Everyman Influence & Modern Adaptations

 Everyman is one of the most well known morality play. It originated in the 16th century, but is still performed widely around professional theatres as well as college theatres today. Everyman gives the audience as well as the production crew a moral check. It ties strongly to the Christian religion and uses it as a symbolic tool; to show we are too attached to our worldly possessions, and when we die none of it will come with you in the afterlife. As we as a community develop we rely more and more on technology. While you may not be Christian, this show still has a positive timeless theme. As people we should focus more on doing good deeds then worldly possessions.  


Everyman has had dozens of modern adaptions done since the 16th century. The most recent adaption was at the national theatre in 2015. (adapted by Carol Ann Duffy) Another adaptation that is very popular in Australia and is performed every year for  the Salzburg festival, "Jederman." (adapted early 1920s by Hugo Von Hofmannsthal.) Fredrick Frank made an adaptation that circled around Buddhism instead of Christianity in 1979 titled "Everyone". Through out the evolution of the play women have even played the role of Everyman. It's not a story of just one person, Everyman symbolizes all men and women. Death is inevitable and nobody can ever tell when death will strike them. As people, we try to live a righteous good life and this play does a great job of showing how, we can be blinded by temporary items and stray away from true acts of kindness. The continuance of this mental fight we have between ourselves is why Everyman is one of the most popular mortality plays. 


 


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Everyman Script Analysis

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