Final answer:
In 'Everyman,' the abundance of material wealth contrasts with a spiritual deficit, highlighting that Everyman is materially rich but lacks spiritual and moral substance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt from the play Everyman uses visual imagery to illustrate a large accumulation of material wealth. The goods pile up to such an extent that they fill every available space, suggesting that Everyman is wealthy in material possessions. However, by using deductive reasoning and contrasting the abundance of goods with Everyman's circumstances, we can infer that there is a lack of spiritual wealth or moral substance. The goods, while plentiful, are depicted as locked away or idle, implying inactivity or uselessness in a spiritual or moral sense.
This ties into broader themes often explored in literature, particularly the idea that material wealth cannot substitute for spiritual fulfillment or ethical conduct. Similar to the message conveyed in the allegory of the cave and in poignant social commentaries about the human condition, the excerpt communicates that despite the accumulation of wealth, something deeply significant is missing in Everyman's life. This 'lack' is spiritually oriented and aligns with themes found in other literary works such as the poems and stories quoted above, which explore human psychology, social structures, and the search for meaning beyond mere material existence.