For my final essay I chose "The Lie" by Sir Walter Raleigh. Because "The Lie" is from the Renaissance, which falls after the medieval period and I felt it could be viewed as a transitional work leading from the middle ages to the Renaissance. If one compares "The Lie" to Everyman, from the medieval period, I believe that a transition can be seen taking place. Everyman is focused on life in general. "The Lie" focuses on the individual. Other changes that can be seen progressing through the different periods come from the different writing styles. Everyman is written on a personal, emotional level. "The Lie" is written in a straightforward manner. Because of these progressions, I think "The Lie" can be seen as a transitional work.
             In Everyman, the author focuses on life in general in the line "How that all creatures be to me unkind, Living without dread in worldly prosperity. Of ghostly sight the people be so blind, Drowned in sin, they know me not for their God. In worldly riches is all their mind:"(pp. 446-47). This line is spoken by God and is focusing on the way humans generally live their lives. He is saying that humans are only interested in worldly possessions and are blind when it comes to spirituality. When they die, all of the emphasis which they have placed on worldly prosperity will not amount to anything because they will leave all of it behind. The only thing that will be of value upon their death is the salvation which is granted to them by God through their faith and repenting of their sins.
             In contrast to this, Raleigh comments on values held by different individuals in "The Lie" with "Tell manhood shakes off pity; Tell virtue least preferreth. And if they do reply, Spare not to give the lie."(p. 882). He is making a statement about individuals who are uncaring and individuals that do not respect moral virtue as they should. If you tell people who have these characteristics that this is how they are, and they li...