The Castle of Perseverance

…In France, moral literature in general was originally called moralité, but later these moral and didactic allegorical plays were also called moral and didactic plays, and sometimes other religious plays and farces were also called by the same name. The British (originated) Everyman and The Castle of Perseverance, and the French La condamnation de banquet are well-known works. For example, the British (said to have originally been in the Netherlands) Everyman is known for its adaptation by H. von Hofmannsthal (1911) and its modern revival performance. The story is about Everyman (a personification of humankind in general) who is suddenly attacked by the Grim Reaper, and in a panic, he begs his family, friendship, wealth, and others for a ransom or help, but to no avail, and finally, with the help of the Virgin Mary, he sets off on his journey to the afterlife accompanied by his thin good deeds, wisdom, and faith. …

*Some of the terminology that refers to "The Castle of Perseverance" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…フランスではもとは道徳的教訓文学一般がmoralitéとよばれたが，のちにはこれらの道徳･教訓的比喩劇もそうよばれ，ときには他の宗教劇や茶番狂言も同じ名でよばれた。イギリス(系)の《エブリマンEveryman》《忍耐の城The Castle of Perseverance》，フランスの《酒宴の報いLa condamnation de banquet》などがよく知られた作品である。たとえばイギリス系(もともとオランダにあったものといわれる)の《エブリマン》はH.vonホフマンスタールの改作(1911)や，近代の復活上演でも知られているが，その内容は，不意に死神におそわれたエブリマン(人間一般の擬人化)があわてふためき，家族，友情，富などに身代りや援助をたのむが無駄で，最後には聖母マリアの取りなしでやせ細った善業と知恵と信仰にともなわれて死出の旅路につくといったものである。…

※「《The Castle of Perseverance》」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報