Morality plays

Definition

Morality plays are a genre of medieval drama that aim to teach moral lessons through allegorical characters and plots. These plays typically feature personifications of virtues and vices, exploring the conflict between good and evil and emphasizing the importance of living a virtuous life. They often served as a tool for both entertainment and education, reflecting the moral values of society during the medieval period.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Morality plays emerged in the late medieval period as a response to the decline of religious mystery plays, focusing on individual morality rather than biblical narratives.
2. They were often performed in public spaces and incorporated local customs, making them accessible to a wide audience, including those who were illiterate.
3. The structure of morality plays typically involves a protagonist who faces moral dilemmas and ultimately chooses between good and evil, leading to redemption or damnation.
4. Notable examples of morality plays include 'Everyman,' which illustrates the journey of a man confronting death and seeking redemption, emphasizing personal accountability.
5. Morality plays laid the groundwork for later theatrical forms, influencing the development of Renaissance drama by introducing themes of morality and human experience.

Review Questions

• How do morality plays reflect the societal values and moral teachings of the medieval period?
  • Morality plays were designed to educate audiences about ethical behavior by presenting allegorical characters that embodied virtues and vices. They reflected societal values by reinforcing the idea that individuals are accountable for their moral choices, demonstrating that living virtuously leads to salvation while succumbing to vice leads to ruin. This educational aspect was crucial in an era where formal education was limited, allowing these plays to serve both entertainment and instructive purposes.
• Compare and contrast morality plays with mystery plays in terms of their themes and purposes within medieval drama.
  • While both morality plays and mystery plays are forms of medieval drama, they serve different purposes and focus on distinct themes. Mystery plays revolve around biblical narratives and depict religious events to educate viewers about Christian beliefs. In contrast, morality plays focus on individual moral choices and ethical dilemmas, using allegorical figures to illustrate conflicts between good and evil. This shift from collective religious storytelling to personal moral reflection highlights changing societal concerns during the late medieval period.
• Evaluate the impact of morality plays on Renaissance literature, considering how they influenced later dramatic works.
  • Morality plays significantly influenced Renaissance literature by introducing complex characterizations and themes centered on moral decision-making. The allegorical nature of these plays set a precedent for exploring human psychology in greater depth, paving the way for playwrights like Shakespeare to delve into character motivations and ethical dilemmas. Additionally, the emphasis on individual agency in morality plays laid foundational ideas that would resonate throughout Renaissance literature, encouraging an exploration of human experience that shaped future narratives.

Related terms

Allegory:

A narrative technique in which characters and events symbolize broader moral or spiritual meanings, often used to convey complex ideas in a more relatable form.

Mystery Plays: Dramatic performances based on biblical stories that were popular during the medieval period, often showcasing events from the life of Christ and the history of salvation.

Vice:

A character or trait representing moral failing or immorality, often depicted in morality plays as antagonists who tempt or lead protagonists astray.