| Title | : | Everyman |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1419118730 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781419118739 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 52 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1485 |
Everyman Reviews
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Everyman is your typical jolly medieval play - man is happy - man receives word that he is doomed to die - man desperately scrabbles around for a chance of salvation.
I'm not sure if it surfaced first in English or in Dutch (under the name of Elckerlijc, presumably performances predated the oldest surviving written version. It presumably might have been performed in its rhyming verse with abstract concepts like Good Deeds as it's main characters, in much the same way as the Mystery Plays in public spaces on high days and holidays, religion for the masses.
I saw a modern performance. A curious thing, a show by the National Theatre filmed and broadcast in cinemas, it was pretty tolerable, naturally in order to be modern rather than medieval, God was removed while swearing and references to drugs and alcohol were added.
Unsurprisingly, no amount of swearing or mind altering substances can make up for the lack of God, whether this was the cleverly subtle point the Director wanted to make, or if they were simply too clever for their own good I don't know, but I did spot that the entire play becomes pointless without some kind of religious superstructure , it became simply the anxious expression of Everyman realising that he was going to die, followed far too slowly by his death, followed not rapidly enough by my departure from the venue.
Originally, Everyman thinks he can fend off death with his wealth and then realising that money can't buy everything desperately seeks to redeem himself, luckily Good Deeds are here to stay Everyman, I will go with thee and be thy guide, in thy most need to go by thy side and save the day, you've got to die, but there can still be hope -
I'm actually quite surprised I liked this drama. I had to read it for university and I never really liked books with religious influences, but I liked this one quite a lot. It made me laugh a few times and I liked the message that the drama sends (that only your good deeds stay with you after you die). So far, in university this year we've been reading really interesting stories so I hope that this streak of interesting books will continue 'till the end of this year.
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This play reminds us that Everyman (all of us) at the end of life, when standing in judgement, will have only our “good deeds” to stand on our behalf. I personally believe that also a good heart, good intentions, showing respect and caring for others will also stand with you. Interesting, but written in a style that makes it difficult to read.
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I read this on a two-fold whim: one, I've had a growing interest of late digging into the pro- and anti-religious texts of yester-centuries, and, two, I decided to give my rusty skills at reading Middle English a tuning. Everyman is the medieval morality play that gave us the (surprise!) Everyman archetype that can be readily found in many books, movies, and TV shows. The play's set-up is fairly simple: God is pissed that everyone of us is sorry sack of sinning shit, so he tells Death to go down to Earth and pick on Everyman, who is, natch, the allegorical figure for everyone. Death tells Everyman his time here in the mortal grind is up, so now he has to go account for all his sins in heaven. What follows is a pretty heavy handed instructional on how to be a good Catholic - this was a play sanctioned by the Church, after all, to entertain and inform all the illiterate peasants cowering in the pits that was the late 1400's England. Here's what you need to know for the test: don't rely on friends or family because they will abandon you, and don't rely on your five wits (senses), knowledge, beauty, physical wealth, strength or discretion - all of these represented as allegorical figures, of course - because none of that will matter to you when you're dead. So what's your best bet, you worthless worm beneath God's toes? Go to confession and do nothing but good deeds. If you're lucky, then God - even though he knows better - might not throw your sorry ass into Hell for the rest of eternity.
Have a wonderful rest of the day, readers! -
Everyman is a medieval morality play. I felt that it's kind of too preachy, but that's what morality plays are. The play reminds us that at the end of our life, when we're standing for judgement, it's only "Good Deeds" that won't leave our side. What stood out is its immense contemporary relevance, even though it was written long ago. An enjoyable read.
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(The date of my read for Everyman isn’t accurate, but the year I read it is)
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Readers will follow the final day of Everyman after he is summoned by Death to leave the world of the living and face his ultimate judgment. Desperate not to meet this challenge alone, he seeks the companionship of all those he’s held dear during life and is shocked to see which will betray him in his time of greatest need and which will stand by his side.
This play refreshes the mind and brings attention to the things that should matter most in your life, the things that will matter forever instead of just right now. There is a strong religious influence in the story, but the overall message is one that I believe can benefit both the religious and non-religious alike.
I gave this play a 4 star rating because I think that it has a great message, it was a refreshing and at times challenging read due to it being written in Middle English. Regardless on your view of life after death, wouldn’t the world be a better place if all of us kept our friend Good Deeds healthy and strong? -
“When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There is a purpose to life's events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too hard.
