Everyman

Everyman Summary | Detailed Summary

Everyman is a one-act play written in the late 15^th century. The play begins with a messenger calling on the audience to watch the play. The messenger relates to the audience that this play is a moral play about when Everyman is called in front of God. He explains that in the beginning of the bible, God created man and everything was perfect. However man created sin and for that, Everyman is going to have to have a reckoning with God. The messenger warns that even though now, the spectators think that sin is a good thing, when it comes to the end, it will make people sad. Those things which now make you happy will fade and it is then that Everyman will have to answer for his actions.

God is the next to speak. He begins with how upset he is at the people of the world because they forget him, live in sin, and only think about worldly riches. He continues with how he tried to save them by dying for them at the crucifixion but that the populations turn their backs on him. Everyman is living in sin; they are only out for themselves and people will prey upon each other. God reminds the audience that Everyman will have to answer for his sin. He expresses his hope that everyone will take the gift he has given but he realizes that few actually will ask for that forgiveness.

Therefore, he calls on Death.

Death comes and a conversation between Death and God begins. God tells Death that it is Everyman's time and asks Death to retrieve him. Death talks about how Everyman is going about his business living for himself, outside of the laws God has set up and in sin. Everyman hardly thinks about the time when Death will come and take him. That is of little concern to him. Death says that he will go get Everyman and bring him before the Lord.

Death comes to Everyman and asks him what is he doing? Has he forgotten his Maker? Everyman asks why he wants to know. Death replies that he has been sent by God to bring him. Everyman is shocked. Death goes on to say that though he forgets about God, God never forgets about him. Everyman asks what God wants. Death replies that it is time for the reckoning. Everyman asks for more time. Death replies that he has had all the time he needs and is going to have to answer for what he has done in his life. Death believes that Everyman has done more bad deeds than good. He warns Everyman that he will have to answer for himself.

Everyman finally asks Death who he is and Death names himself. Everyman tries to bribe Death. Death says that there is nothing that can buy him nor can anyone stop him. Everyman pleads that he is not ready to go, he has not been warned, and he has not prepared for the reckoning. He asks for more time to change his ways before being taken. Death responds with saying that Everyman has no more time and he should try to find friends whom can prove him worthy of heaven. He talks about how Everyman must die because of Adam's sin.

Everyman asks that he be allowed to come back and Death responds with no one can come back. Everyman then prays to God to save him from Death. Death asks why he is refusing to go when it is God whom has given him his life and all his goods. Deaths goes on to say that life was leant to Everyman and that Everyman was crazy not to live right because he never knew when Death was going to come.

Everyman again asks for a reprieve until he can mend his ways and Death again says no. Everyman worries about his life and how he had lived it. He begins to wonder whom he can turn to, to help prove that he is worthy of God. He thinks of Fellowship.

Thus a conversation between Everyman and Fellowship begins.

Everyman asks Fellowship for help. Fellowship says that he is a good friend to everyman and certainly he will help him and not forsake him. He goes on to say that he would even help seek revenge with Everyman and that he is willing to die for him. Everyman thanks Fellowship and Fellowship asks him what it is he is needed for. Everyman doubts his friend and makes that clear. Again Fellowship proclaims his friendship and his willingness to do anything for Everyman. Everyman tells him about having to go before God and needing him to come with him to prove to God that he is worthy to get into heaven.

Fellowship begins with saying that he should go and that it should be his pain too because he had promised Everyman but that he is afraid and needs to now think about it. Everyman reminds him that he said he would go. Fellowship asks when they will be back and Everyman responds that they can never come back. It is then that Fellowship refuses. Everyman argues with him and says that Death is here to get him and Fellowship promised to help. Fellowship responds by saying that if Everyman wanted him to do lustful things that he would gladly do so. Everyman asks him if he would rather play than help. Fellowship responds with saying that he would also kill someone for him. In the end fellowship refuses to go.

Everyman is upset that Fellowship will make merry with him but will abandon him in his time of need. He begins to think about whom else can help him. He thinks about Kindred and believes that he will help. Kindred does as Fellowship and vows to help. Then Kindred asks what he needs to do. When Everyman responds that he has to show God everything he has done both good and bad, Kindred refuses to go with him. Kindred does say if he needs money that they are more than willing to help and they are willing to send someone else with him if he wants.

