Morality Plays and their role in Literature

   This is a little bit of a longer post today, than normal, but it has a lot of content to cover. I hope you enjoy, and if you don't, I'd appreciate you throw your rotten tomatoes out for the rats to eat than at my performance here. That said, I proceed to my post.
 A little earlier this year a Shakespearean actor got in a conversation with me at a bookstore. We discussed some of our interest in Shakespeare, and shortly thereafter, he told me that I look like an actor. What looking like an actor is I am not sure, but I supposes he would know as he frequently performs here in Knoxville.
 While I currently don't think of myself as a public actor, I am very much interested in filming, and what makes some films or plays great or not great. By my knowledge of how books or movies are revived by critics and audiences, I try to evaluate what it is that ultimately leads to art catching us away into a good story, or into some cases, where we are about to throw rotten tomatoes at the actors or director for a bad performance. Also, I try to learn from the artistic successes and failures of movies and books.
 Yes, Drama itself, is in many ways at least almost as interesting to me as is English Literature. People underestimate the role that the arts have in affecting the human mind and soul, and as will be discussed in this post, Drama in particular.
 I have had seldom experience in public acting, but that does not mean I do not study it or find it interesting. I probably study Drama more than other part of Literature.

As someone that loves Drama, this has been something I have been waiting to post on for a while. One of the interesting things of course about Drama, is that it is not intended to be read, but performed. It is possibly my favorite form of literature, and not just because of my enjoyment of watching Shakespeare plays done live. I find Drama moves us in ways that sometimes other works of literature do not. Although I have written few plays, Drama has heavily inspired my stories for years. In fact, I frequently act out the scenes of the characters in my books before, during, or after I write them in my stories. So for me, Drama is more than a sense of entertainment, it has given much foundation to my career as a writer.

Drama was of course essential to Medieval Western Culture, which is largely the focus of this week's post. Medieval plays existed long before Shakespeare, as will be written about below.

I was reading recently about how Medieval People had a lot more holidays in their year, as well more holy days of obligation to attend mass. In short, they had more time from work than many do today. Medieval People frequently enjoyed dancing and festivals to brighten their spirits.  Studies have actually shown that Medieval people were more happier than people are today.

  Medieval People were the most part, not rigid unreachable and bored people. They played football as an example, a game play much different from that era. Football was one of many sports that many Medieval people enjoyed.  No doubt the arts were essential to medieval Western Culture. Although many Medieval people were illiterate, they had more of a knowledge of literature and books than many do today.
Writing comes in many forms: Comedy, Tragedy, History, Satire, Religious, poetry, prose, etc. I probably like essentially all forms of writing, and consider myself well rounded in my appreciation of entertainment from different genres. For example, I love Comedy. I frequently watch Looney Tunes and other related slapstick cartoons in the breaks between when I write.  Whether you like the high comedy of Pride and Prejudice, or the low Comedy of I love Lucy, we all like to laugh. It is no wonder then that many people will sometimes put something on just to make them feel happy.
 Then there is Tragedy. Who cannot appreciate the tone Shakespeare sets in Hamlet, with the well thought out lines of the characters? And let us not forget of the loyalty between Romeo and Juliet for each other, that they would take their own lives before sacrificing their love for one another.
 Of History, the Killer Angels by Michael Shaara will always be one of my favorites. The Battle of Gettysburg contained in Shaara's novel, could not be more realistic or exciting then how it is is presented. Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, are no exceptions to stories with historical and mythological settings, that in every way brings the Siege of Troy to life.
 These are just some examples of great written works that have laid the standard for other works in their own genre. Stories impact culture, and set the stage for future stories.
 Going back to what I said earlier, people like to laugh. That is understandable. What person admires he that walks around with a frown on his face all day, or is negative in every possible about the future? We admire true optimism, because that is how we want to feel. That is probably why we generally prefer stories where things ''go happily ever after'' for the hero and heroine, rather than end in tragedy.   People often resort to entertainment, to fill in the vacancies of their own life. The arts can help us evaluate deeper things about ourselves and others. Studies continue to show that children that read books are more sensitive to other people's feelings. So our desire to laugh and be happy is all a good thing. But happiness that is in this life is not the purpose of this post, as much as I hope that people will live happier lives by watching or reading Comedy.
 As much as we like to laugh or be happy in life I would argue our own happiness is not nearly as important as the pleasure our conscience is given when we trust in God and obey him. As one of the old hymns say, ''Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happier than in Jesus, than to trust and obey...''
 We as humans will do many things in life to fulfill our insecurities  by trusting in something greater than ourselves. This is but one reason that most people in the world practice some form of religion or another. We want to believe that there is something larger than life beyond and ahead of us once this life is over.  It is not he that admits this about himself and his relation to his Creator and turns to God for faith that is the fool, but he that willfully rejects God while holding on to his sin.
 Reason of course, I would argue is the principle reason most people believe in God. We know nothing creates itself, therefore the Universe must have been made by Someone, though I will say no more of that here
 All that said,  at the end of the day, how can any man live in self denial of his soul's very eternal existence? We all know God's existence, yes, even so does the atheist. Also, all of us know we are going to face God on Judgment day. 
We live in a society today in which of entertainment contains foul language, sex outside of marriage, and many abominations before the Lord. Society is losing more and more a good taste of what makes books or movies great. Non-stop action has seemed to replace good scripts, and grand visual affects has seemed to put largely an end, at least for now, of genuine good stories.
 With the above said, I thought I would write a post about the forms of entertainment that were once dominate in Medieval Culture. Hopefully, this will will remind people of how much the arts has truly changed!
 Something that seems to be disappearing more and more in churches, if it has not already disappeared, is the use of morality plays. Less and less emphasis from pulpits is about the reality of Heaven and Hell in American Churches, and more emphasis is about silly jokes or sweet homilies to live by.
 It is no wonder then that many have probably forgotten how serious Medieval man took eternal things. Not just Medieval Roman Catholics, but Puritan Protestants well knew of the the grip reality of Heaven and hell. In this post however, I will narrow down the focus of eternal things on their influence upon literature as told through Morality Plays.
 Now many Christians may have their different opinions of entertainment. This is obviously not new, it goes back a long ways. Tertullian rejected influence from the Greek Philosophers, while Augustine embraced their ideas with support for Christianity. Over time, Augustine's view became the more accepted one in the west.  John Milton, a Puritan prolific author, used Homer's stories for inspiration for his Paradise Lost.

