Qualities & Everyman's various reaction
In Everyman, the most famous morality play in the medieval draman,we can see that Everyman meets and looks for many different kinds of characters to accompany him in his journey towards death. We can see that each quality has different reaction toward Everyman; meanwhile, Everyman also has various reactions toward each quality. Furthermore,the sequence of the disappearance of those qualities also has some special meanings, which need us to discuss and think.

Before Everyman going to the Confession, he looks for Fellowship, Kindred, Cousin, and Goods to accompany him. All of these qualities reject Everyman's request. Fellowship fears the pain of the journey and thinks that the journey is loathsome. Fellowship thinks that he can be together with Everyman if he wants to drink, eat or play; however, he will depart as soon as possible if they want to go to death. Everyman is upset but he also understands that "In prosperity men friends may find which in adversity be full unkind" (P371, line 309).

Kindred and Cousin also refuse the request of Everyman. Kindred even find an excuse that Everyman can bring her maid with him (P372, line 360). As for Cousin, she refuses more directly. She said that she would rather to enjoy the material life. Their responses also let Everyman feels disappointed and sad.

Finally, Everyman looks for Goods to accompany him. Nevertheless, Goods thinks that he will make Everyman's reckoning blotted and blind, because man will be blind for loving money and man's soul will be killed by loving money (P373, line 417). He also tells Everyman that although Everyman dies, he won't be sad, because he will still deceive other people in the same way and bring shame to people's soul (P374, line 447). By knowing this, Everyman feels regret and shameful for what he values before (P375, line 476). At this time, he also changes his attitude.

We think that all the three different qualities are the outside part of our human beings. Goods are the things that we will bring with us everywhere. Kindred and Cousin are closer to us than Fellowship. So, the sequence of the disappearance of these qualities suggests that person who is not so familiar will depart first; finally, the closest things or qualities will also give up us.

After the Confession, Good Deeds, Knowledge, Beauty, Strength, Discretion, and Five Wits are accompany with Everyman. Here, we think that Five Wits are the Five Senses. Knowledge and Five Wits always teach Everyman things, including the Christian beliefs. At this time, Everyman feels glad and not afraid of the journey to death.

However, after Everyman going to the priesthood, Beauty, Strength, Discretion, and Five Wits exit one by one. It's because that when each man is dying, their beauty will disappear first, then the strength, then discretion and five wits, because people may cannot remember every thing very clearly or recognize every thing correctly when they are dying. Knowledge is the last one that leaves Everyman. We think it's because that unless people really die, or their knowledge will not disappear. There is still knowledge in their minds.

Hence, these qualities' reactions and the sequence of the disappearance can teach us some lessons. We should not value our goods so much. It's better for us to do something good and value the virtues that we own.

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