Compare and Contrast Everyman and the Song of Roland

¶ … Everyman and the Song of Roland focuses on the leading characters of the plays, namely, Everyman and Roland. This paper gives an in depth analysis of Everyman and the ingredients necessary for any man to abode paradise. This paper also reviews the character of Roland and how he earned great praise and respect not only among his mortal friends but also among angels and saints in heaven. By comparing both characters, this paper emphasizes on life after death according to Christian ideals.

Compare And Contrast Everyman And The Song Of Roland Everyman is a medieval morality play, written anonymously between 1509-1519. This play may have been inspired by an anterior Dutch morality play, Elckerlijk. The play Everyman is an allegory of Death and the destiny of the soul. Everyman calls for Fellowship, Goods and Strength when he is summoned by death but sadly they betray him due to their true nature.

Conley explains it to him that only true friends do not desert one another in times of need because they are both virtuous and supernatural and as a result of true friendship only Good Deeds and Knowledge remain faithful and lead Everyman towards salvation. It is the resplendent characterization of these incarnate abstractions that enhances the play's dramatic effect. Everyman, like any other medieval drama was evolved out of early nonliturgical vernacular religious dramas, which were presumably matured out of the sacramental drama of the medieval church.

Like any other morality plays, Everyman presents religious and moral thoughts through a Christian's point-of-view, whose primary concern is to accomplish the salvation of his soul. Morality dramas highlight the struggle between the powerful forces of good and evil and this in turn involves the Christian endeavor to acquire salvation despite the materialistic temptations, which he encounters through his journey of life, towards death. The main characters in Everyman include Everyman, God, a Messenger, Death, Fellowship, Kindred, Cousin, Goods, Knowledge, Beauty, Strength and Beauty.

The play starts by the introduction of God and Messenger to the audience and the conversation between the two. God is very much unhappy with all his creatures that have forgotten his teaching and adopted sinful acts. God says, How that all the creatures be to me unkind, Living without dread in worldly prosperity: Of ghostly sight the people be so blind, Drowned in sin, they know me not for their God; (Everyman, Line 23) God then calls for Death to summon Everyman before him.

Death goes to find Everyman and upon finding him, asks him to accompany him to God. Least prepared for Death, Everyman tries to divert him and persuade him to come for him another day except now. All his efforts go in vain, as Death is adamant upon obeying God's verdict. Everyman says, In thy power it lieth me to save, Yet of my good will I give thee, if ye will be kind, Yea, a thousand pound shalt thou have, And defer this matter till another day (Everyman, line 120).

Everyman who is immersed in worldly pleasures realizes that death is sudden and cannot be avoided. Everyman constantly begs for mercy and seeks council and camaraderie for this dangerous journey and weeps on his luck. Firstly, Everyman seeks Fellowship's company. He says, What, and I to Fellowship thereof spake, Be on good friends in sport and play. I see him yonder, certainly; trust that he will bear me company; (Everyman, line 197). Upon knowing Everyman's problem, Fellowship refuses to help him. Next Everyman seeks Kindred, Cousin and Goods's help.

But to his dismay all of them refuse to assist him in his problem, despite their strong promises. Saddened by everyone's act Everyone turns towards his Good Deeds, which is week. When asked the reason for his weakness, Good-Deeds replies, Yea, sir, I may thank you of all; If ye had perfectly cheered me, Your book of account now full ready had be. (Everyman, Line 500). Even though the amount of Good-Deeds is less compared to Everyone's other friends, but he decides to council and help Everyone through this complicated journey.

Besides Good-Deeds, even Knowledge proposes to help Everyone. Everyone is overjoyed and learns to arbiter correctly what actually matters to the health of the soul facing death. At the grave the qualities of flesh i.e. Strength and Flesh also fade away. In the end, only Good Deeds help Everyone enter into heaven, coupled with the assistance of Knowledge, by means of Confession and Priesthood.

Hence, by experience and Christian ideals, Everyone learns that no worldly material can help a man enter into heaven except for a man's good deeds and knowledge. It is believed that The Song of Roland like other medieval chansons de geste, was passed orally among wanderers before it was actually written down. The story in The Song of Roland was believed to be a historical truth by jongleur's medieval audience. The story is a typical representation of the struggle between good and evil.

The Christian Franks led by Charlemagne are considered to be good whereas, the Muslims led by Marsilla and Baligant represent the evil side. The Song of Roland transforms Roland into an epic hero. He is viewed as a role model among all knights during the crusades. His character demonstrates boldness and high temperament. These personality traits of his win him much recognition and criticism among his friends. Roland is Charlmagne's nephew and most trusted soldier since he has conquered a great number of lands for him.

He is such an important person to Charlmagne that Ganelon, Roland's stepfather promises the Saracens that Charlmagne will lost the battle if Roland is.