Essay on Everyman and the Second Shepherds' Play

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Everyman and The Second Shepherds' Play

Everyman and The Second Shepherds' Play remind the audience that good deeds are necessary for redemption, however, they reinforce the idea that we must shun material concerns to be redeemed. Both plays seek to reinforce these aspects of redemption to insure that all may be redeemed. The world is imperfect, and the only way we can make ourselves perfect and worthy of redemption is by not worrying about our material well being and performing good deeds. It is by disregarding our material concerns that allow us to perform good deeds.

Everyman places his faith in material things, his friends, relatives and goods. These material things do him no good. Fellowship claims he "will not forsake thee …show more content…
Daw is no different from the other shepherds, he does not eat well and "A drink fain would I have, / And somewhat to dine" (Shepherds' 211-212). Daw is honest on his feelings toward repentance. "I may lightly repent, / My toes if I spurn." (Shepherds' 207-208). Daw does not attempt to repent honestly and change his ways. After swearing, he immediately says he is sorry, and goes on, without making any effort to alter his sinful behavior. Daw is also a victim of injustice, because they do not compensate him for his work,

But here my troth, master,

For the fare that ye make

I shall do thereafter:

Work as I take. (Shepherds 235-239)

Since he is paid little, he works little. He "among ever lake" (Shepherds' 240), which means that he often plays around when he should be working. The shepherds complain about the material well being because it is all with which they are concerned. To them nothing else matters, and this is the major impediment to their salvation. If they were concerned with the needs of others, their path toward salvation would be clearer and their lives happier.

Once Everyman embraces and strengthens his good deeds he is ready to go into Heaven. Good Deeds "will abide with thee: / I will not forsake thee indeed" (Everyman 853). Good Deeds is the only one who matters when we confront God at our time of death.

The shepherds cannot meet Jesus in their sinful, materialistic
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