Everyman is again upset and asks why he has been so foolish to have Fellowship and Kindred and his friends. He then thinks about his riches and hopes that maybe they will come with him. Goods replies that he can't take them with him. Goods says that though he can help them on this world, he is no good to him in heaven. Everyman says that surely God will accept payment for the wrongs deeds. Goods retaliates by saying that is not true, in fact many of the sins he committed were because of Goods.

Everyman says that he had loved Goods and he had given him great pleasure. Goods responds with love of money is fleeting. Goods then tells him that he was actually sent to kill men's souls. For every good that Goods does, 1000 are damned. Everyman is upset and accuses Goods of deceiving him. Goods replies that it was not him that did this, Everyman brought it on himself.

Everyman is upset that his friends have abandoned him. Everyman realizes his folly in relying on Fellowship, Kindred, and Goods. He is upset because he knows he has to rely on Good-Deeds but it is weak because he did not do many good deeds in his lifetime. He knows that Good-Deeds is his last hope so he asks if Good-Deeds will go with him. Good-Deeds responds saying she would help if she were able but cannot because he didn't do enough and she is too weak to make a difference.

Everyman asks if there is anything he can do and Good-Deeds tells him to go to knowledge for help. Knowledge agrees to be his guide. Knowledge begins to explain that the way to salvation. Knowledge takes Everyman to confession which is found in the church and Everyman asks Confession to help Good-Deeds with God. Confession gives Everyman penance and warms him that though knowledge can help, it will be a long and difficult journey. If successful, Good-Deeds will be stronger and he will find forgiveness in the end. Everyman starts his penance although he knows that some things will be very painful.

Everyman starts to pray to God for forgiveness. This makes Good-Deeds stronger and know is strong enough to go with Everyman on his journey. Everyman is happy and prepared to enter heaven. Knowledge assures him of God's forgiveness and that he has a place in heaven. Again, the story of the crucifixion is referred to. Know that he is ready, instead of relying on Fellowship, Kindred, and Wealth; he must rely on Knowledge, Good-Deeds, Discretion (Five-Wits), Strength, and Beauty. All five of these agree to go with him on his journey.

Everyman realizes that now that he has there five friends, he no longer has any desire for his previous life and business. They advise him to lead the rest of his life with good judgment and deliberation. Knowledge directs him to go to the Priest and take the Holy Sacrament. Five-Wits lets him know that the lowliest Priest has greater power than an emperor or king because he will help him into heaven by giving him the seven sacraments, baptism, confirmation, sacrament of the blood and flesh, marriage, holy unction, and penance.

Everyman is wary and asks if that is all he has to do. Five-Wits answers yes, it is because the priest has the highest power given to people because he teaches the word and can give the sacrament. Five-Wits makes the remark that if God gave them such dignity then they are above the angels.

Knowledge rebukes him by saying that Jesus died on the cross for the sake of all sinners and all humans are sinners. Priests are still humans and some set very bad examples for other sinners. Some have children which have been passed off as other men's and some lead lives of womanizing.

Five-Wits says that though this is true, Everyman has to trust that God will protect him from those types of priests and he needs to listen to the priest. Everyman finally feels that he is ready for his reckoning with God, and tells his five friends that he will go ahead and call them when he needs them. They say that they will not leave his side. Everyman again reiterates that he is ready to die and be put in the grave.

When Beauty realizes that his is going to be in the grave, she changes her mind and says that she will not go with him. Again Everyman is worried about whom to trust because Beauty has now left. Soon Strength, Discretion, and Five Wits follow suit and leave him. Everyman is angst and asks Jesus for help because everyone is leaving him. Good-Deeds reassures him that he will not leave him. Knowledge will not leave until he finds out what will happen to Everyman.

Everyman is grateful that Good-Deeds will speak for him. Then Everyman dies. Knowledge hears the angels making way for Everyman. An angel comes and welcomes him into heaven. The play ends with the doctor reiterating the moral of the play, everyman needs to rely on Good-Deeds, Knowledge, and the forgiveness that the Lord can give and not on the more superficial things like, friends, family, wealth, beauty, or strength.