How does the late medieval morality play Everyman begin, and what are some ways to interpret its beginning?

The late medieval morality play Everyman
opens when a "Messenger" speaks directly to the audience and asks them all to give their
attention to this "moral play" (2) -- that is, a play designed (as most medieval plays were) to
teach moral lessons. The messenger announces that the precise title of the play is The
Summoning of Everyman. This title would already have suggested to most audience
members what the subject of the drama would be: the summoning of every individual human to death
and to appearance before God.

The Messenger then announces that the
play "our lives and ending shows" (5). Interestingly, this phrasing suggests that although we
live various kinds of lives (plural), our ending (singular) is the same: we all end in death. By
using the word "our," the Messenger acknowledges that he is a mere human as well. He doesn't
speak down to us (at least not figuratively, although he probably stood raised above the
audience). We are therefore more likely to listen to his
message.

The play, he continues, will show "How transitory we be all
day" (6) -- in other words, how subject we all are to change or "mutability." Mutability was a
favorite theme of medieval and Renaissance literature, and so it is not surprising that we should
find that theme seem so blatantly emphasized at the beginning of this drama. Once again the
Messenger shows, by using the word "we," that he is no better than the people he
addresses.

The Messenger next declares that the meaning and subject
"matter" of the play are wonderfully precious,

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But the intent of it is more
gracious

And sweet to bear away.
(8-9)

These statements may seem ironic
in a play that will end by depicting a man descending into his grave, but they make perfect sense
from a Christian point of view (which is the point of view of the author, the play, and almost
all members of the audience). The purpose of the play is to help us all prepare for death so that
we can actually find it a joyous occasion (as Everyman later will). The author, then, has a
literally "gracious" intent: he wants to help show us how to receive God's grace. The final
effect of the play, then, should be "sweet" and pleasing.

In line
10, the Messenger actually alludes openly to the beginning of the Bible, but the allusion here
also reminds us of our own individual beginnings: we should, the Messenger suggests, live our
lives in the constant consciousness of death. We should continually remember that we are going to
die and that life is partly a means of preparing for the right kind of death. Awareness of death
will give meaning to our lives, and we should cultivate such an awareness even if we are happy or
"gay" (12).

The Messenger declares that we all consider sin "in the
beginning full sweet" (13), and surely this is true; otherwise we would not sin. However, the
apparent sweetness of sin is short-lived, unlike the kind of spiritual sweetness promised in line
9.

Sin may cause eternal pain to the soul even when the body is dead
(14-15). If we pay careful attention to the play, we will witness how all earthly pleasures fade
(16-18). Now we should prepare for the appearance of God on stage, who will call "Everyman to a
general reckoning" (19-20) -- that is, to a complete accounting of the sort that awaits us
all.

The opening speech, then, announces many of the crucial themes
of the play. The Messenger creates some suspense (will Everyman survive his reckoning?), but
there are no doubts about the play's moral purpose.