The characterization of death in Everyman sheds an important light on the beliefs of the people of the middle ages and thus, the audience and intention of the play. This role of death as God’s minion shows forth the truth that drives and permeates the play and nearly all medieval literature, the omnipotence of God. In light of this truth about God, the message of the play changes drastically. No longer is the play simply a tale of morality, but a literary attestation to the glory and splendor of God. In fact the key character in the play is not it’s namesake, Everyman, but death. Death’s characterization serves to show the true meaning of the story more than any other character present in the play. If the role and character of death is understood than the whole meaning and true theme of the play come to light.
In order to understand the role of death in Everyman and consequently the play itself, we must examine his two manifestations: servant and reaper. Death can be understood fully through his interactions with God as servant and with Everyman as reaper. In each manifestation of death in Everyman, death is shown to be an apparent contradiction in terms. Death is both mighty and powerful as reaper of men’s souls and powerless as a messenger and servant of God (61). Everyman mayshow death as an apparent contradiction in terms, but within this contradiction lies the very essence of death.
Death is first and foremost shown as a messenger of God, merely a servant who must obey and do his masters bidding. God speaks to death with assurance that he must and will obey:
God does not ask death what he thinks best to do or allow him a say on the predicament of Everyman, but clearly makes known that He is the master of death. Death simply acknowledges that he is present to fulfill God’s will (64) and that he will go at once (71). As presented in the beginning of the play and asserted with the interactions between God and Death, Death has no power over God. Death can only serve God, but he certainly does not do this happily or out of his own generosity. On the contrary, Death serves God with great malice and ill will, particularly towards mankind (72). This begrudging service shows Death as a captured prisoner or slave. God uses Death for His own advantage and for the advantage of mankind. Death in slavery shows that God is a conquering King who supplants even the great enemy of man, Death. God indeed is King over all creation, even Death, but Death somehow still holds sway over mankind. To fully understand Death his power over mankind must be shown in addition to his slavery to God.
As shown in the beginning of Everyman, Death does indeed serve God; however, humanity is still subject to death and death remains a great fear and evil. This domination is present in Everyman as Everyman attempts to avoid Death throughout the play. Death is shown as swift and cruel, fearless and merciless (116). No man can avoid Death and he “runs” over all in their time (71). As the play progresses Death waits on Everyman, for he knows that Everyman has no power to avoid him by his own means. However, as Everyman is chastised and shown the true path, he comes to bear witness to a great secret about Death. Everyman finds that Death, though powerful over the current material world, has no sway in God’s decision to allow heaven for men. Everyman is shown the path to this new life and is also given the freedom by God to conquer Death. In the end, Everyman does choose for God and is told that he will dwell with the angels and be saved from Death (885; 890-893)
Everyman proves to be a great theological proclamation of God’s glory and power. This is shown by the treatment and characterization of Death in the play. Death is the key to showing both the benevolence and power of God. Death is ruled by God and also is shown to hold only an apparent power over man. According to Everyman, God has conquered death and has given the free gift of salvation to all people. Human beings must only seek to follow God and make His glory known through their lives and they shall inherit victory over Death.
