Everyman - A Middle Ages Morality Play

"Everyman" is an example of English morality plays that were written in the middle ages. This particular play was written around the middle of the era that these plays existed (1400-1579). It also corresponds with a tumultuous point of the protestant reformation movement in England. I think that the morality play, citing examples specifically from "Everyman" was a tool used by the Catholic church to reach the public and an attempt to dissuade them from the protestant church. 

The play's main theme involves the salvation of Everyman through Good Deeds. Everyman is visited by death and after approaching the personified Kindred, Cousin, Goods, Knowledge, Beauty, Strength, Five-Wits, Discretion,and Fellowship. Each forsakes him and he is left with only Good Deeds (whom he resurrects through charitable actions). It is Good Deeds that ultimately get Everyman into heaven.

Although it is Catholic doctrine that embraces entry into heaven through charitable works, this is not the reason that I feel Everyman was a specific tool of the Catholic Church to battle Protestantism.

It is the characters Knowledge and Five-Wits that I find most suspect. Beginning in line 758, Knowledge states, "Sinful priests giveth the sinners example bad: Their children sitteth by other men's fires, I have heard; And some haunteth women's company With unclean life, as lusts of lechery. These be with sin made blind." This would be the voice of the Protestant movement whose secession was partially related to the corruption of the priests in the Catholic Church (among other reasons of course). The rebuttal of the Catholic Church follows as a response from Five-Wits, "I trust to God no such may we find. Therefore let us priesthood honor, And follow their doctrine for our souls' succor. We be their sheep and they shepherds be By whom we all be kept in surety." Essential, the Catholic Church is telling the audience, don't listen to what others tell you they know, use your wits. You could not have been witnesses yourselves (using your 5 senses) of such things, so don't listen.

Many types of art (visual, literature, architecture, song, plays) were commissioned by the Catholic Church and I believe that "Everyman" is an example.