A Man For All Seasons – Sample Essay 2



A Man For All Seasons – Sample Essay 2

Task: Choose a play in which the main character is at odds with one or more than one of the people around him or her.

Show how the dramatist makes you aware of the character’s situation and discuss to what extent this led to a greater understanding of the concerns of the play.

In your essay you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: conflict, characterization, theme, setting, or any other appropriate feature.

Throughout history there have always been those unique individuals who have stood up for what they believe in. This courageous act of individualism has often resulted in torture, imprisonment and death. One such individual who was subjected to great injustice was Sir Thomas More. Sir Thomas More’s story was the inspiration for Robert Bolt’s play, ‘A Man for All Seasons’. “A Man for All Seansons” shows More at odds with everyone around him due to his religious beliefs and his unbending moral code.

The cause of More’s trouble is King Henry VIII’s decision to divorce Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn. The King greatly respected More for being an independent thinker whom he could trust to tell him the truth. “There are those like Norfolk who follow me because I wear the crown, and there are those who follow me because they are jackals with sharp teeth and I am their lion, and there is a mass that follows me because it follows anything that moves – and there is you.” The King is aware that he cannot rely on the people around him to be honest with him for one reason or another. More is the only one he trusts to support him for the right reasons (because he agrees with him) rather than because he is a follower like the others with no thoughts of their own. More has gained the reputation for being an honest and morally respectable man. As a result of More’s reputation his opinion on important matters of state are highly sought after and valued. It is for this reason that the King wants More on his side and signing the Act of Supremacy in order to ensure the remainder of the Kingdom’s allegiance

More is torn between wanting to please and support his King and doing what his conscience deems right. “There is my right arm. Take your dagger and saw it from my shoulder, and I will laugh and be thankful, if by that means I can come with Your Grace with a clear conscience.” There is a strong bond and affection between More and the King which More does not want to damage but is forced into because of his beliefs and the King’s actions. The King too is reluctant to force the issue and agrees not to ask him about it again when he makes a ‘surprise’ visit to More’s house.

Bolt uses this scene to establish the conflict, friendship and loyalty between More and the King. This is clearly illustrated in the warm welcome exchanged between the two when they greet each other. The king is relaxed and happy while joking with More and his daughter. The music and colour of the costumes adds to the gaiety of the scene leading the audience to believe all is well. This is strongly contrasted with the King’s abrupt departure after More’s inability to support the King in his divorce. The music stops and the King and his entourage depart, taking all the colour with them. The audience is left with a sense of foreboding in the silence and colourless scene despite the promise by the King to More that he would not be asked about the divorce again.

Unfortunately for More the audience’s sense of foreboding is proven true with the ‘King’s ear’ Cromwell pressuring him to either admit he is against the divorce or to sign the Act Respecting the Oath to the Succession to the Crown. “For refusing to swear my goods are forfeit and I am condemned to life imprisonment… But if you were right in supposing I had reasons for refusing and right again in supposing my reasons to be treasonable, the law would let you cut my head off.” More is artfully evading execution for treason due to his beliefs by remaining silent and refusing to voice his opinion. He is extremely familiar with every letter of the law and is able to prevent his execution. This scene is crucial to our understanding of More’s silence about the Act. Throughout the entire play More remains silent on the divorce, it is obvious to all involved and the audience what his opinion is. However, at this point we fully understand why he has not revealed his thoughts to anyone, not even a member of his family, because it would lead to his death.

Cromwell will stop at nothing to get More to either sign or speak out, including bribing Richard Rich to perjure himself. “In good faith, Rich, I am sorrier for your perjury than my peril.” Cromwell conspired with Rich to lie against More in order to have him found guilty of treason and executed. At one point Rich had been friends with More but More refused to help him get a position because he knew Rich did not have a strong enough character to withstand bribes. More is proven correct when Rich betrays him but is still able to be compassionate towards him. Rich is the direct opposite to More, he is weak-willed, ambitious and corrupt. It is through his ambition and greed which leads to the corruption of his soul and the death of a good man, More.

Within ‘A Man for All Seasons’ Robert Bolt employed the alienation effect allowing the audience to remain distanced from the events and focused on the message of the play. The main thing Bolt wanted the audience to leave with was the strength of character and admirability of Sir Thomas More. In order to achieve this, the set and costumes were kept to a minimum. This reminded the audience that they were watching a play and that although we knew More was doomed from the start we are able to respect the way in which he conducted himself throughout his ordeal.

Throughout ‘A Man for All Seasons’ Sir Thomas More is at odds with the rest of the characters in the play due to his abiding by his conscience. Robert Bolt uses his conflicts with the central characters, the alienation effect and central concerns of the play to aid our understanding of More’s dedication and moral superiority. As Jonathan Swift said in 1736, “He was the person of the greatest virtue these islands ever produced.”

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