Review "The Second Sepherds Play" by Wakefield Master

The Second Shepherd's Play's mysterious author, known to modern literary researchers as the Wakefield Master, was probably a priest who resided in or around Wakefield, York. He is renowned for his deft blending of poignant religious subject with humorous farce, which combines to create engaging, relevant, and powerful mystery plays.

Coll, Gib, and Daw, the three shepherds who are out in the fields in the opening scene of "The Second Shepherds Play," are presented to us. They talk about how uncomfortable they are in the cold and how they feel like they are working too much and not getting enough credit. Coll bemoans their difficult circumstances, emphasizing their impoverishment and the weight that the gentry has placed on them.

As they converse, the shepherds reflect on their plight, discussing how they are often robbed of rest and how their lands lie fallow. They feel oppressed by people in positions of authority who take advantage of their work, which sets the setting for the issue of social injustice. The shepherds' shared frustrations and mutual support during their trials foster a sense of brotherhood among them in this scene.

The play's major themes—class conflict, community, and the harsh reality of rural life—are established in this opening scene, which makes it significant. It establishes a mood of adversity in stark contrast to the happiness and optimism that would surface when the birth of Christ is announced later in the story. The narrative develops to make the transformative power of faith and salvation evident, and this juxtaposition highlights that force. The play's examination of hope despite suffering is highlighted by the shepherds' final experience with the divine, which is made all the more heartbreaking by their earlier hopelessness.

These themes not only reflect the shepherds' daily lives but also resonate with broader societal issues, making the play a timeless exploration of human experience.