Activity: The York Crucifixion

1. In the background material we read about the context in which plays like the York Crucifixion were originally staged. Write, in your own words, what this context was like… try to pain a picture of both what was happening around the production itself and what a typical audience member’s experience would have been like. How do you think this context influenced the play’s particular take on the crucifixion story? 

2. The climatic moment of the play is probably Jesus’s second speech, in which he states, “Forgive these men that do me pine. / What they work wot they nought” (in other words, “forgive these men, for they know not what they do”). Most of us are probably familiar with this quotation, but this play seem to re-contextualize those words in a fairly radical way. How do you interpret those words within the context of this play versus how you did or do interpreted these words when they are presented out of context?

3. The introductory note for this play argues that the four soldiers behave less like authentic Roman soldiers and more like normal, everyday medieval people. In other words, the audience is meant to identify with these characters and probably, to some extent at least, so consider themselves in their place. if this is true, then how does this impact the play’s moral message? What does the play have to say to this audience?

4. As you have hopefully noticed by now, this text is absolutely dripping with dramatic irony. Why do you think that the author chose to portray the crucifixion story in this heavily ironic fashion? Do you think that this undermines the standard moral message of the crucifixion story, and if so to what degree? 

Reading Quiz 1-30

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Blog Post 2: The York Crucifixion

 John Adams

The York Crucifixion

Aimed at fostering affective piety, the cycle play “The York Crucifixion” retells the story of mankind’s fall – and its ultimate salvation – by contemplating the diametrically opposed stances on mercy between humans and Jesus Christ – demonstrating our incapacity to fully understanding the significance of his sacrifice. Loosely defined, affective piety describes a religious experience in which a person/audience attempts to feel (emotionally and physically) what Jesus Christ experienced on earth. Through heavy utilization of dramatic irony, the play attempts to portray the shortcomings of man, the consequential need for his forgiveness, and the common phenomenon of distancing oneself from the passion of Christ.

The attitudes and values exhibited throughout the play reflect human nature – our innate sense of selfishness, and our blatant ignorance regarding eternal happenings. Dramatic irony is prevalent throughout the entire work in the actions and banters of the roman soldiers, and helps emphasize the point(s) the author is attempting to relay. Specifically, the characters represent opposing perspectives on mercy. The soldiers are trying relentlessly to make an execution as painful as possible – jesting with each other and at Jesus; putting in almost as much effort into this as they were in their work (nailing him to the crucifix). Jesus, on the other hand, annoys the soldiers through his persistent disregard for his own welfare and deep, blatant concern with that of humanity’s. Providing more insight into the contrasting stances on mercy, Jesus asks his Father (God) to save the souls of the men torturing him – which was met with more ridicule. To me, this was just one instance that portrayed man’s inability to understand our inherent imperfections. 

The actions and lines of Soldier 1 particularly stood out to me as a reflection of the point. In his dialogue, he seemed to be the unspoken leader of the group of soldiers. Numerous times he relayed demands/orders to those working with him, which were shortly acted on. If not the leader of the group, he certainly appeared as the catalyst that kept things moving along. He displays sarcasm while nailing Jesus to the cross; expressing that because Jesus thought himself a King, he would create a crown for him to wear. This sarcasm underlines the point of the play, that although Jesus was in fact a king, his (humanity’s) arrogance and ignorance blinded him from the truth, and his self-interests dictated his actions. 

Lines 189 – 200 struck me as important to understand Soldier 1:

Soldier 1 – For-Great harm have I hent:

                        My shoulder is asunder

Soldier 2 – And certes I am near shent,

                        So long have I borne under

Soldier 3 – This cross and I in two must twin,

Else breaks my back asunder soon.

Soldier 4 – Lay down again and leave your din;

                        This deed for us will never be done

Soldier 1 – Essay, sirs, les see if any fin

May help him up withouten hone;

