Morality plays

1. Morality PlaysMorality Plays
Began as part of church Began as part of church
servicesservices
Worked well to pass on Worked well to pass on
church teaching when church teaching when
most of the population most of the population
was illiteratewas illiterate
Indicated the struggle Indicated the struggle
between good and evil, between good and evil,
virtue and vicevirtue and vice

2. Morality PlaysMorality Plays
Eventually lost Eventually lost
connection with the connection with the
church and became church and became
entertainmententertainment
Would travel from town Would travel from town
to townto town
Most plays were written Most plays were written
anonymously (humility anonymously (humility
was a virtue at the time)was a virtue at the time)

3. Morality PlaysMorality Plays
Show the dilemmas faced Show the dilemmas faced
by the average person by the average person
trying to lead a moral lifetrying to lead a moral life
Characters are often Characters are often
abstractions that abstractions that
represent qualities of represent qualities of
human nature (Charity, human nature (Charity,
Greed, Lust)Greed, Lust)
Eventually evolved into Eventually evolved into
the form of drama popular the form of drama popular
in Shakespeare’s time.in Shakespeare’s time.