8.3 Morality Plays: allegory and didacticism
4 min read•august 6, 2024
Morality plays were a popular form of medieval drama that used to teach moral lessons. These plays featured characters representing virtues and vices, with plots centered on the struggle between good and evil in the human soul.
The plays aimed to educate audiences about Christian values and the consequences of sin. Through personified abstract concepts and symbolic narratives, morality plays made complex theological ideas accessible to the common people, encouraging self-reflection and spiritual growth.
Allegorical Characters and Themes
Personification of Abstract Concepts
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- Allegorical characters represent abstract ideas, qualities, or concepts rather than realistic, fully developed individuals
- Characters often have names that directly indicate the virtue or vice they embody (Pride, Patience, Gluttony)
- Allegorical characters lack psychological depth and complexity, serving as symbols to convey moral messages
- Interactions between characters symbolize the conflict between good and evil, temptation and resistance, or sin and
Seven Deadly Sins as Central Figures
- (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth) frequently appear as characters in morality plays
- These personified sins tempt the protagonist, representing the various ways in which humans can stray from the path of righteousness
- The protagonist's struggle against the Seven Deadly Sins demonstrates the ongoing battle between virtue and vice in the human soul
- Morality plays often depict the consequences of succumbing to these sins, emphasizing the importance of resisting temptation (eternal damnation, suffering)
Virtues and Vices in Opposition
- Virtues (faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance) and vices (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth) are personified as opposing forces
- The conflict between virtues and vices forms the central tension in many morality plays, representing the moral choices faced by humans
- Virtues guide and support the protagonist, while vices attempt to lead them astray, symbolizing the internal struggle between good and evil
- The ultimate triumph of virtue over vice in morality plays reinforces the Christian message of the importance of leading a righteous life (salvation, divine grace)
Influence of Psychomachia
- , an allegorical poem by Prudentius (5th century), depicts the battle between virtues and vices for the human soul
- This work heavily influenced the use of allegorical characters and themes in morality plays
- Morality plays often draw upon the structure and imagery of Psychomachia, staging the conflict between good and evil within the individual
- The legacy of Psychomachia in morality plays highlights the enduring appeal of allegorical representations of moral struggles (internal conflict, spiritual warfare)
Morality Play Structure and Purpose
Salvation Narrative as Central Plot
- Morality plays typically follow a , tracing the protagonist's journey from sin to redemption
- The protagonist, often representing humanity or the , begins in a state of sin or ignorance
- Through encounters with allegorical characters and facing temptations, the protagonist gradually recognizes their wrongdoings and seeks repentance
- The play concludes with the protagonist's salvation, emphasizing the possibility of redemption through faith and divine mercy (forgiveness, eternal life)
Didactic Purpose and Audience Engagement
- Morality plays were designed to teach religious and moral lessons to the audience, serving a didactic purpose
- The allegorical characters and themes made complex theological concepts accessible to the lay audience, facilitating understanding and engagement
- Morality plays encouraged the audience to reflect on their own lives and moral choices, prompting introspection and self-examination
- The plays often directly addressed the audience, breaking the fourth wall to deliver moral messages and exhortations (, )
- The participatory nature of morality plays, with the audience actively involved in the performance (responding to questions, joining in prayers), reinforced the didactic purpose and encouraged personal application of the lessons
Notable Morality Plays
Everyman as a Quintessential Example
- Everyman, a late 15th-century morality play, is one of the most well-known and representative examples of the genre
- The play follows the journey of the protagonist, Everyman, who is summoned by Death to account for his life before God
- Everyman seeks companions to accompany him on this journey, but is ultimately abandoned by all except Good Deeds, emphasizing the importance of righteous living
- The play highlights and judgment, encouraging the audience to consider their own moral state and the consequences of their actions
- Everyman's allegorical characters (Fellowship, Kindred, Goods, Knowledge, Beauty, Strength, Discretion) represent the fleeting nature of worldly attachments and the importance of spiritual virtues
The Castle of Perseverance and the Staging of Allegory
- The Castle of Perseverance, a 15th-century morality play, is notable for its elaborate staging and use of allegorical characters
- The play depicts the life of Humanum Genus () from birth to death, showcasing the various influences and temptations he encounters
- The staging involves a circular arrangement with scaffolds representing different locations (World, Flesh, Devil, God), visually representing the forces at work in the protagonist's life
- The play features a large cast of allegorical characters, including the Seven Deadly Sins, Virtues, and other personified concepts (Death, Angel, Confession)
- The Castle of Perseverance demonstrates the sophisticated use of allegory and staging in morality plays to convey spiritual truths and engage the audience in a immersive moral experience
Key Terms to Review (23)
Allegory: Allegory is a literary device where characters, events, and details symbolize deeper meanings, often conveying moral, spiritual, or political messages. It allows authors to express complex ideas through symbolic representation, making it a powerful tool in literature that can reflect historical and cultural contexts, major literary trends, and themes.
