LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in that such a lowborn and generally disliked man could get such a The sets change and the stage becomes Hampton Court, the royal palace. character meant to represent traits and attitudes common to us all.

By staying the King’s friend, More stays in his good graces politically, which will allow him and his family to live peacefully and happily. -Graham S. A Man for All Seasons Summary. be out of practice. Roper, meanwhile, would happily break the law if he thought he was doing what God wanted. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Ironically, the King criticizes Wolsey’s pride and ambition, even though the ever-ambitious Cromwell is one of his closest confidantes. Although the Common Man is, as his name suggests, common and unexceptional, this provides him (in some ways) safety and longevity.

Instead of referring to his reciprocal relationship with More as a “friendship,” he talks about being “a friend of” More.

“Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs.

Wolsey wishes More would stop looking for answers in God’s law and instead turn to immediate matters of state. More’s statement that worshiping God shouldn’t be “a dishonor to any office” is fair, but it also will not prove to be true. going to ask him for something that he wants to keep; and he’ll

The symbol of water is also used again to represent the difficult and unknowable nature of morality and religion. . More himself would probably be happier as a poor teacher, as he believes the lack of money would be a fair trade for a clear conscience. More’s political position comes with power, which in turns comes with people trying to bribe and manipulate him. The The Steward tells Cromwell exactly what he wants to hear—that the pressure Cromwell has begun to place on More is working, and he lives in a constant state of anxiety.

Rich, however, is happy to compromise himself for some silver. More’s cassock is a robe traditionally worn by priests and clergymen, and is thus a physical symbol of his commitment to his faith.

he says he will present his own version. Although More won’t cave to political pressure, the King knows how deeply More values his friendships. full well that Matthew sampled it. Rich is more concerned with what can be extracted from a friendship than with the friendship itself. to the possibility of escape. Although More is in conflict with the King and the English government, he has remained committed to a single side of the issue. Once a steadfast Protestant, he’s now become more Catholic. In this case, because More will not approve Henry’s divorce, a stance that benefits Spain, Chapuys sees More as good. Once again, Rich reveals that although More believed him to be a close friend, he is hiding many secrets, including his relationship with Cromwell and his political ideology. Our

Note also that the Steward uses the symbolic language of water and land. More, who cannot find a boat, is out of step with popular religious sentiment—England will soon have its own Church, separate from the Catholic Church, and More is unable and unwilling to make the transition. Alice and Margaret’s banter with the Duke of Norfolk demonstrates their self-possession, education, and intellect, which sets them apart from many women of the period.

LitCharts uses cookies to personalize our services. The exemption he previously attempted to make from the Leviticus quote now becomes his argument for again circumventing Biblical rules. Rich implies that a man can be bought with suffering. More uses the metaphor of God’s law as a confusing, twisting river, whereas man’s law is an easily traversable island.

For More, however, everything is more complicated. Matthew, Thomas More’s servant, and declares the sixteenth century office is full of temptations, and he shows Rich an Italian silver Because More values physical luxury less than uncorrupted morals, he is happy to give away this expensive cup, and, eventually, nearly all of his physical belongings. Will doesn’t seem to care what his religious position is, as long as it goes against public opinion. Summary: Scene one . Later, the Steward’s prediction turns out to be false—More More doesn’t have any great political ambition, though he does have a sense of his political duty.

More dismisses Rich’s belief that My Master Thomas More would give anything He isn’t lying, but he is giving Chapuys the portion of truth that he is most interested in. More warns that holding an administrative Cromwell’s political allegiance is ostensibly to the King, but truly it is to himself. he can’t help it—and that’s bad . Rich pleads that he would rather work for More than The Common Man laments having to open a play about royalty and