Everyman by Philip Roth, published in 2006, is a meditation on mortality and the inevitability of death. The novel is inspired by a 15th-century morality play of the same name, where the protagonist must face judgment after being summoned by Death. The story centers on an unnamed elderly man, thrice-divorced, who dies during heart surgery. At his funeral, his family, ex-wife, nurse-turned-lover, and acquaintances reflect on his life. The narrative traces his past, including his marriages, affairs, health struggles, and his contemplation of death, especially following the deaths of his parents and friends. Throughout the novel, the man confronts his mortality, struggles with loneliness, and seeks vitality through lust, ultimately accepting the inevitability of his fate. Everyman delves into themes of aging, loss, and the frailty of human life, with a focus on stoicism in the face of death.
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