Saints and the Audience in Middle English Biblical Drama (review)

Abstract

[Extract] Our understanding of medieval drama has developed considerably in the last hundred years, and few would blithely dismiss such plays as simplistic fodder for the peasants. The artistic and theological sophistication has been acknowledged, but the academic interpretation has, at times, favoured the sinners over the saints, and has tended to see complexity and development of character in the subversive and interesting sinners. Chester Scoville sets out to argue, neatly and persuasively, that medieval drama incorporated rhetorical strategies to encourage the audience to respond positively to the good and negatively to the bad. In sum: 'This book argues that the techniques used by medieval playwrights to create characters were rhetorical in nature, that the central characters of the plays are the saints, the heroes and the virtuous; and that the function of these central characters was, as already discussed, to unite the community of the audience in its desire for holy living' (p. 7).