Everyman or Doctor Faustus
My British Literature students recently studied two very disparate texts – Everyman, written in 1485, author unknown, and The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, written in 1594 by Christopher Marlowe (a contemporary of William Shakespeare). Everyman, the main character of the morality play, is summoned by Death and begins the journey we will all take some day. At first he is aghast – “What! Sent to me? What desireth God of me?” After unsuccessfully attempting to pay Death off, he proceeds to look for company to take the journey with him.
Fellowship promises to go with him, but abandons him along the way. Kindred and Cousin claim they will “live and die together” with Everyman, but also cry off and do not join Everyman on his journey. His Goods, all his possessions and savings, cannot help him on his journey to death, nor can they help him give an account of his life to God. Other characters come along, Good Deeds, Knowledge, Confession, and he is deserted in his journey by his five senses (as he ages), and Discretion, Strength, and Beauty all abandon him.
As he approaches his death, Everyman asks God for mercy, repents, and is received by God. The obvious moral of the story is to live for God, “for after death amends may no man make.” Everyman makes a choice to repent and follow God.
Doctor Faustus, on the other hand, is a worldly man. He has studied logic, medicine, the law, and theology. But Doctor Faustus greatly desires knowledge with power, and makes a bargain with the devil to be granted magical power in exchange for his soul. His pride and ambition, similar to Satan’s, lead to his downfall and his rejection of God.
In the play, Doctor Faustus quotes scripture, but he takes it out of context and does not quote the entire verse. He recites the first part of
Romans 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death…”
and leaves out
Romans 6:23b “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
He focuses on God’s justice, and disregards His mercy. In addition, Doctor Faustus quotes from
1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
But he neglects the following verse,
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
These kinds of allegories were common in the 15th and 16th century, and many of us are familiar with more recent allegories, such as Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan, and Hind’s Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard. Stories with characters personifying our faith and its obstacles, are a great way to teach spiritual truths. It may be time for another spiritual allegory for our generation.
Katie, I have not read either of those literature pieces but perhaps I will next semester when I take my literature class. But you are right about the need for more spiritual allegories. Thank you for sharing this today!
There is so much great literature with references and allusions to the bible. Thanks for your comment.
Such a powerful message, Katie. In today’s world, many leave out important part of Scripture to cater to their needs and distract from the truth of God’s love and mercy. Yes, he is a just God, but gives us the chance to receive His unconditional love.
I enjoy reading literature so much, and especially when there are biblical truths intertwined. Thanks for your comment.