morality play
Medieval ethical allegory
A morality play is a type of drama from medieval Europe in which characters personify abstract qualities—Virtue, Vice, Death, Everyman—to illustrate moral lessons.
The term now describes any situation where people see clear-cut ethical stakes: The scandal became a morality play about corporate greed.
The implication is often that the moral framing is simplistic or theatrical.
Staged public display
- interludePause between sections
- processionFormal moving line
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- costumeClothing for portrayal
mask · audience · performance · liturgical drama · spectacle · tableaux · entrance · exit
Attributing humanity to non-humans
- EverymanArchetypal human figure
- MankindHumans as one group
- VirtueMoral goodness, capitalized
- DeathPermanent cessation of life
Beauty · Justice · abstraction · emblem · typology · Devil · angel · tempter
Archetypal human figure
- MankindHumans as one group
- WisdomProfound judgment and discernment
- guildsCraftsmen's mutual aid societies
- purgatoryPlace of temporary suffering
pilgrimage · chivalry · scholasticism · mystery plays · medieval church · patronage · memento mori · danse macabre
Careful, wise judgment
- justiceFair treatment under law
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- faithTrust without proof
hope · charity · humility · chastity · patience · kindness · diligence · redemption
Clergy's worship address
- instructionGuidance for action
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
- warningAlert about danger
exemplum · homily · edification · admonition · exhortation · preaching · spiritual guidance · cautionary tale
Satisfaction from one's achievements
- greedExcessive desire for wealth
- lustIntense carnal appetite
- envyResentful longing for another's
- gluttonyGreedy excess in consumption
wrath · sloth · temptation · corruption · folly · deception · worldliness · damnation
pageant
Staged public display
- interludePause between sections
- processionFormal moving line
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
costume · mask · audience · performance · liturgical drama · spectacle · tableaux · entrance · exit · direct address
personification
Attributing humanity to non-humans
Death · Beauty · Justice · abstraction · emblem · typology · Devil · angel · tempter
Everyman
Archetypal human figure
- MankindHumans as one group
- WisdomProfound judgment and discernment
- guildsCraftsmen's mutual aid societies
purgatory · pilgrimage · chivalry · scholasticism · mystery plays · medieval church · patronage · memento mori · danse macabre
prudence
Careful, wise judgment
- justiceFair treatment under law
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
faith · hope · charity · humility · chastity · patience · kindness · diligence · redemption · grace
sermon
Clergy's worship address
- instructionGuidance for action
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- repentanceRemorseful rejection of past wrongs
warning · exemplum · homily · edification · admonition · exhortation · preaching · spiritual guidance · cautionary tale · religious instruction
pride
Satisfaction from one's achievements
gluttony · wrath · sloth · temptation · corruption · folly · deception · worldliness · damnation · devil
- dramaTV drama, acting, television drama, drama school, playwright
- theatreBroadway, acting, theatre, stage, actor
- cautionary talesIcarus, Prometheus, Faust, Dr. Faustus, Pandora
- moral talesfable, parable, allegory, cautionary tale, cautionary tales
- performancestalent show, dance routine, ballet, comedy act, variety show
- teaching talesfable, parable, cautionary tale, teaching story, apologue
morality playfarce
Absurd, laughable situation
slapstick comedy · spectacle · popcorn movie · burlesque · diversion
morality playpsychological drama
Fiction emphasizing internal struggle
noir · absurdist theater · theater of the absurd · slice of life · character study
morality playtheater of the absurd
Existentialist dramatic movement
avant-garde theater · kitchen sink realism · immersive theater · experimental theater · naturalism
play, moral, morality, morals, immorality, moralizing, demoralize, moralistic, demoralized