Asides: Asides are brief remarks made by a character in a play that are intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters on stage. They serve as a way for characters to express their true thoughts or feelings, often providing insight into their motivations and the underlying themes of the narrative. In the context of morality plays, asides can enhance the allegorical elements and didactic messages by allowing characters to directly communicate moral lessons or reflect on their choices.
Dialogue: Dialogue refers to the written conversational exchange between characters in a literary work, particularly in plays and narratives. It is essential for character development, plot progression, and conveying themes, serving as a primary means for authors to express ideas and emotions through characters' interactions. In medieval literature, dialogue also reflects social norms, moral lessons, and the complexities of human relationships.
Didacticism: Didacticism refers to a philosophy of literature and art that emphasizes the instructional or educational purpose of a work. It often involves moral lessons or messages intended to guide the audience’s understanding or behavior. Works that embody didacticism aim to teach the reader about ethical dilemmas, social issues, or human behavior through engaging narratives and characters.
Direct appeals: Direct appeals refer to the explicit requests made by characters in morality plays to the audience, urging them to consider their own moral choices and actions. These appeals serve as a crucial mechanism for engaging viewers on a personal level, encouraging them to reflect on their behavior and the consequences of their decisions, often through a didactic lens that aims to teach a moral lesson.
Everyman: Everyman is a significant allegorical figure in medieval literature, representing the common human experience and the universal journey towards death and salvation. This character is central to morality plays, which emerged during the late Middle Ages, highlighting moral lessons through the struggles between good and evil, as well as the importance of personal accountability in the face of mortality.
Hugh McDiarmid: Hugh McDiarmid was a Scottish poet and a leading figure in the Scottish literary revival during the early 20th century. He is best known for his commitment to using Scots language in poetry, which served as a powerful medium for expressing national identity and cultural pride. His work often intertwines themes of social justice, political activism, and the exploration of Scottish identity, reflecting the allegorical nature of morality plays that aim to impart ethical lessons.
Mankind: Mankind refers to the collective human race, encompassing all individuals and their shared experiences, struggles, and moral choices. This term often serves as a focal point in literature, especially in allegorical works that highlight the universal themes of human existence, morality, and the quest for redemption. In narratives like morality plays, mankind symbolizes both the potential for virtue and the pitfalls of vice, emphasizing the moral lessons that guide human behavior.
Medieval christian values: Medieval Christian values refer to the ethical and moral principles derived from Christian teachings that shaped societal norms and individual behavior during the Middle Ages. These values emphasized the importance of faith, charity, humility, and the pursuit of salvation, influencing various aspects of life including art, literature, and communal interactions. They served as a foundation for moral instruction in forms like allegory and didacticism.
Medieval society: Medieval society refers to the social structure and cultural norms that developed during the Middle Ages, characterized by feudalism, a rigid class system, and strong religious influence. It was a time when the Church played a pivotal role in everyday life, shaping the values, beliefs, and institutions of the period. This social framework greatly influenced various forms of art and literature produced during this time, including poetry, romance narratives, and morality plays.