You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved, the rest is up to the person to realize your worth.” -
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Was assigned to read this for uni in relation to Shakespeare. I have to admit that I was sceptical at first (really didn't have a clue what it was about.) But after an hour of intense reading and analysing I have found myself pleasantly surprised. Everyman is a play which tests the morals of an individual who has been faced with death. Said individual looks to his 'friends' (fellowship, kindred, cousin, knowledge, beauty, strength, good deeds, discretion and five-wits) to walk with him on his journey of redemption before he dies. All betray him but one - good deeds. Even if we look at this play from a secular point of view it speaks to us, telling us that life is short and death can greet us at every corner, even at times we don't expect. Do we should do good in the world and give back, as opposed to allowing ourselves to be absorbed by what the world has to offer us.
As a Catholic I found myself relating very much to this play and it has (in some respects) really provokes thought about my own morals and how I am currently leading my life. Am I living worthily of Christ? Could I dedicate myself more to Christ? No and absolutely.
I read this as part of The Norton Anthology of English Literature v.1 and I would really advise this short but thought-provoking play to everyone. It is a beautiful and wonderful read. I read a modern version (still medieval language but easier to understand) and I'm sure that such copies can be found online.
I'm not going to break this play apart (will save that for class!) but giving this play any less than five stars would be doing it a grave injustice. Absolutely wonderful and a must read! -
A morality play at best, but too didactic for my own taste. The words are, as always, very interesting considered they were written in the medieval period.
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Purely read this to save my exam 'Literature of the Early modern period'. I saved my exam. I'm happy.
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i'm sorry but Christian fanfiction is not my cup of tea :&
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In the end, the only thing that matters is Good Deeds. I found this work ambiguous and annoying when I first read it, but as I grow older, I've noticed that this sentiment is possibly the most enduring idea ever.
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“Bu ders daima aklınızda kalsın, Ey dinleyenler.
Büyük küçük hepiniz değer verin ona.
Gururlanmaktan vazgeçin, Çünkü aldatır sonunda sizi.
Unutmayın: Güzellik, Beş Duyum, Güç ve Akıl’ın,
Nasıl bırakıp gittiğini İnsanoğlu’nu.
Yalnızca İyi Davranışlarını götürebilir yanında kişi.
Sakının onları güçsüz bırakmaktan.
Yoksa Tanrı önünde hiçbir yararı olmaz kimseye.
Orada, Hiçbir mazeretin geçerli olmadığı yerde;
Ne yapar o zaman İnsan, tek başına?
Hiçbir şeyi düzeltemez İnsan öldükten sonra.
Ne acınır kendisine, ne de merhamet edilir.
Geldiğinde bir de temiz çıkmazsa hesabı;
Tanrı: Git ve sonsuza dek ateşler içinde yan diye
lanetler onu.
Hesabı doğru ve eksiksiz çıkanın ise:
Cennette taçlanır başı.
Tanrının sonunda hepimizi toplayacağı;
Gövdemiz ve ruhumuzla birlikte yaşayacağımız o terde.
Şimdi Kutu Üçlü adına Amin deyip hepinize hayrına.
Böyle biter İnsanoğlu’nun İbret oyunu.”(s.84) -
*2.75
Had to read this for my degree and it was decent tbh- usually am not a fan of 1500s drama kinda thing but it was acc okay. Feel like it was only good tho as I enjoyed reading context around the play, not so much the actual play itself but still fine. -
"Alas, whereto may I trust?
Beauty goeth fast away fro me—
She promised with me to live and die!" -
it is SO BAD, i wanna give you a zero, but that's not possible, so I give you a one
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Loved the concept, just a little difficult to follow in old English.
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read for third semester, english theatre
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"Ic valle op mijn achterhielen!"
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First sentence: HERE BEGINNETH A TREATISE HOW THE HIGH FATHER OF HEAVEN SENDETH DEATH TO SUMMON EVERY CREATURE TO COME AND GIVE ACCOUNT OF THEIR LIVES IN THIS WORLD AND IS IN MANNER OF A MORAL PLAY.
Premise/plot: Everyman is a morality play from 1485. This play has a single focus--what will happen when man comes face to face with God and his works are examined. The speaking roles include: Everyman, God: Adonai, Death, Messenger, Fellowship, Cousin, Kindred, Goods, Good-Deeds, Strength, Discretion, Five-Wits, Beauty, Knowledge, Confession, Angel, and Doctor.
