Everyman is one of the best examples we have of a medieval morality play. Such plays were used to instruct the masses, who were largely illiterate, about sin and redemption. They were generally short and simple, performed off the back of wagons — a way to remind people about sin in a more exciting, participatory way than reading the Bible at them.
Key Aspects of Everyman: Morality Play
Tone
Morality plays are intentionally didactic. The objective of the playwright is to remind the audience of the traits that will send them to Hell or to Heaven, and the entire play is written around those lessons, with no subtlety or nuance.
Setting
The play is set in a generically medieval society, but...
