Life — April 21, 1904 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Everywoman" - A Morality Play (circa early 20th century) This is a theatrical script presented as satire, subtitled "A XVIth Century Morality Play." It's a modern adaptation of medieval morality plays—allegorical works where abstract concepts (Voice, Dress Goods, Worldly Ways, Better Self, Heart) appear as characters speaking to "Everywoman." The satire targets consumer culture and feminine materialism. Characters like "Dress Goods" and "Worldly Ways" tempt Everywoman with promises of love and status through clothing and social performance, while "Better Self" and "Heart" offer moral guidance. The accompanying illustrations show well-dressed figures and dachshunds, emphasizing the fashionable world's superficiality. The piece critiques how women are swayed by commercial desires and social pressures rather than genuine virtue—a common Progressive-era complaint about modern consumer society.