This is a play written in the year 1966 by Robert Bolt in Britain and put in the category of biographical drama film. The book that was a box office and critical success and won six Oscar awards was a play that depicted the final years of Sir Thomas More (Bolt 30). It is one that speaks a multitude right from its name which gives a portrayal of a man of conscience who is sure to remain with his religion and his principles despite different circumstances and times that may come.
In this play whose characters have been carefully chosen to portray a particular trait is the greatest strength of this book (Mahoney 77). The characters starting from the main ones to the least of them all, the writer has executed their roles with perfection. There are always those characters that catch the eye and attention of the reader intrigued by different things, maybe words he says, his name or even how his body structure is depicted by the writer. In this essay, I am going to pick three characters in the book a man of all seasons and discuss them.
King Henry VIII is the main actor we would say in this play because the whole is based on him divorcing his present wife and marrying Ann. It is amazing how the king spearheads the whole play, but only appears once in person that is in the incident when he visits More offering him the position of Lord Chancellor of England (Richards’ 406). Henry is one man who breathes powers all over the play as we see servants going about to execute his wishes. His right-hand man Cromwell who does all that is within his power to make sure the will of the king is fulfilled.
Kings are known for their word but King Henry is a man who goes back on his promises. When he promises More that he won’t get him involved in his divorce he betrays him and has the hero of the play executed. In other words we would say that Henry is a hypocritical being, who tries to appeal to More with friendship and logic ( Tweg 570). When they do not work, he drops the mask and throws tantrums and threats to More because More has not been swayed by the unbound promises of royal favour. Like many politicians, Henry goes for what suites his political career rather than what he knows is morally upright.
Politicians and politics all the same never change from time in memorial. Things that Henry is doing are evidently characteristic of the politicians we have today. Henry in the book pulls a public stand of saying he is going to take care of his wife and even guide her down the river the truth is that the servants will do that (Bolt 60). So Henry has mastered the skill of public relations which enables him to seem more relatable in a time that the kingdom was experiencing a political turmoil.
Thomas Cromwell is another character who plays the role of an aide to Lord Chancellor. Before the demise of Wolsey from the heart attack, he was his right-hand man a loyal one; we can give loyalty as is character trait as he reports to his boss when he Hears More talking about not supporting Wolsey’s divorce proposal (Clerk 714). Cromwell is so loyal to King Henry he goes as far as asking Rich who More’s servant to find dirt on More to help the king bring him down for not supporting him.
Cromwell is a man of no moral standing he falls wherever asked to by his boss. It is true to say he only cares about the execution of his job and excellently for that matter. A worker that is devoted to his Employer and would kill for him no questions asked. He is a very shady person in the political game he gets things done regardless of the means. Cromwell as a character shows us the overwhelming nature of corruption in the political field.
Richard Rich is presented to the audience as More’s young acquaintance, so for all, it counts we expect him to stand with More. Sad enough Rich is the one that betrays More and has the strength to face him in his cell and take the books he is reading (Clerk 66). The one thing that is evident in Rich is he has a thirst for power for he tells More that teaching is of low prestige he wants a place at the court. It is Rich who presented a perjured testimony against More which led to him being executed by the court on the grounds of treason which were unfounded and untrue.
The three characters are similar as they both tend to do what they got to do without a moral standing thought. They all are morally corrupt and are in the quest for power which leads them to do the awful things they do.
Cromwell is different from the other two characters because he is not only shady and evil but a bona fide sadist; he is one who seems to enjoy hurting people (Bolt 77). Apart from others, we would say he has a sociopathic belief that he is somehow above the law. Cromwell thinks that everyone is nothing and goes about hurting them without a care in the world.
The three characters have a different ending, and the difference between them is that Cromwell is executed for treason whereas the rest are left to deal with their guilt. Even though they have done nasty things deep down, they have a conscience.
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Bolt, Robert. A Man for All Seasons. Melbourne, Vic: Melbourne Theatre Company, 2007. Print.
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Clark, Alexander. A Man for All Seasons: Robert Bolt. New York: Spark Pub, 2002. Print.
Mahoney, Blair. A Man for All Seasons. Elsternwick, Vic: Insight Publications, 2009. Print.
Richards, Ann. A Man for All Seasons: Robert Bolt: Neap Smart study English Guide. Carlton South, Vic: National Educational Advancement Programs (NEAP, 2006. Print.
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Tweg, Sue. A Man for All Seasons: Robert Bolt: Insight Text Guide. Elsternwick, Vic: Insight, 2006. Print.
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