A Man For All Seasons: More

A detailed Summary of A Man For All Seasons: More

More's Moral Conscience in "A Man For All Seasons"

Destruction of an individual displays one's moral beliefs when he is destroyed. The defeat is what counts most; to defeat a man is to destroy the soul. In the play, A Man for All Seasons, by Robert Bolt, the notion that "a man can be destroyed but not defeated" is a premise that is clearly demonstrated by Sir Thomas More. As the former Lord Chancellor of England, More is the only man who truly sees problems his own ways. He held onto his convictions and beliefs by refusing to support his King on the issue of divorcing his wife Catherine. In the process of holding onto his beliefs, he is pressured by his family, his friends, and the court of justice. Unfortunately, he is executed, but remains a legacy to the people. Despite his death, he reminds others that they should hold on to their moral beliefs, no matter what happens.

Sir Thomas More's family went through great lengths in order to persuade More to swear to the Act of Succession. If More would swear to the oath, it would free him from the charges of high treason. More's daughter, Margaret, tried everything in order to pressure her father into taking the oath. Margaret took an oath in an attempt to persuade More to surr

There is no denying that More is a special man. Ultimately More is a human being, just like Cromwell, Rich, and the Common Man. He makes mistakes and he knows that he is not God. But what he does know is that he is not willing to compromise his integrity. He will not lose his principles all for the sake of "fellowship". For he tells Norfolk, "...when we stand before God...and I am damned for not doing according to mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?" (78).

More's friend Norfolk tries to pressure him, saying "We're supposed to be the arrogant ones, the proud, splenetic ones - and we've all given in! Why must you stand out?" (71). All the noblemen have already given in and taken the oath, and that they are waiting on More to do so as well. But More still does not give in, he chooses to remain silent and continues to do so. He does not mind because he is doing what he feels is right. When the court had done all they can to persuade him, they began to put him under extreme pressure. "Yet the state has harsher punishments" (79). Cromwell thought that by saying that, it would cause More to change his attitude and swear to the oath. In fact, it didn't work. Even through immense pressure, More will not allow himself to be defeated. More knows that if he is found guilty of high treason, he will be executed. But at the stage when he is alive, he can not surrender.

Each of the various pressures exerted on More were to make him submit to the King. However, none of these pressures succeeded in making More submit. More keeps with his conscience, knowing that he will eventually be executed. His conscience

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Approximate Word count = 1091
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English