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29 pages 58 minutes read

Everybody

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2018

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Book Brief

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Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Everybody

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

59

Format

Play • Fiction

Theme
Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is a modern retelling of the medieval morality play Everyman, where God orders Death to bring a character named Everybody through the process of dying. Everybody seeks companionship for this journey, encountering personifications of concepts like Friendship, Family, and Stuff, who all refuse to accompany them. Eventually, Love agrees to go, but only after transforming Everybody, and only Evil joins them at the end.

Mysterious

Contemplative

Emotional

Fantastical

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

3.8

356 ratings

67%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins revives the medieval morality play with contemporary relevance and inventive theatricality. Critics commend its humor, diverse casting, and philosophical depth. Some find its structure disjointed and pacing uneven, but its thought-provoking exploration of mortality and identity earns overall praise for an engaging, modern adaptation.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Everybody?

Readers who appreciate thought-provoking, modern adaptations of classic texts like T. S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral or Beckett's Waiting for Godot will enjoy Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Everybody. This allegorical play, inspired by the 15th-century morality play Everyman, combines existential questions with humor and contemporary relevance.

3.8

356 ratings

67%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Character List

Usher/God/Understanding

This role is a composite of figures played by the same actor, symbolizing aspects of leadership and understanding in the universe, while reflecting on control, randomness, and the quest for knowledge.

Played by the oldest actor, this character embodies the inevitability and mystery of mortality, bringing depth and a sense of experience to the unfolding events.

The central character chosen by lottery, representing a relatable, average individual navigating the inevitability of their journey and challenges with companions and personal faculties.

Characters played by a changing cast each performance, these figures represent Everybody's earthly connections, including personal relationships and possessions.

A chorus representing the collective inner thoughts and struggles of Everybody, providing insight and commentary during periods of introspection.

Characters played by the Somebodies, these personifications of innate qualities offer advantages in life but cannot accompany Everybody into death.

These characters symbolize important moral aspects of Everybody's life, with Love offering support and Evil representing personal misdeeds.

A dual role played by the youngest actor, representing both innocence and the passage of time, integral to the play’s exploration of life’s constants.

Book Details
Pages

59

Format

Play • Fiction

Theme
Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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