For here should wight men worship win,

And not with gauds all day to gone

In these lines, Soldier 1 somewhat fulfills the leadership role – not only being the first to express agony, but also the first to recommend not wasting time in getting the job done (line 201). From the footnotes, it is also apparent that Soldier 1 believes that his work, upon completion, will provide him and his accompanying party with honor (line 199). Here it becomes apparent just how self-serving Soldier 1 is – to finish the job and gain what little amount of perceived honor that may result from the apparently exhausting task of executing Jesus, he attempts to motivate his men and basically tells them to focus. The paradox of the soldiers struggle to carry the heavy cross was interesting to me. Each soldier expresses being in pain from lifting and transporting Jesus and the cross, though it was nothing comparable to the pain Jesus was in. I couldn’t help but think that the extreme burden of carrying Jesus (and the cross he was nailed to) was so difficult because they weren’t only carrying a man and some wood – but also the additional weight Jesus bore on his shoulders from all the sins of the world... past, present, and future. This paradox, I thought, summed up the author’s point that men are too weak to save themselves. That without Jesus and his sacrifice, which we still cannot fully understand, we would buckle under the weight of our sins. We would be doomed.

The York Crucifixion

Marta Case

The York Crucifixion

            The York Crucifixion is a play that shows that by falling into a routine and mindlessly performing tasks, one can fail to realize the gravity of the job he is completing. The four soldiers in the play have the responsibility of crucifying Jesus. Because they understand they have a job to do, they do not waste time analyzing their actions or the gravity of their situation. The significance of their task is lost when they choose to ignore any emotional connection and instead carry out their assignment as if it is just another job.

            These four soldiers are separate in a sense, but truly one could combine them into one character since they all seem to have the same attitude. Not once do any of the soldiers make a conscious decision to differentiate themselves from one another. Much like the chorus of Greek theater, the soldiers can be seen as one. With the only other character in the play being Jesus, who merely speaks twice, focus stays mainly on the soldiers for the duration of the play. The soldiers’ values do not seem to be a critical aspect in their lives due to the fact that throughout the process of crucifying Jesus they continue to talk as though everything is normal and it is just another day. The men seem to be somewhat nervous about completing their job, which shows they have a strong value of dedication and persistence; but with this hard working mentality comes a disregard for the severity of the task they are executing. It is not so much that the men have a vindictive attitude towards the man that they are essentially killing, but some recognition of the choices they are making would show that they are not just mindlessly performing their job. The author of this play wanted to show the audience that it is not okay to simply perform tasks and remove ourselves from them. Instead, we must consciously realize what we are doing and the consequences of our actions and then decide if we want to continue. Without this recognition, we become zombies to a world that desperately needs people who care and realize that they have potential to make decisions that help not only ourselves but also others.

            Lines 85 – 95 help the audience understand the character of the four soldiers and their attitude towards their assignment:

4 Soldier: His limbs on length then shall I lead,

            And even unto the bore them bring.

1 Soldier: Unto his head I shall take heed,

            And with my hand help him to hang.

2 Soldier: Now since we four shall do this deed,

            And meddle with this unthrifty thing,

            Let no man spare for special speed,

            Till that we have made ending.

2 Soldier: This forward may not fail;

            Now we are right arrayed.

4 Soldier: This boy here in our bail

            Shall bide full bitter braid.

            These lines show that the men continue to talk like they normally would even though they are about to crucify Jesus. They continue to do their job without pausing to think about the significance of their actions. These men are not necessarily bad men; they are just lost in a routine. 

The York Crucifixion

The York Cricifixion shows through the representations of mercy (shown by Jesus) and cruelty (which the four soldiers displayed) the love God gives and makes the audience reflect on the wrongs that they do on a day-to-day basis. The main characters are Jesus, who speaks only twice and has a very limiting number of lines in the play, and four soldiers, who take up the large majority of the play’s dialogue. Jesus shares many of the values and attitudes the unknown author has which will be examined further.

The author, as well as the people of York, grew up religious and believe in Jesus the Savior. Because of this, the figure of Jesus represents what they believe to be right and just. Therefore, many, if not all, of the views Jesus has in the play overlap the values of the playgoers and the authors. Jesus represents mercy and forgiving others. He also condones the evil that the soldiers commit and asks God for their forgiveness. In contrast, the devilish actions of the soldiers serve to remind the audience to think about what they sins they commit on a daily basis.

The main value in Jesus that the author wanted to portray is forgiveness. Even when the soldiers are taunting him and getting ready to murder him, Jesus is asking God for forgiveness. This trait is what the author wanted to get across to his audience. The author want the audience to remember forgiving is never easy, but it is what God wants to see in His children. This is important because everyone can use a reminder of what is right (or what a society values as right). The stark contrast between Jesus and the soldiers will make the audience think about how they react in small, everyday interactions.

