A Man for All Seasons Essay - 716 Words

In the beginning of A Man for All Seasons, Sir Thomas More is introduced as a profoundly religious man focused on adhering to the laws of his country and faith. As the play progresses the audience sees More putting further faith into his belief that by abiding to the present laws and withholding his opinion about King Henry VIII’s divorce he will be protected from prosecution. The issue starts when the King wishes to divorce his brother’s wife, who initially he had taken as his own through a special papal dispensation, in order to wed Queen Anne and produce a male heir. More, being a devoutly religious man, realizes this goes against the laws of the Church. He refuses to give his willing approval based on the fact it is not morally or†¦show more content†¦He believes that if he is summoned to the Court that the jury will look at the evidence and realize there is no probable content to convict him of, therefore, proving him to be an innocent man who has don e no wrong. More distinctly states this belief when he tells Cromwell, â€Å"The law requires more than an assumption; the law requires a fact.† -Sir Thomas More, pg 131 However, he has not planned for a false testimony from Richard Rich at his trial. Rich testifies that More has committed the act of treason by rejecting the authority of King Henry VIII as head of the Church in England. As king of England, Henry has the power and the unquestionable authority to act based off his own desires even if they are not legally or morally acceptable. Because his current wife, Catherine, who was also his brother’s widow, has failed to birth a son, he wishes to divorce her and take Queen Anne as his new wife. Without a male heir to the throne, Henry’s lineage will come to an end and England will be left without a successor. He admits this to More during their meeting in Act 1, saying, â€Å"Thomas, Thomas, does a man need a Pope to tell him when he’s sinned? It was a sin, Thomas; I admit it; I repent. And God has punished me; I have no son †¦ Son after son she’s borne me, Thomas, all dead at birth, or dead within the month; I never saw the hand of God so clear inShow MoreRelatedThe Film A Man For All Seasons1605 Words   |  7 PagesThe film A Man for All Seasons is an absolute masterpiece. It really is a cinematic tour de force. Directed by the legendary Fred Zinnemann, well known for High Noon, and starring incredibly talented and powerful actors as Paul Scofield, who plays the wonderful Thomas Moore, Orson Welles, and John Hurt. This won six academy awards in 1966. The film uses the historical story of Sir Thomas Moore to explore one of Zinnemann’s favorite themes-- martyrdom- a person standing up even to deathRead MoreEssay A Man For All Seasons2036 Words   |  9 Pages In the play A Man For All Seasons, the main character is Sir Thomas More. Sir Thomas is the Chancellor of England and a very religious man. 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It also covers the inverse process with other characters, such as; Richard Rich, Thomas Cromwell, and the king of England Henry VIII. In the play Thomas More stands as a beacon of selfhood and virtue, while the other three men usedRead MoreThe Divine Command Theory : A Man For All Seasons1640 Words   |  7 Pagesbe good, and anything that he denounces must be evil. According to DCT, a person is not moral without believing in God (Pojman 188-9). The DCT can be applied to Sir Thomas More’s reasoning and actions in his life. In Robert Bolt’s play, A Man for All Seasons, Sir Thomas More is viewed as a saint or a person who is morally good. More’s conflict comes from his refusal to go against his morals and self that were connected to God and the Catholic Church. He is willing to give up his family, friendsRead MoreRobert Bolt s A Man For All Seasons2006 Words   |  9 PagesEtti A Man for All Seasons was a play written by Robert Bolt in 1960. The play showcased the controversy and corruption in sixteenth century politics in England. It demonstrated how treachery can easily befall anyone at any time as long as people have the determination and the correct position of power to bring them down. It displays how corrupt the time period was and how people were willing to turn on others for their own selfish reason. In Robert Bolt?s A Man for All Seasons, political corruption