Critical Essay Sample on Everyman: Journey to Christian Salvation

Introduction

The play 'Everyman' is a Christian morality play where the author recounts the life and death of Everyman. As such, 'Everyman' is used as a metaphorical figure to denote all humankind. The author employs figurative characters to examine the issue of Christian salvation and activities to be undertaken by men for its acquisition. The premise of the play is that God will record the good and evil actions of a person's life after death. In the course of the measures to be undertaken, Everyman tries to persuade other characters to accompany him while hoping that he will enhance his record. The play further presents a battle between good and immoral, which is also demonstrated by the associations between characters. The view of death by the author is done from the Catholic standpoint that purports every individual should live life with the intention of going to heaven to enjoy eternal life. The use of 'Everyman' is to exhibit his struggles to accept death and modify his conducts. The play defines the way individuals' lives are troubled by death and endeavouring to realize that there is nothing they can do to escape it; death has thus been used as a opening between hell and heaven and repentance is the only way to heaven.

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Characters

The play 'Everyman' has several characters. The main character is 'Everyman' who has transformed his sinful ways by repenting so that he can be spared from God's wrath (Duffy, 2015). There is also Death, who is God's messenger and who will be used to call everyman. Moreover, there are other characters, such as Goods, Beauty, Fellowship, Discursion, Strengths, Kindred, and Five Wits. When Everyman was in need, Five Wits abandoned him. He then turned to his Cousin and asked whether she would accompany him. She also refused and said she had an injury (Duffy, 2015). Good Deeds can be described as a loyal friend to Everyman and wanted to accompany him on his expedition to the next world. Everyman also turned to Goods, who signified his material possessions that he had spent his life acquiring. He firmly believed that Goods would accompany him on his journey to judgment (Frost, 2015). However, Goods abandoned him and left him wailing in regret due to his destiny.

Besides, there is Confession, another character who denoted remorse. He was the one who Everyman disclosed to, confessed his sins, and asked for forgiveness. For Everyman to obtain salvation, he needed guidance and received it from Knowledge, who was also his friend (Hoffman, 2015). Therefore, all these characters were critical to Everyman's journey to heaven after his death. Also, most human beings, when faced with difficulties, usually turn to their friends instead of talking to God, yet He is always available. When faced with obstacles, people are encouraged to go to God, confess, and seek his knowledge, and He will surely provide the right guidance.

Outlook on Death

On the other hand, Salvation has been defined as deliverance that saves people from their iniquities. It may also be viewed as a way of giving people another opportunity to do what right and required by God (Duffy, 2015). Salvation can be traced back to the days of Adam and Eve when God removed them from the Garden of Eden. It was proof that the lives of human beings have been made tough due to engaging in deceit and hostility. Death should not be severe and not necessarily lead to hell. It can lead to heaven but only when one seeks salvation. It has been clearly explained in the play, and that everyman should be saved due to limited time. Jesus died on the cross and gave his life then rose from the dead. His death signified hope to humankind and further gave them a reason to improve their life and have an opportunity to go to heaven. The death of Jesus also gave humankind eternal life which is free for people to seek (Wright, 2012). Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, human beings can obtain salvation, and when they die, they will have eternal life.

Setting of the Play and its link to Perception of Death.The opening of the play begins in Heaven, and God asks Death to call Everyman. They are required to give an explanation of their lives, and the play then moves to earth (Duffy, 2015). As such, in this case, Death is denoted as something that will disrupt the lives of everyman. It will not consider aspects such as wealth or health, among others. Also, the opening of the play shows God's disappointment in the wickedness of man. In most cases, man only seeks God when they are overwhelmed by a situation or problems. He said, "How that all creatures be to me unkind" (Duffy, 2015). In the contemporary world, man is concerned with their possessions rather than seeking God. By calling Death, God wanted everyman to issue responsibility for his life on earth. Everyman is quite scared by this move and tries to plead with death to give him another opportunity (Beavis, 2015). He does this by offering him some of his riches, but death declines his offer. Death says, "Everyman, it may not be, not by gold, silver nor riches no matter who they are or where they are from" (Duffy, 2015). Most people usually attempt to find ways of postponing death when faced by it through. They may go to the best health care facility to be treated from a terminal illness, for instance. Other people have been observed to seek spiritual help when they find themselves in situations that would lead to their death. The play has shown Everyman's effort to try and postpone it through offering a bribe (Badir, 2017). It thus denotes that man should seek God first and develop a relationship that will ensure they are close to Him and His glory.

