A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt - Book Report/Review Example

A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt Part I Quote 1. “I’m lamenting. I’ve lost my innocence.” a) These were Richard Rich's words, upon receiving a promise from Cromwell of becoming the revenue collector of York in exchange for information which could tarnish Chancellor More’s moral standing. b) Richard was addressing Secretary Cromwell soon after accepting the promise of revenue collector. Cromwell questioned the heaviness on Richard upon acceptance of the promise. The conversation occurred in a secret chamber at the inn. After the conversation, Richard went ahead to reveal details of the Silver goblet More gave him as a gift. The details indicated a corrupt deal on More’s part, hence tarnishing the highly upheld image of honesty. c) Richard meant that it made him sad how he no longer held to principles and values that supported trust and friendship. d) Cromwell was able to convince Richard that his innocence disappeared a long time past. This self-realization caused Richard to disclose vital information on More concerning the silver goblet gift’s origin. The quote presents Richard as a friend of convenience who sells out the other when a material gain is eminent. Richard sold out on More when Cromwell promised him the position of collector of revenues for York. Quote 3. “No opposition! Your conscience is your own affair; but you are my Chancellor! There, you have my word--- I’ll leave you out of it. But I don’t take it kindly, and I’ll have no opposition!” a) These were the words of Henry VIII, the king of England. b) King Henry VIII uttered the words during a conversation with More. The conversation took place at More’s residence where the King paid a visit after More’s appointment as the chancellor, after Wolsey’s demise. The King was wrath with the lack of support from More concerning his intention of divorcing Catherine. c) The king meant that though More had a conscience, it mattered less when executing the mandate of the administrative post bearing in mind that he was still answerable to the king. Being the king, Henry expected full support from the administrators even though his decision prevailed above all people. Henry, therefore, suffered intimidation when More asked to be left out of the king’s final decision. d) The king took More’s stand as an act of opposition though he indeed approved earlier promise not to pursue More regarding stand on divorce against Catherine. The words bring out the king as egoistic by taking offence out of More’s honesty. The king warned More that he would not concede opposition from anybody. Henry further warned More the he was turning into a hypocrite and a traitor just like the bishops. Quote 4. “Buy a man with suffering?” a) Thomas More uttered the words. At the time, More was not yet a Chancellor to the king. b) More was addressing Richard Rich, who had paid a visit to his residence. Richard was then a friend of More’s. The words were a response to Richard’s statement that anybody could be bribed if the price were right. The response was due to Richard’s insistence that everyman held a price regardless where it lay. It was soon afterward that More realized Richard was conversant with Signor Machiavelli’s philosophy. Later, it dawned on More and Norfolk that Richard indeed knew Cromwell, the cardinals secretary, under whose tutorship he learnt Machiavelli’s doctrines. The discussion stopped abruptly when Wolsey summoned More for an interview. c) More was seeking clarity from Richard concerning the circumstances under which an ethical man could be bribed. Richard elaborated that it was possible if a person could be overwhelmed with suffering and then offered a way out of the misery, of course with something to offer in return. d) The response that Richard gave points out to his true character where he became corrupted due to the promise of a title as the collector of revenues of York Diocese. Richard was overly ambitious and could not resist the title even though it meant exposing More, his supposedly friend. Quote 5. “Richard Rich became a Knight and Solicitor-General, a Baron and Lord Chancellor, and died in his bed. So did I. And so, I hope will all of you.” a) These were the words of the common man. His role was setting the scene for the play. When saying the words, common man’s role was that of the jailer. b) The conversation was a monologue by the jailer. He was addressing the reader as the audience. The conversation points to the future of the characters and how they died. This took place at the jail where More resided. The conversation happened just before the Secretary, Duke, and the Archbishop paid More a visit. c) The common man sought to enlighten the reader how the story ended. He explained Richard’s short-lived success in promotions and his death. The common man cited death as the ultimate equalizer since everybody dies at the end of it all. d) The postscript highlighted Richard’s success attained at the expense of his friendship with More. It shows how people are willing to forfeit their friends for self-gain. Quote 6. “I believe, when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties they lead their country by a short route to chaos. And we shall have my prayers to fall back on.” a) Thomas More, the Chancellor, was speaking. b) More was responding to Wolsey’s call for advice concerning the matter of the king’s divorce. Wolsey had summoned More to his office. The conversation happened after More recommended Richard to the duke for employment. c) More meant that leaders ought to make decisions for their country based on what they felt inside, failure to which disarray may arise. Public decisions should be based on personal conscience for leadership to be stable. d) The statement clearly points out More’s moral standing when he refused to participate in the king’s divorce. Taking part in such a matter would betray his conscience. This stand on personal principles, is also evident, when More refuses to take an oath on the parliamentary act. His argument was that he could never go wrong with his conscience. Quote 7. “But Man he made to serve him wittily, in the tangle of his mind! If he suffers us to fall to such a case that there is no escaping, then we may stand to our tackle as best we can…. But it’s God’s part, not our own, to bring ourselves to that extremity! Our natural business lies in escaping---so let’s get home and study this Bill.” a) These were the words of Thomas More, the king’s chancellor. b) More was addressing Margaret, his daughter, and William his daughters suitor. The