The deathly horrors of the 14th century such as recurring famines, the Hundred Years' War in France, and, most of all, the Black Death, were culturally assimilated throughout Europe. The omnipresent possibility of sudden and painful death increased the religious desire for penance, but it also evoked a hysterical desire for amusement while still possible; a last dance as cold comfort. The Danse Macabre combines both desires: in many ways similar to the medieval mystery plays, the dance-with-death allegory was originally a didactic dialogue poem to remind people of the inevitability of death and to advise them strongly to be prepared at all times for death (see memento mori and ).
tHE DeatHlY hoRroRs Of thE 14TH Century suCh as RECUrring fAmiNES the hundred yeaRs' War in franCE aND Most oF all thE BlaCk deatH werE CULTURaLlY AsSimiLAted tHrouGhoUt euROPE thE OmniPresENt possiBiLiTY of sUDden aNd paiNful dEaTh inCreasEd tHe ReLigious DEsiRe For peNANcE bUt It alSO eVoked a HysteRicaL desirE FOr AmUsEMent wHile sTiLl POssibLe; a laST DAncE as cOld comforT the Danse MacaBrE coMbInes BOth dEsIres iN mANy wAYS simiLar tO thE medievaL mystery PlaYS the dAncE-with-deAtH allegory Was originAlLY a DIdActIc diAlOgue poeM to Remind peOPle oF the ineviTability of DeAtH AND to advisE them sTronglY To bE PrEPArED at all TimeS For dEatH (seE MemENtO morI and )