A MAN OF ALL SEASONS
According to Robert Bolt, there is a contradiction between the moral sense and the several periodic moral and legal loopholes of Thomas More. In the play, More can be considered to be the only character with integrity. This is because More is against Henry’ divorce when he avoids speaking against the oath of supremacy. This shows that he respected God’s law beyond all other law but he acknowledges it (Bolt 42). He regards man law as the paramount lead for an act despite the fact that it contradicts God’s law occasionally.
However, More does not like Cromwell or Rich as he is not able to compromise his beliefs. This regards More and Cromwell view that no one opposes the injustice going on. At time More can be regarded as to be hypocritical because he tries to strike a balance between the law and his deeply rooted sense (Bolt 64). Despite the fact that he obeys the law fully the prosecutor comes up with false accusation at the end to prosecute him (Sheward 21). Roper is another character who follows the ideal law rather than his conscience in which More tries to argue that Roper is trying to navigate his principles in order to fit in. Roper tries to switch willy-nilly to Lutheranism from Catholicism. As a result, Bolt says that he cannot understand the moral alignment in the world (Bolt 73). This implies that we should focus on improving on ourselves and the society we live in. From his behavior, More can be regarded to be a strong man whose principle are deeply rooted.
Richard Rich is a symbol that reflects on the tendency of giving in to the temptation of the status and wealth. Rich is a deceitful hero as he seeks to advance himself both socially and politically at any cost. However despite his selfishness act, he discloses his humanity when he fifths his own conscience upon selling out his friend More (Bolt 40). Rich can be considered to be similar to the Common Man due to the awareness of his moral shortcomings. Just like Cromwell, Rich serves a frustrated to More which highlights a superior character of More (Sheward 21). Due to More superior character in most instances Rich is seen to light up in a less obvious manner. In the opening scene, we can see More telling Rich that he can be a teacher in which More shows great interest in the moral fiber of Rich as he wishes him to quell on the self-interested urge in order to gain wealth and status (Bolt 98). More is able to understand Rich faults in the beginning of the play though he tried to nurture Rich anyway. Therefore this can be considered to be tragic as Rich prejudices himself eventually to condemn More to death.
The Common Man was used to mean the universe but many people regards it to mean low class. However, Bolt laments that both the upper class and the lower and who represented the image failed to view the Common Man as an equal representative of themselves. Despite how Bolt out looked his characters the Common Man was both a baseness and universality as he showed human being as base and immoral (Bolt 109). Despite that the Common Man acted in many different roles he established the nature of the universe as he was able to develop a coherent character throughout the play. Matthew is a Common Man who is seen to suppress his guilty conscience for selling More out despite the expression of affection by More for him (Bolt 43). In general, the common man played a role of complicity in More persecution. Therefore the common man represents humanity as his role was to draw us all to the central moral dilemma.
Work Cited
Bolt, Robert. A Man for All Seasons. , 2013. London : Bloomsbury Methuen Drama
Sheward, David. "A Man For All Seasons." Back Stage (1946-5440) 49.42 (2008): 21. Business Source Complete. Web. 12 Dec. 2016.
