Everyman Essay
Bailey September 11, 2014
English 12
Everyman Essay
The Moral of Everyman, an English morality play, is an symbol of death and the fate of the soul. Beckoned by Death, Everyman calls on Fellowship, Good-Deeds, and Strength for help, but they desert him. Only Good-Deeds and Knowledge remain faithful and lead him toward salvation. Everyman symbolizes, in a worldly sense, every man. The play unfolds as he wrestles with his own qualities, whether they are good or evil. The way Everyman reacts to these qualities is notable as they morally obligate him to do good or tempt him to do evil. Everyman can be pulled towards Heaven or Hell and it is not until Death knocks at his door that he begins to follow the path towards Heaven. Every character represents a different characteristic of the main character, Everyman. The characters are symbolic. For example, Beauty, Strength, and Discretion are some different characteristics that were expressed in Everyman. It is true that these characteristics make up a person, but they are not the most important. The most important characteristic in a person is doing good deeds. Knowledge also makes up whom a person can be. Everyman had many important characteristics in his life, but, when Everyman went to the afterlife, the only thing that went with him was his knowledge, and good deeds. Death was an important character in Everyman. Death symbolized a messenger of God. He was the figure that went down to earth to retrieve Everyman and take him to the afterlife. Death was a significant part of Everyman because he motivated Everyman to find something to accompany him on his eternal journey to heaven or to hell. All of the characters that Everyman pleads with to be his companion forsake him. Only one character, Good Deeds, holds true to his word.
English 12
Everyman Essay
The Moral of Everyman, an English morality play, is an symbol of death and the fate of the soul. Beckoned by Death, Everyman calls on Fellowship, Good-Deeds, and Strength for help, but they desert him. Only Good-Deeds and Knowledge remain faithful and lead him toward salvation. Everyman symbolizes, in a worldly sense, every man. The play unfolds as he wrestles with his own qualities, whether they are good or evil. The way Everyman reacts to these qualities is notable as they morally obligate him to do good or tempt him to do evil. Everyman can be pulled towards Heaven or Hell and it is not until Death knocks at his door that he begins to follow the path towards Heaven. Every character represents a different characteristic of the main character, Everyman. The characters are symbolic. For example, Beauty, Strength, and Discretion are some different characteristics that were expressed in Everyman. It is true that these characteristics make up a person, but they are not the most important. The most important characteristic in a person is doing good deeds. Knowledge also makes up whom a person can be. Everyman had many important characteristics in his life, but, when Everyman went to the afterlife, the only thing that went with him was his knowledge, and good deeds. Death was an important character in Everyman. Death symbolized a messenger of God. He was the figure that went down to earth to retrieve Everyman and take him to the afterlife. Death was a significant part of Everyman because he motivated Everyman to find something to accompany him on his eternal journey to heaven or to hell. All of the characters that Everyman pleads with to be his companion forsake him. Only one character, Good Deeds, holds true to his word.