A Man For All Seasons Essay In the play "A Man For All Seasons," by Robert Bolt, Thomas More is a man working as a scholar, a statesman, and eventually, the king's Chancellor, in early 1500's England. One of More's friends, Richard Rich, is a lowly official who desires a higher rank within society. Though both of these men are companions, they are extreme, and polar opposites to each other. More is an upright man who holds morality in higher regard than earthly joys and relevence in society, meanwhile Rich mainly troubles himself with worldly gain instead of acknowledging virtue. The differences between the two men escalates through the play as More loses all of his physical goods for the sake of …show more content…
More encourages Rich to take the job of a teacher where temptation cannot reach him, since Rich is very easy to tempt, especially if it involves a job of a higher rank, where he will feel important. This is why Cromwell has no problem coaxing Rich to be his little spy; he dangles a potential job that will give Rich respect in society, and Rich barely hesitates, even though it isn't morally right, he thinks little to nothing about this. More on the other hand, refuses to be tempted by anything even when the opportunities to give in show themselves to More on multiple occasions. Even when his luxurious living is threatened, More allows it all to go; he feels that it is better to give up earthly possessions than to sell his soul for the finer things in life. Though Rich becomes such a traitor, with such great vice that he bluntly lies against More in court, More doesn't stoop to a level, though his life is literally on the line. More choses death over behaving as a sheep, and encouraging something with little care or thought towards it. Though Rich dies with riches, and very prosperous in his earthly life, his soul has given in to these things, and is worthless, whereas More is executed as he has lost everything in his worldly life, but gains greatness in his benevolence and
ideas. A reader of A Man for All Seasons, by Robert Bolt, may not be accustomed
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, [society is a] community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests (Society def. 3). For one to feel supported and content, they must be admitted into a society. This is evident in All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury and Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. It is imperative for society to be the most highly valued as should one desire happiness, then the society must accept their actions, words, and identity though it may take time, and a society's consensus produces peace.
...and, “I don’t believe this had to happen”(144). At least twice Sir Thomas More made poor choices and put himself into bad situations in the play, which ultimately took him closer and closer to his death.
Reason to defend Sir Thomas More: More is just thinks that his private conscience is more important than his public duties and will do what he thinks is right, not what is convenient. This is not considered High Treason as More is not attempting to betray his country in any way.
When one reads the story, initially they would consider More as a wise and religious man, who wouldn’t even harm a fly. He was deeply respected for he was quite intelligent, in the aspect that he was a lawyer and knew the business of politics well. More was considered wise. He had his own ideas of things, and he seems to know what is best for everyone. However, it was his philosophies and his strong faith in the Church, the King, and in God that got him prosecuted.
In this quote (pg.4) it shows that Rich can be bought and he is trying to tell More that this is normal because everyone “has his price”. However, More, being the kind and charitable man he is, tries to explain that being able to be bought is not normal and it is a moral weakness in someone’s character and tries to help him get a job as a teacher where there is no temptation of bribery. Another example of how Rich’s moral character is weak is when he is talking to Cromwell and Cromwell tells him that he is to become Secretary to the Council, which he asks Rich not tell anyone about it. However when Cromwell repeats the question over and over, Rich, finally, says he would but it would depend on the bribe.
When More died it sent a message to the public that the Kin was wrong in what he was doing. As More died in front of a lot of people, it certainly showed to the public that it was honorable and he put his point across in the clear way. “….but because I would not bend to the marriage” (pg. 78) More is simply stating that he wouldn’t agree with the King for the clear intention of staying alive.
In between this opening conversation with More and the next important step in Rich's complete loss of innocence, and More's own demise, a number of
of the play. I will also explore the role the common man plays in the
"A Man for All Seasons" by Robert Bolt, deals with a famous man suffers death rather that swearing on an oath which ran against the dictates of his conscience. He is a man of complete integrity and strength. More has an extremely brave mind, loyalty for his king, and a love of his religion. He is a man of strong faith and deep trust in himself when dealing with one of the difficult many situations he is placed in. One of the biggest political issues dealt with King Henry the 8th is that he needed a son. After nearly twenty years of marriage to Queen Catherine, Henry never got a son and therefore, had a divorce. Unfortunately, a papal dispensation was necessary. This dispensation is not easily obtained especially since Catherine the wife of Henry's older brother who had died. Therefore; the marriage had never been valid and the request for a second dispensation is refused. This is the time when Henry had asked More for his approval but More does not agree with the situation because it is against the law and his moral beliefs. As a consequence, more is sent to jail because these beliefs go against Henry orders. More is pressured by many people in this play but always tries his best to keep his beliefs and principles which makes him a "Man for All Seasons".
More could not allow himself to ignore his political and religious views, in order to grant the annulment of King Henry and Catherine. The King however, as a catholic, disregarded his faith and judgement, and proceeded to bring more tension between himself, More, and the Pope, to allow his annulment. More was also an established humanitarian, or someone who fought for the health, good fortune, and happiness of a person. King Henry often did not attempt to put any effort into making the lives of his people and family better. He only strived to fulfill what he desired for himself, and even exterminated anyone who opposed him, or tried to get in his
Another method that is used by the channel is the various film seasons that are aired on the channel/Film4/ Film on Four. Laura Mayne and Justin Smith discuss this further in their article for the British Film Council titled Film for all Seasons (2009). The initiation of the film seasons on channel 4 began in 1982 and was titled Film on Four and became a popular feature which developed having two features/ seasons a year until 1985, where after these international films were incorporated into the seasons, giving way to air some of the co-produced European films and projects (2014). The Channel 4 press packs ‘Programme Highlights’ from 1987 state “Film on Four remains the flagship of Channel 4’s fiction output, and is now accepted internationally as a major force in British cinema, with over 25 films in production each year…
In the story a man for all seasons it shows us the struggle of Sir Thomas and the morals he holds for himself. He is constantly being tested by the king all throughout the movie. Yet he is able to remain poised and not draw away from the character he first started as. He did not become more radical throughout the movie.
In most books, small roles are never very significant, but in A Man For All Seasons one of the characters proves this wrong. The common Man is an ordinary person who the audience can relate to. This ties in with one of the main idea of the play, human nature. The audience learns that the Common Man can jump into different roles and assume that characters identity. The roles he plays although modest, are still very important to the development of the plot. The speeches that he delivers help keep the audience informed on past events and upcoming conflicts. In addition, the personality of the characters gives the audience insight into the story. The common Mans roles however minor still contribute greatly to the development of the story and, prove the importance of this character.
“A Man For All Season” Predicament is what we regularly confront. It can be relatively straight forward, but it can also be complicated. The story A Man For All Season depict a real historical figure, Thomas more, facing one of the most challenging moral dilemma that soon result in his death. After the death of Wosley; the Lord Chancellor of England. Thomas More was promoted to Wosley’s position, and as the Chancellor of England King Richard the third, the king of England, request for a divorce.