Character development within literary works serves an important purpose not only to further the plot but also to develop the themes and underlying of the work. This is especially notable in interactions between complex characters, which allows authors to explore social issues in a familiar or pragmatic setting that makes the work's message more accessible. Because of this, character interactions are the core of dramatic literature, and they are integral to both a personal and societal understanding of literature as a whole and society.
This principle could be accurately presented in Robert Bolt's drama "A Man For All Seasons", which details the struggles and eventual execution of Sir Thomas More. In the play, the characters act as a mouthpiece not only of the contemporary ideologies but also of Bolt's understanding of ideological conflict. The dialogue between More and the other characters reveals not only the details of More's character but also who Sir Thomas More is to Robert Bolt: namely, a man whose essence was his moral conviction. However, Bolt's conception of More is only one possible lens through which we can see who the historical person of Sir Thomas More really was, and even within Bolt's own play there are multiple ways in which we can interpret
More's words and actions.One possible understanding is that More's character within the play represents a universal and unconditional rule of law, and that the dialogue between the other characters and him represents responses to this rule of law. Each character ultimately rejects More's representation of universal law and instead presents their own moral basis. While this can be seen in the majority of More's conversations, it is most prominent when he is talking to three ind...
... middle of paper ...
...l guide. This is quite apparent when he says,"all good men everywhere are allies of Spain. No good man cannot be, and no man who is not can not be good..."
The characters of "A Man For All Seasons" reflect how Bolt himself interpreted conflict between moral paradigms. Through More we see Bolt's understanding of what could be considered the most objective moral guide: a universal and immutable rule of law. Bolt frames this moral guide in More's moral conviction and uses character interaction to explore exactly how an individual rejects law-based morality and forms his or her own paradigm in its place. Each character challenges More to abandon his belief in the law and adopt another ideological basis, and though they ultimately fail in this endeavour their behaviour serves as an important study and example of human steadfastness in the face of overwhelming adversity.
The characters address the audience; the fast movement from scene to scene juxtaposing past and present and prevents us from identifying with particular characters, forcing us to assess their points of view; there are few characters who fail to repel us, as they display truly human complexity and fallibility. That fallibility is usually associated with greed and a ruthless disregard for the needs of others. Emotional needs are rarely acknowledged by those most concerned with taking what they maintain is theirs, and this confusion of feeling and finance contributes to the play's ultimate bleak mood.
the play. It looks at the person he is and the person he becomes. It
ideas. A reader of A Man for All Seasons, by Robert Bolt, may not be accustomed
Throughout the philosophical novel known as Atlas Shrugged, its author, Ayn Rand, leaves no question as to the primary theme within the story. In fact, Rand herself stated that the theme “is the role of the mind in man’s existence.” The story indicates that it is the presence and awareness of the mind that promotes prosperity and morality. For the duration of the book, as the men of reason and strong morality disappear, panic spreads through the remaining men in power, who are representative of the incompetent. They represent the men who avoid reason, acting upon such things as feeling and responsibility. Rand, through her lead character, condemns men of this nature, writing; “Are you seeking to know what is wrong with the world? All the disasters
...houghts and feelings; their inner journey is described verbally, so that the audience receives a first-person recount from the key characters.
...ly progressed from a way to tell stories about kings and gods to a way to tell stories about ordinary human beings. By moving our focus off of nobility, the language of plays became the language of every individual, and eventually, due to America’s “melting pot” culture, the language itself became individual. The unique language of American dramatic characters represents not only the diversity of the American people, but also the diversity of all human beings. These dramatically dissimilar differences were not typical of older plays when they were written, but now, they are what make American drama so valuable. Our acceptance and love for characters with different values than ours is representative of the love we can develop for those who are different from us. It represents the worldview that our current culture idealizes and strives to achieve: acceptance for all.
...s important both symbolically and literally within the novel. Since manhood and masculine features are so heavily valued within this society, the challenge of one’s personality or actions can completely change them and push them to drastic measures.
... his ideas for a much improved future. He describes how his two young sons, his beautiful wife, and his community will create around his philosophy of being an individual and possessing freedom. Throughout the novella, Prometheus painfully breaks his chains of confinement, to find his quest for knowledge. With many painful experiences, he finds out that individuality can never be fully controlled, because freedom is always with him. Rand depicts a society where collectivism is the core belief and anyone opposing it, will be a martyr. But it will be one individual who will rise from the depths of despair and fight for his individualality; and eventually find his purpose in life.
Thomas More was born in London in 1478. He studied at Oxford where he took a profound love of classical literature. In Utopia, More shows his own skills in humanism. In this story, modeled after Plato's Republic, More examines his culture against a hypothetical culture he invents. His Utopia varies greatly from both his society and our society today. Four ways Utopia differs from our society are social system, attitude towards jewelry, marriage customs, and religion.
This is shown through his use of explaining the way religion, war, philosophy, slavery, education, and more in Utopia. Each of the ways that Sir Thomas More explains how these concepts work in Utopia are reflections of what he wishes for England, and are his take on “a perfect society.” While being subjected to a monopoly on religion, Sir Thomas More wants for a society with tolerance for different views. While living in a society that uses slaves and is a large component of the triangular trade, he wishes for one where slaves are frowned upon, and if necessary comprised of criminals who break big laws. Sir Thomas More lives in England, a country which tried to amass a large empire in the 16th century, and thus wishes for the country to be more peaceful. These views are shown in his perception of Utopia, and show how his time period and surroundings greatly influenced his
...rinciples of law that were founded outside of his or her own opinion. They are not the source of what is just or unjust, but rather they merely apply the rules already established from years of social progression and political influence. Thus, when Divine Command theorists argue that they have successfully conquered the Euthyphro Argument, they must be reminded that the opposite is true, and the age-old dilemma has actually reduced their deities to magistrates of morality.
Characterisation is vastly different in the film when compared to the play. This, however, is done so as to make more sense to a modern
themes of the play and helps us gain insight on other characters. I find the following quote to be
Moral relativism, as Harman describes, denies “that there are universal basic moral demands, and says different people are subject to different basic moral demands depending on the social customs, practices, conventions, and principles that they accept” (Harman, p. 85). Many suppose that moral feelings derive from sympathy and concern for others, but Harman rather believes that morality derives from agreement among people of varying powers and resources provides a more plausible explanation (Harman, p. 12).The survival of these values and morals is based on Darwin’s natural selection survival of the fittest theory. Many philosophers have argued for and against what moral relativism would do for the world. In this essay, we will discuss exactly what moral relativism entails, the consequences of taking it seriously, and finally the benefits if the theory were implemented.