Everyman

The first two characters to enter are God, “in a high place” on the stage or performance space, and a Messenger, who delivers a prologue. The Messenger’s prologue asks the audience to give their attention and listen to the “matter” (the content) of this “moral play”. The Messenger then announces the purpose of the play:

That of our lives and ending shows. How transitory we be all day. (l.5-6)