Write a short note on Morality Plays. [British Drama (2018-19) Assignment 1]

Morality plays are a genre of medieval and early Tudor drama that flourished in England during the 15th and early 16th centuries. They were designed to teach moral lessons and were performed as a form of religious instruction. The plays typically featured allegorical characters representing virtues and vices, and presented them in dramatic situations where they had to confront various moral dilemmas.

The characters in morality plays were often archetypal, representing virtues such as honesty, chastity, and piety, and vices such as greed, envy, and lust. The plots of these plays were generally simple, and focused on the struggle between good and evil. The plays often ended with a moral lesson or exhortation to live a virtuous life.

One of the most famous morality plays is "Everyman," which tells the story of a man who must face death and judgment, and is forced to confront the choices he has made in life. Other popular morality plays include "The Castle of Perseverance" and "Mankind."

Morality plays were an important precursor to the Renaissance drama that followed. They paved the way for the development of more complex and realistic characters and plots, and helped to establish drama as a legitimate art form.