8.3 Morality Plays: allegory and didacticism

Morality plays were a popular form of medieval drama that used allegory 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 redemption

Seven Deadly Sins as Central Figures

• Seven Deadly Sins (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

• 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 salvation narrative, tracing the protagonist's journey from sin to redemption
• The protagonist, often representing humanity or the everyman, 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 (direct appeals, asides)
• 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 the inevitability of death 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 (Mankind) 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