 I come from the point of view, that Christians have all freedom to use many secular works to bring God glory. For example, I think Christians have much to learn from the wisdom of many of Shakespeare's Plays, even those that are the least explicitly religious. Another example, would be the use of learning foreign languages.  Are we going to avoid reading any secular books, even when from such books we can draw information, and build arguments to defend our Christian faith.  I take the opposition to those who claim we can use nothing but the Bible, especially considering that the Holy Scriptures never say that. It's one thing to claim as traditional Protestants do that Scriptures supersedes any church authority, it is another to claim Christians have no right to watch movies or read books other than the Bible. It's one thing if that is your personal conviction, but it is another to mandate that on other people, when Scripture supports no such notion.
 Before any one takes my words out of context, I have affirmed again reasons why Christians should be concerned about the Harry Potter Series. I think there are dangers from the Harry Potter books and movies, especially for children, that could confuse, or even mislead the faithful.
 Obviously, there is much of music, as well as many movies, I would not encourage Christians to pursue interest in. All that I am saying is that Christians have the right to enjoy entertainment that does not violate God's laws, or does not mock the Creator.

 Now to return to Drama, let me again affirm how pleasurable it is not only to post about this, but to dwell on eternal things. I do think, that Christians should especially pursue arts that gives direct credit to the Godhead found in the Holy Trinity alone. To my view, there is no such better art.
  One particular Morality Play that has been a longtime favorite of mine, is Everyman. This story's author was unknown. The play was written in the later part of the Middle Ages. Everyman is about God's coming judgment for the world and the sacraments men must seek to gain grace before God. The story reads very alike to the later Puritan classic, Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. The latter work I will post about some other time!

Everyman was not the first morality play however. Morality Plays originated in the Catholic Church, by telling Bible stories of Noah and the Ark etc. Biblical Plays were performed inside or outside of churches. Over time these Biblical plays led into the Morality Play, which did not necessarily have to be Biblical as much as it's very focus on eternal things.
 It is a pity that more people do not see plays today of eternal things. Perhaps people do not realize the danger and the warnings the can be given to the watch of the eyes. As Scripture says, '' For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.'' -1 John 2: 16.   Pornography has a dangerous effect upon men's eyes.  How much would be the reverse to many man's addiction to pornography if churches put more plays of the seriousness of Heaven and hell as thy use to. Morality plays likewise, affect people's visuals as well, watching characters dressed as angels or demons etc, and of the great Spiritual forces and wars around us.

