Knowledge Character Analysis in Everyman

The sister of Good-Deeds, Knowledge guides Everyman on his pilgrimage when Good-Deeds is still too weak to do so. She represents knowledge—not knowledge in general, but the specific the knowledge and teachings of the Catholic Church—and she instructs Everyman to repent for his sins and take Catholic sacraments. Knowledge and Good-Deeds are the only companions to stay with Everyman until his death, which shows that knowledge is essential for navigating life on earth, but she ultimately leaves him when he dies. This shows, allegorically, that knowledge is unhelpful on Judgment Day.

Knowledge Quotes in Everyman

The Everyman quotes below are all either spoken by Knowledge or refer to Knowledge. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

I come with Knowledge for my redemption,
Repent with hearty and full contrition;
For I am commanded a pilgrimage to take,
And great accounts before God to take,
Now, I pray you, Shift, mother of salvation,
Help my good deeds for my piteous exclamation.

Related Characters: Everyman (speaker), Confession, Knowledge

Page Number and Citation: 50

Explanation and Analysis:

Knowledge—the sister of Good-Deeds—has brought Everyman to Confession as part of his pilgrimage and his effort to save his soul. By this point in the play, Everyman has come to realize the gravity of his situation, and seems to have internalized the fact that nothing can save him but repenting of his sinful life and asking forgiveness. That Knowledge brings Everyman to Confession—and later instructs him to partake in other sacraments—suggests that her character is the personification not of knowledge generally, but of knowledge of the Church and its sacraments. It is worth noting that while the play uplifts the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis.

But when Jesus hanged on the cross with great smart
There he gave, out of his blessed heart,
The same sacrament in great torment:
He sold them not to us, that Lord Omnipotent.
Therefore Saint Peter the apostle doth say
That Jesu’s curse hath all they
Which God their Savior do buy or sell,
Or they for any money do take or tell.

Related Characters: Knowledge (speaker), Five-Wits, God

Page Number and Citation: 55

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, Knowledge articulates a counter-argument to Five-wits’s argument about the praiseworthiness of the Catholic clergy. By referring repeatedly to money, Knowledge seems to be pushing back against the widespread practice of selling papal indulgences as a way of absolving sinners of their sins—a practice which effectively allowed the wealthy to buy admission to Heaven and generated an important stream of revenue for the already very powerful Catholic Church. The sale of indulgences was so controversial, however, that it was eventually one of the primary reasons for the Protestant Reformation. This passage suggests that the author of Everyman may in fact Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. C

Knowledge Character Timeline in Everyman

The timeline below shows where the character Knowledge appears in Everyman. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...again that she is not able to do so, but that she has a sister, Knowledge, who can help him “make that dreadful reckoning.” (full context)

Good-Deeds’s sister Knowledge appears, offering herself as Everyman’s guide. Happy that something good has finally happened, Everyman thanks... (full context)

Everyman asks where “that holy man, Confession” lives, and Knowledge replies, “In the house of salvation.” Knowledge instructs Everyman to kneel before Confession and to... (full context)

Confession, who already knows of Everyman’s predicament, agrees to help because he came with Knowledge. He gives Everyman “a precious jewel… / Called penance, wise voider of adversity.” According to... (full context)

Everyman thanks God and sets out to begin his penance with Knowledge by his side. He prays to God for forgiveness, reminding the audience of Adam’s sin... (full context)

...she has been healed and is now able to accompany Everyman on his pilgrimage. When Knowledge tells Everyman to be happy, as Good-Deeds is “whole and sound” and able to join... (full context)

Knowledge again tells Everyman to be happy, as he will go to heaven. She gives him... (full context)

...tells them that after he dies, most of his money is to go to charity. Knowledge then instructs Everyman to go to a priest for the holy sacrament and unction, while... (full context)

Knowledge continues the discussion on priesthood but qualifies Five-wits’ statements, saying that this is true only... (full context)

...six companions to place their hand on it and to follow him. Strength, Discretion, and Knowledge promise to never leave him. As they continue on their journey, Everyman feels faint and... (full context)

...Strength, Discretion, and Five-wits were not true friends to him, as Good-Deeds is. He asks Knowledge if she too will forsake him, and she replies that she will stay with him... (full context)

As the souls of Everyman and Good-Deeds leave their bodies, Knowledge remains on earth. She remarks that Everyman “suffered that we all shall endure” and that... (full context)

Knowledge Character Analysis

Knowledge Quotes in Everyman

Everyman Quotes

Knowledge Character Timeline in Everyman