A Man for All Seasons A play by Robert Bolt

Learning Targets Students will:  Understand the themes of: Integrity Moral Stability vs. Moral ambiguity Every Man has his price  Analyze the corruption in the English legal system  Analyze the issue of moral stability  Demonstrate knowledge of the purpose of the characters and their roles in the play  Examine character motivation, particularly the reasoning behind More’s refusal and pressures put on him  Recognize the motif of water vs. land

Historical Background England in the 1500s   England at the turn of the 16 th century was a medieval society in which daily life was bound by custom, tradition, piety and superstition.   The Catholic Church was an integral part of everyday life, but was in dire need of reform (corruption of clergy, etc).   Many English resented the taxes assessed by Rome (a foreign city) and the wealth and power of the monasteries.   England had found a new political stability provided by the Tudor Dynasty and King Henry VII.   Public service meant serving the king whose powers were growing at the expense of the Church and the nobility. In 1509, Henry VII was succeeded by his son, Henry VIII, who was to rule England for 38 years.   Henry VIII was the second Tudor to rule England and was very different than his father. He was a tyrant, used to having his way and willing to cut off heads without scruple if he felt it was in his best interest. His most important achievement was the separation of the Church of England from Rome

King vs. Pope Pope Clement VII (1478 –1534 Pope ) King Henry VIII ( Ruled )

King vs. Pope   Pope Clement VII was under the political and military domination of Henry's enemy Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor and Catherine of Aragon’s nephew, He refused Henry's request for an annulment of the marriage.   Henry applied pressure to Rome through his Lord Chancellors, Thomas Wolsey and later Thomas More. Wolsey failed. More refused.   The King's response was to sever England's relationship with the Catholic Church and to set up a new Church of England with the King at its head.   Henry appointed the new Archbishop of Canterbury (Thomas Cranmer) as the highest cleric of the Church in England. Cranmer promptly annulled Henry's marriage to Catherine.

Sir Thomas More Born 1478 Humanist and Lawyer Lord Chancellor from Executed by Henry VIII in 1535 Canonized a saint in 1935

Sir Thomas More: A Man of Contradiction   A leading humanist - advocating reforms in education, society, and the Church   A devout Catholic Prayed extensively each day Seriously considered becoming a priest Decided to be good husband rather than a bad priest believed it was the visible communion of Christians that was the permanent/living sign of Christ's presence Knew the Catholic Church needed reform worried that breaking from the Catholic Church would encourage Protestantism in England.   Accused of treason, imprisoned, and beheaded in 1535 because he would not recognize Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne Boleyn   Named a saint by the Catholic Church for staying true to his belief, ultimately giving his life for them

Characters 1. The Common Man – 1. The Common Man – takes on several roles, the narrator, shows the effects of the action on the everyday person, designed to remind the audience that they are watching a play 2 2. Thomas More – 2. Thomas More – lawyer, devout Catholic, humanist, friend of King Henry VIII 3 3. Richard Rich – 3. Richard Rich – amoral, ambitious, antagonist, jealous of More 4 4. Duke of Norfolk – 4. Duke of Norfolk – uncle to Anne Boleyn, “aware of his own moral and intellectual insignificance”

Characters 6 6. Margaret More – 6. Margaret More – More’s daughter, very educated, dedicated to her father and his beliefs 7 7. William Roper – 7. William Roper – educated gentleman, Protestant convert 8 8. Cardinal Wolsey – 8. Cardinal Wolsey – voice of the Catholic Church in England, Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII, ambitious but failing 5 5. Alice More – 5. Alice More – More’s wife, worships society, worships her husband

Characters 9 9. Thomas Cromwell – 9. Thomas Cromwell – advisor to Henry VIII, advocate of reform, antagonist, jealous of More, an “intellectual bully” 10 Chapuys – dignified 10. Eustace Chapuys – dignified Spanish ambassador Thomas Cranmer – 11. Thomas Cranmer – Archbishop of Canterbury, “lacks personal religiosity” 12. King Henry VIII – still a young man, the “Golden Hope of the New Learning throughout Europe”

Motifs of the Play  Loyalty & Friendship  Duty to One’s Self vs. Duty to One’s King  Identity  Conscience & Guilt  Power of Silence  Corruption of Authority  Laws of Man vs. Laws of Religion/God

Bibliography  Ackroyd, Peter. The Life of Thomas More. (Doubleday, 1998).  Carnes, Ed. Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies. (Henry Holt & Co., 1996).  Marius, Richard. Thomas More. (Knopf, 1984).  Maynard, Theodore. Humanist as Hero. (MacMillan, 1947).  Sanello, Frank. Reel v. Real: How Hollywood Turns Fact into Fiction. (Taylor Trade Publishers, 2003).  Teach with Movies. all-seasons.html  Wegemeyer, Gerard B. Portrait of Courage (Scepter Publications, 1995).