Till Death Do Us Part By: Angela Turner and Stephen Smith English 3283 September 29/2003

Introduction to morality plays Introduction to morality plays Summary of events Summary of events Discussion of Virtues Discussion of Virtues

Virtues Death Death “He that loveth riches will I strike with my dart, His sight to blind, and from heaven him to part, Except that Alms be his good friend, In hell for to dwell, world without end.” Lines: Medieval and Tudor Drama Picture:

Knowledge / Confession “I know your sorrow well, Everyman. Because with Knowledge ye come to me, I will comfort you as well as I can, And a precious jewel I will give thee, Called penance, wise voider of adversity.” Lines: Medieval and tudor Drama Pictures:

Beauty and Strength “He that trusteth in his Strength She deceiveth him at the length. Both Strength and Beauty forsaking me, Yet they promised me fair and lovingly.” Lines: Pictures:

Discretion and Five-wits “Everyman. O all thing faileth, save God alone; Beauty, Strength, and Discretion; For when Death bloweth his blast They all run from me full fast. Five-Wits. Everyman, my leave now of thee I take; I will follow the other for here I thee forsake.” Lines: Medieval and Tudor Drama Picture:

Good Deeds “Everyman, pilgrim, my special friend, Blessed be thou without end. For thee is prepared the eternal glory. Ye have made me whole and sound, Therefore I will bide by thee in every round.” Lines: Picture:

So What is the Moral of the Play? We think… Every person’s virtues will forsake him/her in the end except for their own “good deeds”, because they are an individual characteristic that is measured by God (in the play) to determine the souls eternal destination. All else is worthless come the soul’s final judgement. Let that be a moral lesson. Not all individuals would get a second chance like “Everyman”, thus life choices should be made carefully.

Questions We Don’t Know the Answers to. Where was Knowledge to begin with? Where was Knowledge to begin with? Is there any significance to Knowledge being female? Is there any significance to Knowledge being female? Why were Strength, Beauty, Discretion, and Five-wits chosen to go the journey and not the rest? (Fellowship, Goods, etc…) Why were Strength, Beauty, Discretion, and Five-wits chosen to go the journey and not the rest? (Fellowship, Goods, etc…) Why do you think Gassner feels this play was not staged in its own time? Why do you think Gassner feels this play was not staged in its own time?