Morality Plays

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Morality Plays are a type of medieval drama that emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries, designed to teach moral lessons through allegorical characters. These plays were used to educate audiences about Christian virtues and the struggle between good and evil in human life.

Features of Morality Plays:

  1. Allegorical Characters – The characters represent abstract concepts like Virtue, Vice, Death, Good Deeds, Knowledge, and the Devil.
  2. Moral and Religious Lessons – The plays teach lessons about right and wrong, sin, and redemption.
  3. The Journey of the Soul – The protagonist often represents "Everyman", symbolizing humanity’s spiritual struggle.
  4. Personification of Good and Evil – Good and bad forces fight to influence the main character’s choices.
  5. Simple and Didactic – The plays were easy to understand, ensuring that common people could learn moral values.

Examples of Morality Plays:

  • "Everyman" – The most famous morality play, where Everyman (representing all people) faces Death and realizes that only Good Deeds can accompany him to the afterlife.
  • "The Castle of Perseverance" – A play showing a man’s life from birth to death, highlighting the battle between good and evil.
  • "Mankind" – A humorous yet moralistic play emphasizing the importance of avoiding sin.

Morality plays were influential in shaping early English drama, leading to the development of Elizabethan theatre and later dramatic forms.


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