A morality play is a genre of medieval and early Tudor drama that was popular in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. The plays are allegorical dramas that use personified characters to represent moral qualities. The protagonist of a morality play is typically a human character who represents humanity as a whole, an average layperson, or a human faculty. Supporting characters are personifications of abstract concepts, each aligned with either good or evil, virtue or vice. The plays aim to teach moral lessons and impart religious teachings to the audience.
Morality plays were an intermediate step in the transition from liturgical to professional secular drama, and combine elements of each. They were performed by quasi-professional groups of actors who relied on public support, and thus the plays were usually short, with serious themes tempered by elements of farce. The genre was most popular throughout Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Some examples of morality plays include "Everyman," "The Castle of Perseverance," and "Condemnation des banquets". The plays were typically written in the vernacular, so as to be more accessible to the common people who watched them. Most can be performed in under ninety minutes.
In summary, a morality play is a type of allegorical drama that uses personified characters to represent moral qualities and aims to teach moral lessons and impart religious teachings to the audience.
