Part 3 Summary

"The Chester Pageant of the Water-Leaders and Drawers in Dee - Noah's Flood" The editor makes three key points in his introduction to this pageant. The first is that the portrayal of Noah's Wife as opinionated and sharp goes against the theological tradition of her being "a meek and virtuous prototype of Mary." He reinforces this point by saying that the portrayal is widespread throughout European portrayals of Noah's wife of the time. The editor's second point is that the pageant's rhyming scheme is more consistently and strictly maintained than rhyming schemes in other pageants. His third point is that the manuscript for this pageant contains more, and more detailed, stage directions than most of the others.

The Pageant - God speaks at length of his unhappiness with humanity and of his determination to destroy all human beings. He gives Noah detailed instructions...