Two Moral Interludes: The Pride of Life and Wisdom

by David N. Klausner

With the METS editions of Everyman (2008), Mankind (2010), and The Castle of Perseverance (2010), this volume completes the presentation of the five surviving Middle English morality plays. In addition to the texts of The Pride of Life (the earliest of the surviving morality plays) and Wisdom (which is unusual for the size of its cast and the fact that it survives in multiple copies), Klausner's edition includes two appendices which provide the texts of primary sources for the two plays as well as appropriate music (liturgical music, song, and dances) which may have accompanied performances, especially Wisdom.

Genres: Medieval, Plays

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Rebecca Fell]

I read this for my Medieval Drama module and I enjoyed it so much. The Lucifer that was depicted in this reminded me of Milton’s “Paradise Lost” which was really fascinating when considering his positioning within a morality play. I also really loved the exploration of gender through the manifestation of the human soul (Anima) and it’s marriage to Christ (Wysdom).

[Mia]

3.5