The play opens with Messenger and God having their say. God is angry with mankind--a race of sinners who have one and all forgotten him and forsaken worshiping him. Death is sent--by God--to "collect" Everyman. Everyman argues with Death. He does not want to die. He is not ready to die. He needs/wants more time. It's not fair. Can he pay Death money in exchange for more time. However, instead of taking Everyman right then and there, he does allow Everyman a little time to try to find a companion to take with him to the grave. Surprise, surprise, he doesn't find many eager takers for that one-way journey. He does, however, find some.
My thoughts: The subject matter is a sobering one. And while I'm glad that today's world offers more variety--a lot more variety--in terms of entertainment, in some ways we've lost something vital. I do think that contemplating life, death, what comes next, should have some part in our thinking lives. (If we actually have "thinking lives" today.)
Everyman is definitely an allegory, and one that predates Pilgrim's Progress by a century or two! I am hosting a reading challenge to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Reading Everyman a thoroughly medieval Catholic play gave me some background and context. For these two reasons, I am glad I read this short little play.
I will add one last thing. Theologically, Everyman is a mess. The message of Everyman seems to be that Good Works (and Strength and Knowledge and Discretion, etc.) accompany him to the judgment seat of Christ, and, because Everyman had received all seven sacraments of the church, he ultimately had nothing to fear because God found him good enough and worthy of heaven. Let's just say I wanted to yell at this book. -
It is strange how timeless some of the old texts are, even when written in a language that we can no longer recognise. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration - any English speaker can read Middle English if they set their mind to it, but this task comes with a challenge. Being a medievalist, I have special love for old verse and therefore the challenge may have been easier on me than it would be on an average reader, but really, anyone can do it, so don't get discouraged! The language of the play flows beautifully once you've got used to it. It's best read aloud.
It is a timeless piece notwithstanding. Fear of death, of our faculties leaving us bare and defenceless - what human is a stranger to that? As this is a medieval play, it has a comforting answer that we're never left by God, and that his recognition of each of our good deeds is a certain. As I've never found faith myself, this is of little comfort to me, but I understand its attraction. -
I read this as part of my literature course at university, and have to say that I loved it. I'll admit I was sceptical at first, but having read it I found myself pleasantly surprised.
This medieval morality play follows the final day of Everyman. In a desperate appeal not to face judgement alone, he looks to his "friends" (amongst them beauty, kin, five-wits as well as others) to accompany him. In the end, he departs only with his good deeds.
Though the play itself was a short and simple read, I found myself thinking about it at length afterwards. The meaning behind the author's beautiful, almost lyrical verse, was lacking in subtlety and mystery, yet this thinly concealed allegory was perhaps what made the play so enjoyable. The beauty of this piece lies in its simplicity.
I would strongly recommend this to anyone with an hour to spare, a must read! -
More Brit Lit required reading. This is what's known as a Morality play, a cousin if you will to the Mystery play, see Second Shepherds Play that I previously reviewed. This follows the Character Everyman who has been told by Death that he will die tomorrow. Death promised he could bring a friend along for company, the issue is that none of his fair weather friends will go with him. It's a moral about what happens when someone who finds friends who are only out for a good time needs help and how fast the friends leave. It was interesting, but not something I would have read on my own. Like most things of the era, it is full of religious overtones, as the church was such a big part of people's lives in the Middle Ages.
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Everyman. It summarizes the life of Everyman, and it's Anonymous author indicates that it could be written by any man! This is the message.
I liked it. There are many lessons one can learn from it.
It's a nice light read.
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I especially liked the portion where the Everyman offered Death money to not take him. Pretty funny for a 15th century play.
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Veel beter dan Beatrijs. De abstracte begrippen als personages waren interessant en een duidelijke boodschap en rol van God.
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considering this is a morality play from the late middle ages, i'm surprised i liked this as much as i did. a very basic story, but with some beautiful language and touching meditations on death.
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A great way to get an insight into the medieval mindset. What we consider a distraction from our every day lives (ie movies, video games, TV shows, films, etc), morality and miracle plays were the common man's escapism. These plays worked like most fables, they reinvented biblical tales, or created new characters where the supernatural figures still played a major role; with a moral being taught at the end. One common misconception about medieval folk is that they had no sense of humor. These plays show the opposite.
Their approach to death was comical, often employing dark humor to turn something tragic into something humorous.
Those wishing to learn more about the middle ages, need to read these plays. They will help people understand why people were fervently attached to the Catholic Church, and how this attachment helped fostered a sense of community that brought them a sense of comfort that prevented them from falling into despair at a time when their world was being plagued by disease, famine, and constant warfare.
