Everyman++Themes

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=Everyman= [|Themes] [|eNotes Everyman Themes] [|Major Themes]


 * Themes **

__Live for Tomorrow __

Live for tomorrow—that is, life after death—by leading a holy and virtuous earthly life that includes doing good works. In the opening lines of the play, Death states this theme when he says, "Man, in the beginning, / Look well, and take good heed to the ending." Everyman learns to "take good heed" before it is too late. He confesses and repents his sins and thus earns paradise on the strength of his contrition and the good works that he has performed.

__The Deceptive Appearance of Sin __

Man in his youth perceives sin as beautiful, like a spring flower, as Death says in the opening lines:

> Ye think sin in the beginning full sweet,

> Which in the end causeth thy soul to weep,

> When the body lieth in clay.

But this flower fades and dies in the autumn and winter of life. Death warns the audience to take heed of this truth.

__Material vs Spiritual Gain __

A man may gain a world of riches, but they are as nothing if he suffers the loss of his soul. God enunciates this theme near the beginning of the play:

>> I perceive here in my majesty, >> How that all the creatures be to me unkind >> Living without dread in worldly prosperity: >> Of ghostly sight the people be so blind, >> Drowned in sin, they know me not for their God; >> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">In worldly riches is all their mind. . ..

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Everyman discovers the truth of the adage // You can’t take it with you //. “It,” of course, is his store of material goods, a burden that encumbers his spirituality. Good Deeds tells him that he should have lightened this burden by giving possessions to the poor.

__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">God's Mercy __

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Humans snub God’s mercy. Caught up with the pleasures of life and the pursuit of material possessions, people neglect to petition the Lord to receive forgiveness for their sins, which He is every ready to bestow. God calls attention to this human fault near the beginning of the play:

>> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">I proferred the people great multitude of mercy >> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">And few there be that asketh it heartily >> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">They be so encumbered with worldly riches.

__<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Final Judgment __

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">No human being can escape final judgment. God tells Death that the day will come when every person must undertake a final journey and give an accounting of his life before the Lord. No man can escape this task; every person will face a day of reckoning. http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides3/Everyman.html