A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt
"A Man for All Seasons" is a historical drama by Robert Bolt that explores the life of Sir Thomas More, a 16th-century statesman, and his moral stand against King Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The play highlights More's integrity and unwavering commitment to his Catholic faith, even in the face of political pressure and personal sacrifice. The plot unfolds as More navigates the treacherous waters of the Tudor court, dealing with characters such as Thomas Cromwell and Richard Rich, who embody the corrupting influences of ambition and power.
Set against a backdrop of significant religious and political upheaval, the drama delves into themes of duty, ethics, and the conflict between individual conscience and state authority. More's steadfast refusal to endorse the king's actions ultimately leads to his trial and execution for treason, illustrating the peril of standing firm in one’s beliefs. The play serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding morality and governance, inviting audiences to reflect on the nature of integrity and conviction in the face of adversity.
On this Page
A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt
First produced: 1954, radio play; 1960, full-length play; first published, 1960
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Historical
Time of plot: 1530-1535
Locale: London and environs
Principal characters
The Common Man , part narrator, part character in the playThomas More , a scholar and statesmanLady Alice More , his wifeMargaret More , Sir Thomas’s daughterRichard Rich , an ambitious young man and an acquaintance of MoreDuke of Norfolk , a friend of MoreCardinal Wolsey , Lord Chancellor of EnglandThomas Cromwell , Wolsey’s unscrupulous secretarySignor Chapuys , the Spanish ambassadorHenry VIII , the king of England
The Story:
Richard Rich, eager to find employment at court, arrives at the manor of his acquaintance, Thomas More, to request aid. When Sir Thomas warns Rich of the bribes and other temptations of court, and offers to help Rich find a position as a teacher, Rich is deeply disappointed. More gives Rich a silver cup that had been sent to More as an attempted bribe. As they are talking, the duke of Norfolk enters with Lady Alice and Lady Margaret More, and the duke surprises the gathering by announcing that Thomas Cromwell has become secretary to Cardinal Wolsey. At that moment, a message arrives from the cardinal, summoning More to him, although it is late at night.
When More arrives at the cardinal’s chambers, Wolsey rebukes him for having opposed him in council that day. The two men then discuss the dynastic situation. King Henry desperately desires a son to continue the Tudor line, but his wife, Catherine, cannot get pregnant, and the pope refuses to grant a dispensation so that Henry can divorce Catherine to marry again. More is dismissed by the cardinal to return home by boat after they take opposing views about what Henry VIII should do.
When More returns, he finds William Roper has arrived early in the morning to visit Margaret and ask Sir Thomas for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Sir Thomas replies that the answer will be no so long as Roper remains a heretic—that is, a Lutheran. After Roper leaves, Sir Thomas refuses to discuss the political situation with his wife and daughter, except to warn them that times are dangerous and that they should be careful.
The Common Man informs the audience that, upon Wolsey’s death, Thomas More had been appointed Lord Chancellor. The Spanish ambassador and Cromwell try to obtain information from Sir Thomas’s steward; the man takes their bribes, but he evades giving them any real information.
The king visits Sir Thomas’s house and, drawing Thomas aside, asks for his help in securing the divorce from Catherine. The king is reproachful when Thomas says that he cannot renounce his obligations to the Church. Although Henry expresses his respect for Sir Thomas’s conscience, he is clearly disappointed. After the king’s departure, William Roper and Richard Rich enter; Roper has returned to belief in the Catholic Church and expresses some potentially dangerous opinions regarding the divorce. Rich informs More that Cromwell and others had been after Rich for incriminating evidence against Sir Thomas.
Cromwell and Rich meet at a room in a pub, and Cromwell offers Rich the position of collector of revenues for York in return for help in proving a case of bribery against More. Rich responds by giving information about the cup More had presented him earlier. After the Common Man notes that some two years have passed, More and Roper discuss the momentous changes that have taken place. The king has been declared supreme head of the Church of England, but Sir Thomas has found a legal loophole that allows him safety. More is interrogated by Signor Chapuys, the Spanish ambassador, as to what More will do if the king forces a more definite break with the Catholic Church. Roper and the duke of Norfolk enter with word that the break has indeed taken place. More, with the help of his daughter, Margaret, removes the chain of office and hands it to Norfolk. When Norfolk leaves, More tries to explain to his wife and daughter that his continued silence on the issue is their only hope of safety. Norfolk and Cromwell discuss the situation, and Cromwell explains to the duke that because of More’s reputation for honesty and intelligence, it is necessary that he openly declare his support of the break with Rome. Cromwell announces that he has proof that More has accepted bribes and that this pressure can be used against him. Rich and the woman who had tried to bribe More enter and Norfolk, contemptuous, dismisses the evidence. Cromwell and Rich conclude they must have better evidence against Sir Thomas.
Chapuys visits More with a secret letter from the king of Spain, expressing admiration for the stand More has taken on the matter of the divorce. Sir Thomas points out that he has taken no stand and refuses to take the letter. After Chapuys leaves, More again explains to his wife and daughter that in his silence lies their only security.
Cromwell has More brought before him, with Rich as a secretary to record their meeting. Cromwell tries to trip up More on several points, including that More had written a book in defense of Catholic doctrine now repudiated by the king. When More disproves this point and still refuses to yield, Cromwell reads a short note from the king accusing More of ingratitude and being traitorous as a subject. Then, More is dismissed. On his way home, More encounters Norfolk and deliberately provokes a quarrel to protect his friend.
When More refuses to swear the oath to the Act of Succession passed by Parliament, he is imprisoned, where he is questioned under difficult conditions repeatedly. He is visited by his wife and daughter and learns that Margaret has promised to try to convince him to take the oath. He refuses and his wife tells him of the hard times the household is suffering, but still More holds fast.
More is brought to trial on the charge of high treason. Through wit and logic, he refutes the charges made against him by Cromwell. Rich perjures himself by claiming that More has denied Parliament’s authority to declare the king to be the head of the Church. More realizes his ordeal is over, his battle lost, and he finally breaks his silence and affirms his belief that the laws of humanity cannot supersede the law of God. Found guilty of treason, he is beheaded.
Bibliography
Kirkpatrick, D. L., and James Vinson, eds. Contemporary Dramatists. 4th ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1988. Includes a helpful discussion about A Man for All Seasons that places the drama within the scope of Bolt’s career.
Nightingale, Benedict. A Reader’s Guide to Fifty Modern British Plays. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1982. A brief but informative view of the play, providing an excellent starting point for beginning students and general readers.
O’Connell, Marvin. “A Man for all Seasons: An Historian’s Demur.” Catholic Dossier 8, no. 2 (March-April, 2002): 16-19. Critically examines Bolt’s play for its reputation as the definitive popular account of Thomas More’s life and deeds.
Prüfer, Sabine. The Individual at the Crossroads: The Works of Robert Bolt, Novelist, Dramatist, Screenwriter. New York: Peter Lang, 1998. Prüfer analyzes Bolt’s stage plays, screenplays, and novels, pointing out his general themes of selfhood and individual integrity.
Turner, Adrian. Robert Bolt: Scenes from Two Lives. London: Hutchinson, 1998. Turner recounts the events of Bolt’s life, including his 1979 stroke, which left him paralyzed, and chronicles his screenwriting career.
Tynan, Kenneth. A View of the English Stage, 1944-1965. New ed. London: Methuen, 1984. A highly personal, even idiosyncratic view of the play. Since the bulk of the essays in this volume were originally reviews, they provide a clue about how the play was received during its debut. Includes an index.