The Certainty of Death.There is an assurance of death in the play, which is presented as something that cannot be escaped by anyone. However, some individuals tend to believe that death will not find or occur to them whatsoever. It is evident that each day, people seek ways that will enhance their lives. They do this by looking for worldly possessions and praising wealth. In this way, they tend to look and even feel better about themselves (Sheen, 2014). Everyman in the play is demonstrated to have spent his entire life looking for and also acquiring wealth. The wealth would give him options to choose from various aspects of life and ensure he lives a comfortable life. Death stated that he would travel across the world looking for every man that lusts for riches and finally met Everyman (Duffy, 2015).

Death cannot be escaped since it has no limitations. It strikes every individual regardless of their age, wealth possession, and even status. Everyman was able to find help from Good Deeds, who accompanied him when his cousin declined (Beavis, 2015). In the end, death cannot be absconded, and every individual should proceed on the journey and be responsible for their life on earth, whether it is good or bad.

Stance on the treatment of death by the author.The play has presented a particular viewpoint on the way death should be handled. It thus acts as a call for Everyman since he had never lived a life that was according to the way God wanted. There is a certain way in which the author has presented death in the play. It has been depicted as something that every man should be afraid of since once it occurs, one may either go to hell or heaven (Homan, 2015). The treatment of death as something that should be feared is observed where Everyman pleads with him. He asks Death to give him more time. Conversely, this is not according to the teachings in the Bible. The Bible has indicated that people should be disciplined for their sinful heart and that sin is death, and God's gift is everlasting life with Jesus (Wardrop, 2015). As such, it is relevant or people to hold on to the word of God and have courage even in death.

Conclusion

The play 'Everyman' has thus presented crucial teachings. One of the obvious ones is that one may try to avoid or escape death, but it will eventually occur. Death is a part of human beings and gives them a chance to redeem themselves by altering their lives and seeking God. Human beings should thus be ready all the time to repent their sins and obtain salvation. There is also a reminder that earthly properties are not beneficial in our journey to heaven. However, the most crucial aspect here is our deeds. Additionally, Everyman has been initially shown to be busy with earthly pleasure and even ignores God's call. He never indulged in repentance of his sins, and it is when death began to signal, and judgment would then follow. As such, it shows that everyman would have to account for his life and deeds as well. When the moment of judgment comes, everyone will be assessed according to his or her actions.

References

Badir, P. (2017). Everyman. The Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature in Britain, 1-3.

Beavis, M. A. (2016). Fargo: A Biblical Morality Play. Journal of Religion & Film, 4(2), 3.

Duffy, C. A. (2015). Everyman. London: Faber & Faber.

Frost, C. (2016). Everyman in Performance. LiNQ (Literature in North Queensland), 6(1). file:///C:/Users/USER%201/Downloads/635-870-1-SM.pdf

Hoffman, F. J. (2015). Mortal No: Death and the Modern Imagination (Vol. 2273). Princeton University Press.

Lester, G. A. (2014). Three late medieval morality plays: Mankind, Everyman, Mundus et infans. London: Methuen Drama.

Sheen, F. J (2014). Divine Romance. Place of publication not identified: LULU COM.

Wardrop, D. (2015). Spiritual Disciplines for Today: Getting Closer to God. Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency.

Wright, T. (2012). The Resurrection of the Son of God. New York: SPCK.