The lines of the play that best illustrate Jesus’s characteristic forgiveness are lines 49-60:

“Almighty God, my Father free,
Let these matters be marked in mind:
Thou bade that I should buxom be,
For Adam’s plight to be pined.
Here to death I oblige me,
From that sin for to save mankind,
And sovereignly beseech I thee
That they for me may favour find;
And from the fiend them fend,
So that their souls be safe
In wealth withouten end;
I keep not else to crave.”

This dialogue illustrates Jesus’s forgiving powers. What really strikes me is that Jesus knows these men are going to kill him, but he nonetheless asks for their forgiveness and mankind’s forgiveness. Being able to forgive humankind even when they are putting you to death is such an act of forgiveness it shows that the audience should be able to also offer forgiveness in situations that will likely never be that extreme. This very clearly illustrates the author’s key idea of forgiveness.

The York Crucifixion: Industry and the Every Man

By magnifying the importance of speech and minimizing duration of time and action, The York Crucifixion demonstrates that unlike the Greek tragedies that also shared a familiar plot of epic proportions, the Medieval theater presents the importance of the “every man” as a legitimate character, thereby leading to a greater sense of audience identification with said characters and thus, realism. This realism lends credence to the illusion of the theater in a way that previous plays had only been able to achieve through elaborate scenery and overwhelming passion. The author, then, condemns not only the soldiers for mocking Christ and for causing him physical violence, but also the audience whose views and mannerisms of speech are reflected by these characters. By embellishing the characters of the soldiers with particular intricacies, then, the author portrays the inclusion of “all men that walk by way or street” without overt accusation (253).

To this point, although the soldiers seem to be identical except for their numerical indicators, each displays a subtle difference intrinsic enough and yet perceivable enough to be seen as human. For instance, out of the four 3 Soldier in particular seems the most determined and steadfastly anti-authoritarian of his group, and yet also the most industrious. In this way he helps portray the works-minded individualist in the crowd, a person clearly the opposite of the play’s proposed method as 1. it follows that this man’s deeds are more important than faith, displacing the crucifixion central to the play which enacts the forgiveness of sins and 2. rejects the authority due Jesus as the son of a deity. In contrast, Jesus appears that much more submissive to his fate (and therefore God’s will) and faith, emphasizing these desired Christian virtues.   

Within the play there are four distinct lines that demonstrate 3 Soldier’s specific characteristics. In the case of his industrious nature, we find that he is not only the first to fetch tools for the work rather than continuing to discuss what must be done, but also has thoroughly “gone for...hammers and nails large and long” (30). Similarly, he again indicates his orientation towards tasks by claiming that “the left hand then is [his]” and inciting competition by “let[ting] see who bears him best” (83-84). In both cases the source of importance is within a completion of work rather than a conversation or plan. The rejection of the authority becomes clear via a reaction to 1 Soldier who 3 Soldier claims “commandest lightly as a lord,” followed by an angry interjection to help rather than abandon his job (115-116). Lastly, of the four 3 Soldier is the most determined to carry the cross without aid of reinforcements and is in fact the last to complain about the weight of cross (169-172, 193-194). Naturally, we may take this as a symbol; while the most determined members of the audience may consider that their strength and industry will help them “carry the weight of the cross,” it remains still impossible.

Blog Post 2 The York Crusifixion

Values and Morality in The York Crusifixion

The York Crusifixion speaks of the possible dangers of ignorance and making mindless actions when forgetting to question one’s own values. The author uses the four soldiers as an example to challenge the audience to think about their actions before doing them.  The author sets up the clear dichotomy between Jesus and the soldiers as both spectrums of morality and mercy.

            While the soldiers do not have a clear development throughout the play, the author uses their continuous actions as to provide a point. As soldier number 1 points out, all four soldiers are simply following the orders of “lords and leaders of our law” and carry out a crucifixion without neither questioning nor knowing Jesus’ wrong doings that evoked such a punishment. The author demonstrates the perils of following orders and working mindlessly and demands the audience to question their actions, even when doing something as simple as your every day tasks. While the soldiers’ intentions were probably not to torture and kill Jesus, their failure to question their own moral values presented them as primitive and savages, especially when compared to the sheer contrast of Jesus’ mercy and tolerance. While others would curse the names of their executioners, Jesus prays to God for their forgiveness.