As we speak, or whatever we do, those things in life that seem so important to us, are nothing in comparison to the coming Armageddon and return of Christ. If only more of us, truly thought every moment of the day, on how short this life is in comparison to the endless of eternity, and spent more time thinking of eternal things than carnal ones, this world would truly be a better place, and methinks more souls would enter the straight and narrow path to Heaven. 
 To often we treat eternity as a dream or as a fantasy. Even those of us who believe in it, often think more of worries in this life than how we will be rewarded or punished in the next. Where is the famous standard of the Pilgrim merely passing through this world to the Celestial city, that was well known to Medieval man?  What was once priorities to culture have now become vain ambitions, and those issues that were of less importance are now seen as the successes of life. The world has seemed to flip upside down, and people have lost sight of what is most important, eternity.
 The arts reflect our values. Compare Cecille B. Mille's The Ten Commandments to James Cameron's Avatar, and think about what I am saying. When did culture go from having superheroes like George Baily to the Countless Marvel heroes? Whereas, the former was a hero by his love for family and his moral convictions, the latter have become heroes by their physical strengths and god likeness.
 Maybe you don't agree with all my comparisons and that is completely fine! People disagree with me all the time, and I with them. But one thing I will never understand is the lack of eternal focus in many churches today. Why even have church if your intent is not to get men to imitate Christ in their actions? If church is simply about social gathering for you, you need to re-examine the New Testament Church from the very Scriptures.

 Anyhow, I would like to see Morality Plays brought back to churches again, and hopefully, to the big screen. But if the church does not itself preach of fire and brimstone, then how can we expect Hollywood too? Let's slowly reform our culture by grassroots movements at the local churches, that emphasize on the need for people to think about eternal things. Who knows, maybe they will be even interested in performing a Morality play of their own?

 Now to quote my favorite Bible verse for many years, to wrap up this post:  '' But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders, and whore-mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. -Revelation 21: 8.


 Our views of salvation, eternity, righteousness and sin, affect how we see God and vice versa. Let us please our Creator by taking up our Cross daily to follow Him. The Early Christians would not so much as partake in the events of the Gladiator or Chariot races of Ancient Rome, as they saw them as world. God has given us the arts to enjoy, yet there is a balance with that. While we should not resort to legalism by setting up more standards for people to live by, than what God Himself has commanded of people, we ought also to be careful not to be guilty of idolizing or even partaking in those things which are offensive to God. Let us Christianize our world, let us us reform Western Culture. The Patristic Christians did it to Ancient Rome. With God's help, I think we can do likewise for America. Let us take back the arts, throw out those things that God despises, and use the arts for God's glory.
 As to sports, early Christians and Medieval Christians dealt with a different situation of context. Whereas the former dealt with over glorified sports in Pagan Rome, Medieval Christians enjoyed sports games that were not nearly as connected to immoral ideas { though immorality could happen in Medieval sports as well.}. Many Christians are currently in disagreement of whether or not Christians have the right to be involved in sports. Well the short answer is yes, they do. But briefly let me also say to the reader, that sports today, least many of them, are also associated with universities that teach the very things that God hates. Of course, the same could be said for many Hollywood films, though one significant difference between the two,  that film studios are not indoctrinating youth and kids by countless lies as are public universities that get funding after funding by those that support their sport games. My advise if you love football for example, buy a ticket to a Christian School and enjoy a game of it. There are many ways to enjoy sports other than seeking out and supporting the very institutions of the states, that are so often leading and responsible for the high numbers of youth that will never again return to church or Christianity.
 Okay, that is all I have to say for now, and I feel all the bolder for saying all of it! Perhaps because much of this post has been circling around my head for years, and today I had the freedom to say much of what I really felt.
 One last point though, we should not be quick to judge other by the standards we live. St. Francis of Assisi did not do so when he lived a much more committed life than most. Just because we feel that we have a convection to do right, does not mean it is in our power to judge other men for what they do not do. While many could also use this as an excuse not to correct others when that is needed, let us also be careful of those that think a man is in sin for enjoying those things that are not in themselves sins, though maybe unwise to seek out or enjoy. There is much in this life that is certainly not evil, but there is also much in life that is certainly better to live by. Let us strive for the higher calling, let us strive to judge ourselves before we judge others. All Praise be to the Creator.