Edunes Online Education
University: Rabindranath Tagore University (RTU), Hojai, Assam
Course: BA ENGLISH (Honours)
EVERYMAN
Edunes Online Education
Q1. How does Everyman's allegory represent British society and politics?
The allegory in Everyman represents British society and politics by illustrating a worldview where earthly status and material wealth are subordinate to divine judgment. While primarily a religious "moral play," its personified abstractions reflect the social structures, institutional power, and moral anxieties of its time.
Representation of British Society:
The play critiques the social fabric of the period, portraying a society that has become "blind" to spiritual matters due to an obsession with wealth and personal pleasure.
Critique of Materialism: The character of
Goods represents the growing importance of material wealth in society.
The play warns that "worldly riches" are merely
"lent" to individuals and that an over-reliance on them leads to spiritual
"damnation." God laments that people are so
"cumbered with worldly riches" that they have forgotten charity.
Fragility of Social Bonds: Through
Fellowship,
Kindred, and
Cousin, the allegory represents the transience of human relationships.
Fellowship is willing to join Everyman for "sport and play" or even to help him commit
"murder," but refuses to accompany him on his spiritual journey.
This reflects a social critique of "fair-weather" friends who are present in
"prosperity" but absent in "adversity."
The Role of the Church: The society depicted is deeply rooted in the sacramental life of the
Church. The play emphasizes that
Priesthood "exceedeth all other thing" because priests have the authority to handle the
"blessed sacraments" necessary for salvation.
It explicitly identifies the seven sacraments—baptism,
confirmation,
priesthood,
marriage,
extreme unction, and
penance—as the
"medicine" for the soul.
Representation of Politics and Power:
The play addresses political authority by placing earthly power within a larger, cosmic hierarchy.
Earthly vs. Divine Hierarchy: Everyman asserts the absolute authority of God as the
"high father of heaven" and the
"highest Jupiter." Worldly political titles are shown to be powerless against the
"summons" of Death. Death explicitly states that he has no regard for
"pope, emperor, king, duke, ne princes" and cannot be bribed with
"gold, silver, nor riches."
Authority of the Priesthood: The play reflects contemporary political-religious tensions by asserting that even the
"least priest" has a divine commission that surpasses that of any
"emperor, king, duke, ne baron." Priests are described as being
"above angels in degree" because of their power to
"unbind all bands."
Institutional Corruption: The text also provides a glimpse into political and social critiques of the Church.
Through the character of Knowledge, the play acknowledges that
"sinful priests" exist—those who lead
"unclean" lives or
"buy or sell" their offices
(simony). This suggests a society that was increasingly aware of and vocal about institutional corruption.
In summary, the allegory serves the syllabus objective of exploring British life by showing how medieval social values and political hierarchies were fundamentally framed by a preoccupation with mortality and religious accountability.
Q2. How does the play portray institutional corruption?
In the play Everyman, institutional corruption is portrayed through a nuanced critique that distinguishes between the divine authority of the priesthood and the moral failings of individual clergy members. While the play maintains a high respect for the ecclesiastical office, it explicitly addresses the ways in which that office is sometimes abused.
The Distinction Between Office and Individual
The character Knowledge introduces a significant
"if" regarding the holiness of the clergy, stating,
"If priests be good it is so surely," implying that their spiritual superiority is contingent upon their personal conduct.
While Five-Wits argues that the priesthood "exceedeth all other thing" and that priests are "above angels in degree" because they handle the sacraments, Knowledge provides a sobering counterpoint regarding institutional rot.
Specific Forms of Corruption
- Simony (Buying and Selling of Spiritual Grace): Knowledge warns that "Jesu's curse" falls upon those who "buy or sell" God their Saviour, or take money for spiritual services. It is emphasized that when Jesus gave the sacraments, "He sold them not to us," contrasting divine generosity with the greed of corrupt officials.
- Sexual Immorality and Lechery: The text identifies priests who lead "unclean" lives and "haunteth women’s company." This critique of lechery suggests a failure to uphold vows of celibacy, thereby making these figures "with sin made blind."
- Domestic Scandals: Knowledge mentions the social consequences of corrupt clergy, noting that "their children sitteth by other men's fires," a reference to the illegitimacy and social disruption caused by priests who fathered children despite their religious standing.
The Social Impact of Corruption
The play suggests that institutional corruption has a
trickle-down effect on the rest of society.
Knowledge observes that
"sinful priests giveth the sinners example bad."
By failing to live up to their "heavenly sphere," these corrupt individuals fail in their role as "shepherds" to the "sheep" (the laity), potentially leading the people toward damnation rather than salvation.
In the context of the syllabus, this portrayal illustrates the
tensions within British society during the late medieval period,
where the absolute necessity of the Church's sacraments for salvation
coexisted with a growing and vocal awareness of
human fallibility and
systemic corruption within the Church hierarchy.
Q3. How do priests differ from angels in the play?
In the play Everyman, priests are portrayed as holding a higher spiritual authority and degree than angels because of their unique sacramental powers on earth.
The sources outline the following key differences between them:
- Sacramental Authority: God has given priests more power than "any angel that is in heaven" because priests have the authority to perform the sacraments. Specifically, a priest can use "five words" to consecrate the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, effectively handling his "maker between his hands."
- Binding and Unbinding: Unlike angels, priests have the commission to "bindeth and unbindeth all bands, both in earth and in heaven." They are described as the "surgeons" who cure "sin deadly," and the play asserts there is no spiritual remedy under God except through the priesthood.
