High School

How do you think Everyman feels?

EVERYMAN:
Alas! I am so faint I may not stand,
My limbs under me do fold.
Friends, let us not turn again to this land,
Not for all the world's gold;
For into this cave must I creep
And turn to earth, and there to sleep.

BEAUTY:
What, into this grave? Alas!

EVERYMAN:
Yea, there shall you consume, more and less.

BEAUTY:
And what, should I smother here?

EVERYMAN:
Yea, by my faith, and never more appear.
In this world live no more we shall,
But in heaven before the highest Lord of all.

BEAUTY:
I cross out all this; adieu; by Saint John!
I take my cap in my lap and am gone.

EVERYMAN:
What, Beauty, whither will ye?

BEAUTY:
Peace! I am deaf. I look not behind me,
Not and thou would give me all the gold in thy chest.
(Exit BEAUTY.)

EVERYMAN:
Alas, whereto may I trust?
Beauty goeth fast away from me;
She promised with me to live and die.

STRENGTH:
Everyman, I will thee also forsake and deny.
Thy game liketh me not at all.

EVERYMAN:
Why, then ye will forsake me all?
Sweet Strength, tarry a little space.

STRENGTH:
Nay, sir, by the rood of grace,
I will hie me from thee fast,
Though thou weep till thy heart to-brast. (burst)

EVERYMAN:
Ye would ever bide by me, ye said.

STRENGTH:
Yea, I have you far enough conveyed.
Ye be old enough, I understand,
Your pilgrimage to take on hand.
I repent me that I hither came.

EVERYMAN:
Strength, you to displease I am to blame;
Yet, promise is debt, this ye well wot.

STRENGTH:
In faith, I care not!
Thou art but a fool to complain.
You spend your speech and waste your brain.
Go, thrust thee into the ground. (Exit STRENGTH.)

EVERYMAN:
I had weened surer I should you have found.
He that trusteth in his Strength,
She him deceiveth at the length.
Both Strength and Beauty forsaketh me,
Yet they promised me fair and lovingly.

DISCRETION:
Everyman, I will after Strength be gone;
As for me I will leave you alone.

EVERYMAN:
Why, Discretion, will ye forsake me?

DISCRETION:
Yea, in faith, I will go from thee;
For when Strength goeth before,
I follow after evermore.

EVERYMAN:
Yet, I pray thee, for the love of the Trinity,
Look in my grave once piteously.

DISCRETION:
Nay, so nigh will I not come.
Farewell, every one! (Exit DISCRETION.)

EVERYMAN:
O all thing faileth, save God alone,
Beauty, Strength, and Discretion;
For when Death bloweth his blast,
They all run from me full fast.

FIVE WITS:
Everyman, my leave now of thee
I take; I will follow the other, for here I thee forsake.

EVERYMAN:
Alas! then may I wail and weep,
For I took you for my best friend.

FIVE WITS:
I will no longer thee keep;
Now farewell, and there an end. (Exit FIVE WITS.)

EVERYMAN:
O Jesu, help! All hath forsaken me!

GOOD DEEDS:
Nay, Everyman; I will bide with thee,
I will not forsake thee indeed;
Thou shalt find me a good friend at need.

EVERYMAN:
Gramercy, Good Deeds!
Now may I true friends see.
They have forsaken me, every one;
I loved them better than my Good Deeds alone.
Knowledge, will ye forsake me also?

KNOWLEDGE:
Yea, Everyman, when ye to death shall go;
But not yet, for no manner of danger.

Answer :

When Everyman speaks to Death he is surprised & frightened at first because he is not ready for death. Everyman feels this way because Death catches him off guard. He would like to preform more good deeds before he dies.

Everyman feels, rather surprised and self-centered.