Morality Play (Noun)
Meaning
An allegorical play popular in the 15th and 16th centuries; characters personified virtues and vices.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The morality play was a popular form of entertainment in medieval Europe, where characters such as Good Deeds and Vice would compete for the protagonist's soul.
- In the morality play, Death personified the universal human experience, warning of the consequences of sin and encouraging virtuous behavior.
- The morality play "Everyman" features a protagonist who must confront his own mortality and make amends for his misdeeds before facing judgment.
- Medieval morality plays often featured elaborate stage sets and symbolic costumes to convey moral lessons to the audience.
- A morality play typically ended with a message about the importance of living a virtuous life, and the consequences of succumbing to vice and sin.