Metaphor: A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two unrelated things, emphasizing the similarities between them without using 'like' or 'as.' This literary device enriches the text by adding deeper meaning and emotional resonance, and it's widely used in various forms of literature to convey complex ideas and emotions.
Parishioners: Parishioners are members of a parish, which is a local church community typically served by a priest or minister. They are the laypeople who participate in the religious and communal life of their church, playing a crucial role in the congregation's activities and moral teachings. In the context of morality plays, parishioners often represent the general public and are integral to conveying moral lessons through allegory and didacticism.
Personification: Personification is a literary device where human characteristics and qualities are attributed to non-human entities, animals, or abstract concepts. This technique helps to create vivid imagery and emotional connections, making the text more relatable and engaging for readers.
Psychomachia: Psychomachia is a literary term that refers to the internal struggle between virtues and vices within a character's mind, often depicted as an allegorical battle. This concept highlights the moral dilemmas individuals face and serves to illustrate the didactic purpose of literature, encouraging audiences to reflect on their own ethical choices. The portrayal of psychomachia in literature often emphasizes the significance of personal conscience and the consequences of moral failure.
Redemption: Redemption refers to the act of being saved from sin, error, or evil, often involving a transformation or renewal of the soul. It is a central theme in many literary works, symbolizing hope, moral awakening, and spiritual growth, as characters often seek forgiveness and a return to grace after falling into vice or despair.
Salvation narrative: A salvation narrative is a storytelling framework that centers on the theme of redemption and the journey towards salvation, often depicting the struggles and triumphs of an individual or group seeking spiritual enlightenment or divine grace. This narrative structure is significant in literature as it highlights moral lessons and the consequences of human choices, particularly in works that employ allegory and didacticism.
Seven deadly sins: The seven deadly sins are a classification of vices in Christian teachings that are considered to lead to further immoral behavior. These sins include pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth, and they serve as a moral framework for understanding human weaknesses. Within the context of morality plays, these sins are often personified and depicted allegorically to teach moral lessons and encourage virtuous living.
Sin and virtue: Sin and virtue represent the moral dichotomy of wrongdoing and righteousness, often personified in literature to convey ethical lessons. This relationship highlights the choices individuals face between moral failings and virtuous living, serving as a fundamental theme in storytelling that aims to educate and guide behavior.
Symbolism: Symbolism is a literary device where symbols are used to represent larger ideas or concepts, giving deeper meaning to the text. This technique allows writers to convey complex themes and emotions through tangible images, characters, or events, enhancing the reader's understanding and engagement with the narrative.
The church's influence: The church's influence refers to the significant power and authority that the Christian church held over various aspects of life during the Middle Ages, particularly in shaping moral values, social norms, and political decisions. This influence permeated all levels of society, affecting literature, education, and daily life, making it a pivotal force in the development of morality plays, which utilized allegory and didacticism to convey religious and ethical teachings.
The importance of good deeds: The importance of good deeds refers to the moral principle that emphasizes the value of virtuous actions and their impact on both individual salvation and societal well-being. In various literary forms, particularly morality plays, this theme serves as a reminder of the consequences of one's choices and actions, often illustrating how good deeds lead to positive outcomes and spiritual rewards.
The inevitability of death: The inevitability of death refers to the inescapable reality that all living beings will eventually face mortality. This concept serves as a poignant reminder of human fragility and often prompts reflection on one's life choices and moral conduct, particularly in the context of allegorical representations in literature. In many works, including morality plays, this theme encourages audiences to consider their actions and the consequences they may bear in the afterlife, emphasizing the moral lessons that guide ethical living.
The Wakefield Master: The Wakefield Master is an anonymous playwright known for a collection of medieval mystery plays, particularly associated with the Wakefield Cycle. His works stand out due to their vibrant characters, complex themes, and innovative use of humor and drama, reflecting the broader evolution of medieval drama and the moral undertones prevalent in morality plays.