While A Man For All Seasons focuses heavily on the social downfall and moral strength of Sir Thomas More, it also covers the inverse process involving a number of other characters - most specifically the identifiable corruption of Richard Rich, who throughout the course of the play loses his innocence. It is ironic that while it is he who recognizes the possibility of corruption with the writings of Machiavelli, "Every man has his price", he fails to apply this knowledge to his own life. At times, it may seem that only those in More's family are impervious to the temptations of money, power, and position - the Common Man, serving as a symbol for the "average" in humanity as a whole, is very willing to take petty bribes in order to betray a trust. .
The literary focus, however, is placed on the sacrifice of goodness in Richard's self. From the beginning, Rich is seeking desperately, ambitiously, to jumpstart his rise to power, pleading with Thomas More for even an entry-level position in England's bureaucracy. However, Thomas More recognizes Rich's possible weaknesses, or perhaps is simply concerned with his moral fiber, as Thomas advises Rich to teach. Thomas then introduces the symbol of the silver cup, telling Rich that, "[he] should go where he won't be tempted" (Bolt 7) and that since the cup is a bribe and tainted, More cannot keep it. In this, More is attempting to set an example for Rich. More does tell Rich that if he feels the cup is tainted, he need not take it. Rich begins to show a difference in intentions and opinions than More, selling the cup for money and a new set of fashionable clothes, symbolically showing the beginning of his acceptance of corruption. The cup comes into play numerous times throughout the play, this attempt at teaching Rich about vice quite ironically assisting Cromwell into convicting and persecuting More. .
Rich's first active show of corruption rears its hideous head at the end of Act I in the devious face of Cromwell.
During one season his greatest fear came reality. ... During one season his greatest fear came reality. ... Ricki white young man grew up on a farm, in the south came from racist home had no interest in going to college. ... The greedy members of society believe you must succeed by all means necessary. Thus is true of the film, which demonstrates one must win by all means. ...
During one season his greatest fear came reality. ... During one season his greatest fear came reality. ... Ricki white young man grew up on a farm, in the south came from racist home had no interest in going to college. ... The greedy members of society believe you must succeed by all means necessary. Thus is true of the film, which demonstrates one must win by all means. ...
info) 99.4% This nine-page essay distinguishes how the character Sir Thomas More of Robert Bolt's play A Man For All Seasons pursues his interests. Set apart from the other selfish characters, More is a man who subconsciously is a slave to his conscience and is is steadfast in upholding his principles. ... Category: English > Plays Everyone in A Man For All Seasons is pursuing their own ends (info) 99.2% "Everyone in A Man For All Seasons is pursuing their own ends. ... In A Man For All Seasons every character has their own ends to meet, and Category: English > Posit...
Creon, on the other hand, is a great man reduced to a pitiable condition as a result of a tragic flaw and is humbled by this tragedy. Bound by her rashness and steadfast religious convictions, Antigone buries her brother, Polyneices, despite Creon's edict because she felt that it was not up to man to decide her fate. Antigone is strong enough to challenge the everpresent control of men. ... Antigone wants all the credit for saving Polyneices' soul. All these flaws are only traits of the human nature, and Antigone is merely a human. ...
A Man For All Seasons, written by Robert Bolt was a stunning play during the time of Henry VIII and Golden Hope of the New Learning throughout Europe. ... After reading A Man For All Seasons, I have changed in the way I think of our government. ...
In A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, the Common Man assumed several different roles as they became necessary in the play. ... The Common Man had many masters throughout A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS but was ultimately serving his own priorities. ... After all, it was More's head not his. Through all of these roles, the Common Man's name still fits. ... The Common Man cannot be judged too harshly. ...
The dissension over his death has spawned the play A Man for All Seasons, in which the author, Robert Bolt, depicts his view of the tragic progression to More's death. ... Rich, along side Cromwell, is guilty of letting greed for power enable him to bring down a good man. ... Leaving was certainly a possibility because he later told his family, "All of you must leave the country"(142). ... Many people caused the death of Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons; those that are most guilty that it came to pass are King Henry, Thomas Cromwell, Richard Rich, and Sir Thomas More himself. ... ...
A Man For All Seasons In the play, 'A man for all Seasons', Rich shows us the thought that 'all men have their price'. ... The Common Man represents us. ... The Common Man shows self-interest on a small scale. ... It shows that all people have a price even if it is on a small scale. ... The Common Man only has his own interests at heart. ...
A Man For All Seasons "Examine the relationship between More and Alice. ... In the play A Man For All Seasons, it became evident throughout the play that More and Alice are two very different people. ... Alice is finally moved by More's display of anguish and hugs him and tells him that he is the best man she has ever known. ... In all, the majority of the play Alice and More were two very different people who didn"t understand each other's motives and who possessed different values and thoughts. ...