- Spiritual Degree: Because they act in God's "stead among us," the text explicitly states that priests are "above angels in degree."
- Human Fallibility: A critical distinction is that while angels are part of the "heavenly company," priests are human and capable of corruption. The character Knowledge adds the caveat that priests are only above angels "if priests be good." The play acknowledges that "sinful priests" exist who lead "unclean" lives and set bad examples for their "sheep" (the laity).
- Functional Roles: Within the drama, Angels serve as celestial messengers and welcomers who receive the souls of the "elect" into the "heavenly sphere" once their reckoning is "crystal-clear." Priests, meanwhile, are the essential earthly guides who provide the "holy sacrament and ointment" (Extreme Unction) that Everyman needs to prepare for his final journey.
Q5. (i) How do priests handle God between their hands?
(ii) What are the five words used to consecrate God's body?
(iii) How do sinful priests set a bad example for society?
(iv) How do priests act as surgeons for the soul?
5(i). How do priests handle God “between their hands” in Everyman?
In the play Everyman, priests are described as handling God "between their hands" through the sacrament of the altar, or the Eucharist.
The character Five-Wits explains that this occurs during the act of consecration:
- The Power of Five Words: A priest has been given the divine power to "consecrate God's body in flesh and blood to make" by speaking only "five words."
- Handling the Maker: Through this sacramental act, the priest physically "handleth his maker"—referring to Jesus Christ—between his hands in the form of the consecrated bread and wine.
- Superiority to Angels: This specific ability to handle the "holy body" of God is why the play asserts that priests have more power than "any angel that is in heaven" and are "above angels in degree."
- Earthly Agency: Because they perform this role, priests are seen as acting in God's "stead among us," serving as the "surgeons" who cure "sin deadly" through the administration of the seven sacraments.
5(ii). What are the “five words” of consecration in Everyman?
The sources provided do not explicitly state which specific words constitute the "five words" used for consecration.
According to the text, Five-Wits highlights the immense power of the priesthood by noting that a priest, with only
"five words," has the divine authority to
"consecrate God's body in flesh and blood to make."
Through this act, the priest
"handleth his maker between his hands,"
a power the play describes as exceeding even that of angels.
Information from outside these sources—specifically from the historical and religious context of the medieval Catholic Mass which the play reflects—indicates that these
"five words" refer to the Latin formula of consecration:
Hoc est enim corpus meum
(translated as "For this is my body.")
In the play, however, this specific phrase is never scripted. Everyman leaves the stage to receive the sacraments from a priest and then returns after the ceremony is complete, reinforcing the sacred mystery of the rite rather than dramatizing its exact wording.
5(iii). How do sinful priests set a bad example in Everyman?
According to the sources, sinful priests set a bad example for society by failing to live up to the high spiritual standards of their office, thereby leading the laity—described as their "sheep"—astray.
The text highlights several specific ways these
"bad examples" manifest:
- Financial Corruption (Simony): The character Knowledge explains that some priests "buy or sell" God or take money for spiritual services. This is portrayed as a betrayal of Christ, who "sold them not to us" when he gave the sacraments out of his "blessed heart."
- Sexual Immorality: The play critiques priests who "haunteth women’s company" and lead an "unclean life" filled with the "lusts of lechery."
- Social and Domestic Scandals: Knowledge mentions that the children of corrupt priests "sitteth by other men's fires," suggesting that their personal failings create social disruption and illegitimate family situations visible to the community.
- Spiritual Blindness: Because of these actions, these priests are "with sin made blind." This is especially damaging because priests are meant to be the "surgeons that cureth sin deadly." When the "shepherds" are blind and sinful, they provide a "bad example" to the sinners they are meant to convert and lead toward heaven.
Ultimately, while the play asserts that the office of the priesthood is
"above angels in degree," it clarifies that this dignity only holds
"if priests be good."
When they are not, they undermine the "surety" and salvation of the people they are commissioned to protect.
5(iv). Why are priests described as “surgeons” in Everyman?
In the play Everyman, priests are metaphorically described as surgeons because they possess the unique divine authority to "cureth sin deadly." This image presents sin as a mortal wound and the priest as the only qualified spiritual physician.
According to the sources, this spiritual surgery is performed through the following means:
- The Seven Sacraments as Medicine: The text describes the seven sacraments— baptism, confirmation, priesthood, the Eucharist (God's precious flesh and blood), marriage, extreme unction, and penance—as the "medicine" provided by God for the "soul's redemption."
- Binding and Unbinding: Just as a surgeon might bind a wound or remove an obstruction, a priest has the commission to "bindeth and unbindeth all bands" both on earth and in heaven. This power enables the priest to "unbind" the soul from the weight of sin.
- Conversion from Sin: Priests act as surgeons by teaching Holy Scripture and converting humanity from sin so they may "heaven to reach." Five-Wits asserts that there is "no remedy... under God" for the soul’s condition except through the priesthood.
- Healing the “Smart”: When Everyman undergoes confession and penance, he is told he will "heal [himself] of [his] smart" (his spiritual wound). By receiving the "holy sacrament and ointment" (Extreme Unction) from a priest, his reckoning becomes "crystal-clear" before God.
Ultimately, the play positions the priest as an essential spiritual doctor because, while other earthly companions (such as
Beauty or
Strength) fail at the grave, the priest provides the necessary
"soul's succour" to ensure the individual’s eternal survival.
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