            Since the opening lines of the play:

1          ”Sir knights, take heed hither in hie:

            This deed undree we may not draw:

            Ye wot yourselves as well as I

            How lords and leaders of our law

5          Have given doom that this dote shall die.”

 The author shows the soldiers’ mindless attitudes and their willingness to oblige to their “lords” orders, even when the order is as painful as torturing and killing a man. The soldier seems to adopt the values and attitudes of their leaders calling Jesus a “dote” when he gives no other proof that he knows what Jesus has done. Although it is soldier 1 who says these lines, all four soldiers seem to have the same set of values and attitude throughout the play. The author subtly demonstrates this trait by not giving the soldiers any names, as a way for the audience to not differentiate between them.  By the end of the play we see basically neither development, nor repentance in any of the soldiers, pointing out the carelessness of mankind. As an observer of the play, the audience recognizes that the soldiers are oblivious of who Jesus is and the powers of God. Although Jesus’ prayer and mercy spared the four soldiers weren’t of their actions, the play demonstrates the importance of looking into ones value before every action.

The York Crucifixion

            The point of The York Crucifixion was to provide a “modern” twist on the historical event of Christ’s passion. Modern in this sense would be defined as Medieval Europe, particularly England. This helps the audience at the time connect with the passion of Christ better than they would if they were just reading a historical account of it.

            The anonymous author managed to apply characteristics of the time period to the characters through their speech and probably their attire when the play was performed. Of particular interest to me was soldier one. He seemed to be the self-asserted leader of the phalanx. Soldier one brings with him a certain arrogance and satisfaction about crucifying Christ, whom is considered a slanderous villain. Throughout the narrative, he embodies this sort of arrogance by his insults toward Christ and through his unyielding demands to the other soldiers. Soldier one also seems to be fairly set in his sense of morality by believing that capital punishment is the only method of dealing with a criminal, which makes him seem ignorant and plebian. Plebian in the sense that soldier one seems to have few thoughts deeper than carrying out his duty; he is not an extraordinary character in any sense, which suits him well for the role of an executioner He has no mercy for Christ as the group prepares him for execution. The author portrays the soldiers’ actions as wrong and unjust in this way. He contrasts the actions of the soldiers by creating a tranquil and fatherly sort of character to represent Christ. Christ heroically takes the blame for soldiers’ sins, which starkly contrasts the unyielding demand for capital punishment and taunts from soldier one. The author makes soldier one seem ignorant and rash by contrasting him with Christ, and by victimizing Christ, which is congruous with the religious culture of Medieval England.

            I thought the first five lines of the play were effective in describing the ignorance and arrogance of solider one. He is very enthusiastic about doing the dirty work for his superiors, which emphasizes that point.

Soldier 1: Sir knights, take heed hither in hie:

This deed undree we may not draw;

Ye wot yourselves as well as I

How lords and leaders of our law

Haven given doom that this dote shall die.

Soldier 2: Sir, all their counsel well we know.

Since we are come to Calvary.

Soldier 3: We are all ready, lo,

That forward to fulfil.

Soldier 4: Let hear how we shall do,

And go we tite theretill.

As emphasized before, the first soldier seems to be the group’s leader. This is evident in the way that he addresses the other characters and they speak to him. Also, it is interesting to note that these four men seem to be somewhat excited to fulfil their duty, and crucify Christ. Throughout the passage and the entire play, they never consider the fact that he could be innocent. While that makes them obedient workers, it also makes them seem ignorant and plebian. This passage correctly portrays the characteristics of the first soldier, and allows causes the reader to take pity on Christ later in the play.

The York Crucifixion

Liliana Casso

The York Crucifixion bases its plot around its characters, and through them, show how routine can cause blatant disregard for the reasoning behind day-to-day tasks. While each solider is aware of the physical work they are completing, they manage to forget that their job is to crucify Jesus. The author highlights their mindless actions to emphasize the importance of performing every duty with purpose.

While Jesus only voices his opinion twice throughout the entirety of the play, he is able to completely convey his values in each passage. Instead of wishing hatred upon the soldiers for the work that they are doing, he prays that God forgive them because they are not aware of their actions. The differences in these characters demonstrate the extremities in the play as a whole. Jesus’s attitude seizes to change negatively upon hearing how they will torture him. The author uses the soldiers to display one extreme side of mercy. In analyzing the soldiers in contrast to Jesus, they appear to grow even more annoyed when they realize that their efforts to generate a painful death for their victim does not phase him, while Jesus simply continues to pray for their wellbeing.

