Presentation of Death in the Morality Play 'Everyman'

Essay from the year 2012 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2.1, Churchill College, Cambridge, course: BA, language: English, abstract: The relationship in this play between God and the Devil is made clear by their conversation towards the start of the play. God summons Death: "e;Where art thou, Death, thou mighty messenger?"e; (line 63, 66). Death's reply demonstrates his total subservience to God: Death, in this morality play, only has power through the good offices of God: Almighty God, I am here at your will, Your commandment to fulfil. (64 - 65, 66)God tells Death to take Everyman on a pilgrimage in order to prepare himself for the sure reckoning that awaits him - the decision on whether he should go to Heaven or Hell when he dies. Death s reply is consistent with catholic doctrine in that he stresses Everyman s obsession with richesse and that he liveth beastly, but he also gives a hint that Everyman can be saved in line 78 on page 67 - Except that Alms be his good friend : alms are acts of charity to the poor and are one of the good deeds that Everyman must turn to in order to escape the fires of Hell.