in The Life and Repentance of Mary Magdalene — Wager, Lewis
Metadata
Play
The Life and Repentance of Mary Magdalene
Author
Wager, Lewis
Year (catalogued)
1566
First performance
1558
Decade
1560s
Genre
Moral
Play type
Interlude
Speech prefix(es)
Faith. | Fayth.
Words
276
Characters
1451
Typicality
0.27 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A14625
BritDrama no.
209
Cluster
Cluster 2 — Allegory, Nature & pageant voices
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
That soul which of late was a place of devils, He hath made a place for him self by his clemency, Purging from thence the multitude of evils. The word to a glass compare we may, For as it were therein, Faith God does behold, Whom as in a cloud we look upon always, As hereafter more plainly it shall be told. It is not enough to believe that God is true only, Which can never lie, nor deceive, nor do ill: But true faith is persuaded firmly and truly, That in his word he hath declared his will. And also what soever in that word is spoken, Faith believeth it as the most certain verity, Which by his spirit he does vouchsafe to open To all such as seek him with all humility. Though in person we shall no more appear, Yet invisibly in your heart we will remain. The holy virtue of Faith I do represent, Joined continually with repentance: For where as the person for sin is penitent, There I ascertain him of health and deliverance. Wherefore I am a certain and sure confidence, That God is merciful for Christ Jesus sake: And where as is a turning or penitence, To mercy he will the penitent take: Faith therefore is the gift of God most excellent, For it is a sure knowledge and cognition Of the good will of God omnipotent, Grounded in the word of Christ's erudition, This faith is founded on Gods promission, And most clearly to the mind of man revealed, So that of Gods will he hath and intuition, Which by the holy ghost to his heart is sealed.
Plot summary
Plot — The Life and Repentance of Mary Magdalene
Christ has recently come to Jewry, and Infidelity is keen to interfere with his work: his plan is to influence the religious establishment against Christ and thereby ensure his crucifixion. Meanwhile, he encourages Mary Magdalen to enjoy her youth while she can, and introduces her to three companions who will help: Pride, Cupidity, and Carnal Concupiscence (all of whom go under less damaging names). They recommend fashionable clothes and hairstyles, which will attract men, but also advise her against marriage. Mary meets The Law of God and Knowledge of Sin, and experiences the stirrings of conscience: she despairs, thinking herself surely damned and God unjust. Christ casts seven devils out of Mary and drives away Infidelity: she is given the grace to repent. Simon the Pharisee is suspicious of Christ because he is lower-class and uneducated, and invites him to dinner. During the meal, Mary washes his feet with her tears and anoints them. Simon is outraged, but Christ emphasizes the universality of forgiveness: Mary is a genuine penitent, whereas Simon is merely a hypocrite wanting to show off his wealth and presumed holiness. Simon is offended and sets Infidelity and Malicious Judgement to follow Christ, spy on his preaching, and have him brought to trial. Mary ends the play in the company of Love and Justification, who emphasize that she is saved through her faith alone.