Who is Mary, Joseph, Herod from Everyman, and Medieval Miracle Plays and what is their importance? "Everyman

Other than Jesus (see above), other important New Testament figures portrayed in the pageants include Jesus' parents (the trusting Virgin Mary and doubting Joseph - The Annunication). Mary also appears in "The Wakefield Second Shepherd's Pageant," but in an essentially cameo role as the loving, patient, generous Madonna of literature and art).

Meanwhile, Herod (the governor at the time of Jesus' birth, not the one who was involved in his crucifixion) appears in "The Wakefield Pageant of Herod the Great" (Part 5), and is portrayed as a tyrant, simultaneously almost hysterical in his fear of threats to his power and gloatingly vicious in his celebration of that power. This characterization can be seen as a