All men that walk by way or street,

Take tent ye shall no travail tine;

Behold my head, my hands, my feet,

And fully feel now ere ye fine,

If any mourning may be meet,

Or mischief measured unto mine.

My Father, that all bales may beet,

Forgive these men that do me pine.

What they work wot they nought;

Therefore, my Father, I crave,

Let never their sins be sought,

But see their souls to save.

At the end of the play, Jesus prays again to God, asking that he save the soldier’s souls because they are completely unaware of the work they are attempting to accomplish. Jesus continues to speak to God, while the soldiers who are doing the work of God entirely disregard the relationship between the two. This passage clearly demonstrates Jesus’s values, which are the importance of bettering others and helping them develop a greater outlook on their tasks. Simultaneously, it reflects the negative attitudes of each soldier and their lack of character development. The author constructs their ignorance in contrast with Jesus’s forgiveness to produce somewhat of a moral lesson. Thoughtless actions and neglecting of the aftermath is no way to live; one must constantly be mindful and informed of their actions to prevent unwanted situations.

The Danger of Apathy in "The York Crucifixion"

Layne Bolden

            The York Crucifixion displays an approach to drama that runs contrary to the modern-day conception of theatre. Instead of revolving around plot, it centers on the characters who perform a set of actions that make clear statement that the audience can relate to their own lives. This play features a set of workmen whose job it is to crucify Jesus, and by simply going about their work as if it were another ordinary day, they miss the significance of their actions. As a morality play, the author designed this sequence of events to make the audience consider how they disregard the work of God in their own day-to-day lives.

            Even though the play requires five actors, there are, in reality, only two distinct characters. The four soldiers can be thought of as one character, since they all display the same sentiments and attitudes, never once distinguishing themselves from one another. Jesus himself does not even make much of an appearance; he only has two speeches throughout the play. The soldiers’ rambling conversation provides the backbone of the work, and it is through the juxtaposition of their words and their actions that should cause the audience to think. Though no real character development takes place, analyzing the character of the soldiers should provide the audience with a moral lesson. In order for the audience to realize that they often do not pay attention to the significance of their actions, they must first see themselves in the character of the soldiers. The play upholds the idea of noticing when the things you do are important, especially within a religious context. Purposefully, the actions of the soldiers run contrary to this. Not particularly malicious or vengeful, the soldiers are simply going about their daily routine. Though they do not intend to operate unaware of their actions and the consequences of those actions, their ignorance comes precisely as a result of their slipping blindly into such a routine. The soldiers themselves do not seem to hold any morals other than finishing the job; this lack of morality or immorality also contributes to the play’s discussion of apathy.

            The author’s condemnation of such apathy and blindness comes, as might be expected, through one of the speeches given by Jesus. At the very end of the play, Jesus states: “…My Father, that all bales may beet, forgive these men that do me pine. What they work wot they nought; therefore, my Father, I crave, let never their sins be sought. But see their souls to save…” (259-265). Here, Jesus asks God, his father, to forgive the soldiers who are causing him to suffer, because they do not know what they are doing. The author has taken a biblical reference, “forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and used it ironically, because the soldiers do not only have no idea of the eternal repercussions of their actions, they show no emotion about their job at all. They approach their entire lives with a dismissive and casual attitude. In fact, they respond to Jesus’ grace-filled declaration by saying, “We! Hark! He jangles like a jay. Methink he patters like a pie. He has been doing so all day, and made great moving of mercy…” (265-269). The soldiers, barely listening to Jesus, compare his speech to the clamoring of birds. Though at the very end of the play, they begin to wonder about Jesus’ identity and his reasons for submitting to his fate, they end the play by dividing up Jesus’ limbs, still acting as if their actions hold no special significance. Ultimately, they do not change at all.

            As a morality play, The York Crucifixion was written to teach its audience something. Here, by providing a negative example in the form of the soldiers, the author encourages people to refuse to live their lives mindlessly, not thinking about what they are doing or the repercussions of their actions. Instead, one should be mindful and purposeful when making choices and performing daily tasks, even if that task may be a seemingly dull part of a routine. That way, there is less of a chance of crucifying Jesus without even realizing it.