A prologue is a miniature version of the actual text. It answers the elements of literature in a work, and exposes the reader to essential facts, as well as foreshadows the outcome of the work. The prologue also introduces themes, characters, and literary devices to complement the work. Thus, through the study of the prologues of Oedipus Rex and Everyman, one may learn much about the nature of both plays. In the prologue of Oedipus, the ‘bear’ pun is used. The ‘bear’ pun is a popular literary device used in many plays. To bear means to carry a babe; To bear can also mean to carry something heavy.
The pun indicates that if one cannot bear the truth (which is a very heavy object placed on the heart) than one cannot bear new life. In order to be reborn one must suffer the bearing of truth. When Oedipus says, “I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name. ” (Sophocles, 715), he indicates that he is bearing the name and therefore must bear the fate that is set for him in order to conceive new life. In order for Oedipus to fully bear his name he must accept the responsibilities that follow; He must escape from the ways of the flesh.
Until this time comes, the Gods must bear Oedipus’s pain until he is ready to accept it. Likewise, Everyman cannot reach enlightenment (to be free of guilt) because he cannot bear the truth. God explains why Everyman cannot be enlightened as he says, “They use the seven deadly sins damnable, / As pride, covetise, wrath, and lechery . . . ” (Everyman, 761). This proves that Everyman is too much of the flesh, and he uses the ways of the flesh to keep him bound to the earth.
Thus, when God says, “I see the more that I them forbear” (Everyman, 761), God is bearing Everyman’s truth until he is ready, when Everyman is no longer of the flesh. A major theme consistent in both works is that of suffering. In Oedipus Rex, the kingdom of Thebes is suffering because of Oedipus’s sin. The suffering of Thebes is illustrated when the Priest said: The herds are sick; children die unborn, And labour is vain. The god of plague and pyre Raids like detestable lightning through the city, And all the house of Kadmos is laid waste,
All emptied, and all darkened: Death alone Battens upon the misery of Thebes. (Sophocles, 716) Since Oedipus is blinded by the ways of the flesh, he does not recognize his sins which is a sin in itself. When Oedipus attempted to cure of Thebes of this ailment he was hindered because of this blindness. Thus, when his eyes are finally opened and he is faced with the truth, the repentance of his sins causes the transfer of suffering from the kingdom of Thebes to Oedipus. This is similar to the story of Everyman when God bears Everyman’s suffering until Everyman sees the truth.
God shows that he is bearing Everyman’s suffering when he says, “. . . To get them life I suffered to be dead; / I healed their feet, with thrones hurt was my head. ” (Everyman, 761) When Death is summoned to repossess what was lent to Everyman; That is, life, Everyman sees the truth of his ways and bears the suffering for his sins. Another similarity found throughout both works is characterization. The kingdom of Thebes is a reflection of Oedipus’s unconscious, inner self. It is depicted as a waste land, suffering because of the conscious sins of Oedipus.
The priest of Thebes is the messenger of God, which assists in Oedipus’s reawakening by causing the initiation of his trek to discover the truth. The character of Kreon acts as a catalyst to Oedipus’s journey, Kreon gives Oedipus information that will ultimately lead him to his rebirth. Oedipus represents the conscious self, which is bound to flesh and blind to the truth. This is the most important character because he represents every man. These characteristics are echoed in Everyman. God represents the unconscious truth that one must face in order to be enlightened.
Death acts as the messenger of God to assist Everyman’s journey towards the revelation of the truth. Everyman, like Oedipus, is a representation of the conscious self, which is bound to the flesh and ignorant of the truth. All these characters are a representation of the individual characteristics found within every human being. Through the study of the prologue of both plays, one can see the consistency in the characterizations, themes, and literary devices. This consistency serves one to better understand the nature of both plays, and the significance of the prologue.
