or something dies” (Merriam-Webster, 2014). The definition of death is quite simple, the end of life is inescapable. I chose to write about death and impermanence because it is something we all must inevitably face. People often deal with death in a number of different ways. Although it is something that we must eventually face, it can be hard to come to terms with because the idea can be hard to grasp. Some of us fear it, others are able to accept it, either way we all must eventually face it. In this essay I will look at two different literary works about death and impermanence and compare and contrast the different elements of the point of view, theme, setting, and symbolism. The comparison of these particular works will offer a deeper look into words written by the authors and the feelings that they experiencing at that particular time.

    Read More

  • everyman

    1186 Words  | 3 Pages

    It's no secret, some day we all must die and face the challenges that go along with knowing your time is up. Throughout history and modern day literature, authors and play writers have used and continue to use life experiences as well imagery such as death to help the reader to relate to the narrative. The author of the morality play Everyman helps the audience to understand that at some point all of mankind must die and when they do, they must face God on "judgment day." Throughout this paper, I the writer will attempt to evaluate and analyze the perception as well as the treatment of death in Everyman. I will also explain and compare the Christian faith with use of biblical scriptures.

    Read More

  • Why Do Everyman Eat All Rivals

    245 Words  | 1 Pages

    Death is a common rival every human faces. With this unavoidable adventure, humans sometimes worry if they have fulfill their hopes and dreams, how their families will be once they perished, and what will happen to their soul. We learn though the morality play, Everyman, written by Anonymous, that the people who enjoy the adventure of life are still scared of this fated task. However, the protagonist, Everyman shows that with maturity and intelligence all rivals, even the ones we cannot hide from, will be a blessing at the end.

    Read More

  • Rituals in Everyman and Endgame

    1788 Words  | 4 Pages

    Everyman does not resist death and even prepares for it by performing the religious rituals of the seven blessed sacraments and scourging himself. Through the performance of rituals Everyman is trying to attain the ultimate goal of reaching Heaven. He finds that the only character that will accompany him on his journey is Good Deeds, but she is weak. This represents the idea that he has not done enough good during his life and must now do something to change.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Death

    1331 Words  | 3 Pages

    One thing that we often hear is that “death is just a part of life.” So often in our day and age do we hear people utter these words. However, death is far more significant and impactful than some would allege. True death is not merely a time when we cease to exist; it is an entombment, a mindset in which we are dead to this world. Throughout our lives, it is true that we can all be dead in one way or another, but it does not have to be that way. When we have our eyes opened to what death actually is, it is far easier to grasp what the true meaning of life is, and to embrace it. Often, we will come across individuals who are enveloped in death and others who are immersed in true life. The shadow of death and entombment lies upon some, encompassing

    Read More

  • Ghost House Commentary

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...se around them, even in death. This gives the impression that the author feels that death is what you make of it, so though many view it as depressing and empty, you can be fulfilled in death if you wish.

    Read More

  • Death And Dying In Roman Catholicism

    653 Words  | 2 Pages

    Depending on how they lived their mortal life, their souls could end up either in heaven, purgatory, or hell. Heaven, the supreme definitive happiness, is the reward for those who lived righteous lives, within God’s laws, and died in God’s grace and friendship, thus perfectly purified forever with Jesus Christ. Purgatory is the destination of those who died in God’s grace and friendship but not purified, so they undergo purification to enter heaven. Hell is the destination of those who gravely sinned against God

    Read More

  • Death and Life Affirmation: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

    562 Words  | 2 Pages

    Now that I know what death is, I can define it from my perspective. I think death is an aspect of life that everyone will experience. It is the last phase of a person’s life but there is an after death life as some people believe. No one knows when death will knock his door because death does not ask a person’s permission to take his life. It is the time you lose everything you have worked so hard and earned in your life. In addition, many of your beloved people will lose you and miss you.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Death And Dying

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    Death is the one great certainty in life. Some of us will die in ways out of our control, and most of us will be unaware of the moment of death itself. Still, death and dying well can be approached in a healthy way. Understanding that people differ in how they think about death and dying, and respecting those differences, can promote a peaceful death and a healthy manner of dying.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Death In Othello and A Doll's House

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    The theme of death is present in many works of literature. It is given metaphors and cloaked with different meanings, yet it always represents an end. Every end signifies a new beginning, and every death gives rise to a new birth. Physical death “...is mere transformation, not destruction,” writes Ding Ming-Dao. “What dies is merely the identity, the identification of a collection of parts that we called a person. What dies is only our human meaning” (49). Figuratively speaking, death symbolizes a change, an interruption or cessation of regular routine. In this sense, death can be viewed as a more positive occurrence, because change leads to new experience, which, in turn, leads to knowledge and a better understanding of life. The plays Othello and A Doll House both encompass the theme of death. While the former deals with physical death, the latter depicts a change, a transformation of a period of time and a way of life.

    Read More

  • Death In Life Essay

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    Death is something that causes fear in many peoples lives. People will typically try to avoid the conversation of death at all cost. The word itself tends to freak people out. The thought of death is far beyond any living person’s grasp. When people that are living think about the concept of death, their minds go to many different places. Death is a thing that causes pain in peoples lives, but can also be a blessing.

    Read More

More about The Experience of Death Depicted in the Plays Everyman and The Sandbox

Open Document