chancellor was standing at the dock waiting for a boat just after a confrontation with Norfolk. Margaret and Roper had been looking for More. They wanted to pass news regarding an act of parliament which required administration of an oath. c) More meant that God’s intention was that man holds to his conscience and knowledge even though it led to disregard from the rest. God expected things to get rough for man, but He delighted when men overcame the complexities and emerged victorious regardless of the circumstances. More, however, cautioned that it was the nature of man to escape rather than face challenges. d) More used his knowledge of law as a delaying tactic for the trial. He knew that the King required his approval on the divorce issue as his advisor. Through studying the bill on divorce, More knew he would be able to gauge whether to take the oath, or not depending on the legal basis of the wording. Failure to take the oath meant the king had nothing against More, and hence no basis for a trial. Quote 8. “The 16th century is the Century of the Common Man. Like all the other centuries.” a) Mathew, the steward to Thomas More, was speaking. b) The speaker was addressing the reader as his audience. The utterance took place at More’s residence. The steward was setting out the table for More’s dinner with some guests. Richard and the duke were the guests. c) The steward meant that just like all the other centuries gone past, the position of the common man in the society remained the same. d) The statement explains why in the end, the common man results to unsound practice in the hope of redemption. The common man resulted to corruption as a way out of poverty. Quote 9. “My views on the Church, I must confess---Since last we met my views have somewhat modified. I modify nothing concerning the body of the Church… But an attack on the Church herself! No, I see behind that an attack on God.” a) Roper, the suitor to More’s daughter (Margaret), uttered the words. b) Roper was addressing More’s family. The conversation was inside More’s residence. Roper was seeking advice concerning intended placement in the next parliament. The king had just left More’s house. c) Roper was implying his changed attitude concerning the church. He previously held a heretical view which conflicted with More’s view. He was now ready to defend what the church represented. d) With the changed attitude, Roper could now get Margaret’s hand in marriage. It meant that Roper could not stand corruption especially among the church leaders. This was a show of ethical turn around. Quote 10. “Look at those names. You know those men! Can’t you do what I did, and come with us, for fellowship?” a) Norfolk, the duke of Norfolk, was speaking as a friend of More. b) The duke was addressing More in an effort to lure him into taking the oath. The conversation took place at the jail where More resided. The duke of Norfolk, Cromwell, and the Cardinal were at the jail. the purpose of their visit was to convince More to accept the oath. c) Norfolk meant that the people who had taken the oath held high ranks in Henrys government. He, therefore, expected More to follow suit in exchange for favors by the king. d) The statement characterizes Norfolk as unprincipled changing his stance to suit the kings demand even though it did not stand up for truth. More refuted the approach by asking whether Norfolk would give up going to paradise and side with him in damnation: for the sake of comradeship. Quote 11. “Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world… But for Wales!” a) More, the chancellor of England was speaking. b) More was addressing Richard at the trial court. c) More became perplexed by Richard’s decision to accuse him falsely in order to win the title of the attorney general of Wales. According to More, it was not worth selling a soul for the sake of a political position. d) The statement served as a moral teaching to Richard to caution him on consequences of forsaking his conscience for the sake of material gain. Part II 1. Roper (a) Roper is More’s son in law. At first, he believes that the church is heretical and functions more or less like a source of income. (b) Conflict occurs between More and Roper when the latter proposes a hand in marriage with Margaret, More’s daughter, at which More refuses. The conflict plays out to the religious belief held by the parties. More is a staunch believer in church while Roper is heretic of the church. Later on, roper changes his stand on the church and marries Margaret. 2. Cromwell (a) Cromwell is a colleague of More in the government. He is the advocate for the king and a political foe to More. (b) The conflict between More and Cromwell is on the difference in moral and ethical principles. The conflict plays out when Cromwell finds Richard a job in government thereby turning Richard’s friendship against More. Cromwell convinces Richard to bear false witness against More who ends up in jail. 3. Wolsey (a) He held the position of the chancellor before More. He also served as cardinal in the king’s court. (b) Wolsey conflicts with More on the basis of morals regarding the intended king’s divorce to Catherine. The conflict plays out when Wolsey seeks support from More in endorsing the Kings divorce. Wolsey is angry that More’s conscience prevents him from obeying the wishes of the King. He fails to get an opinion from More, even after predicting a civil war if the king dies without an heir. More is staunch on his principle and instead suggests to Wolsey to request a dispensation from the pope. 4. Norfolk (a) He is the duke of Norfolk and a friend of More’s, as well as a colleague in King Henry’s government. (b) Norfolk conflicts with More on the basis of the act of parliament requiring enactment by the administration of an oath. The conflict plays out when Norfolk tries to convince More to swear to the act. More is adamant to take the oath fearing hidden implication in the words of the oath. Norfolk takes the rejection as an act of treason against the king and thus contributes to More’s imprisonment. 5. Alice (a) Alice is More’s wife. Together, they have a daughter, Margaret. (b) Alice's Conflict with More regards his imprisonment, which leaves the family devastated. The conflict plays out by Alice’s failure to understand why More would rather suffer humiliation and jail time: instead of agreeing with the king’s demand. Though she does not believe that More’s way was the only option, she finally concedes to his wish. Works cited Bolt, Robert. A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts. New York: Vintage Books, 1990. Print. Read More