A Man for All SeasonsA Man for All SeasonsA play by Robert BoltA play by Robert Bolt

Learning TargetsLearning TargetsStudents will:Students will:Understand the themes of:Understand the themes of:

IntegrityIntegrity

Moral Stability vs. Moral ambiguityMoral Stability vs. Moral ambiguity

Every Man has his priceEvery Man has his priceAnalyze the corruption in the English legal systemAnalyze the corruption in the English legal systemAnalyze the issue of moral stabilityAnalyze the issue of moral stabilityDemonstrate knowledge of the purpose of the characters and Demonstrate knowledge of the purpose of the characters and their roles in the playtheir roles in the playExamine character motivation, particularly the reasoning Examine character motivation, particularly the reasoning behind Morebehind More’’s refusal and pressures put on hims refusal and pressures put on himRecognize the motif of water vs. landRecognize the motif of water vs. land

Historical BackgroundHistorical BackgroundEngland in the 1500sEngland in the 1500s

England at the turn of the 16th century was a medieval society in which daily life was bound by custom, tradition, piety and superstition.

The Catholic Church was an integral part of everyday life, but was in dire need of reform (corruption of clergy, etc).

Many English resented the taxes assessed by Rome (a foreign city) and the wealth and power of the monasteries.

England had found a new political stability provided by the Tudor Dynasty and King Henry VII.

Public service meant serving the king whose powers were growing at the expense of the Church and the nobility. In 1509, Henry VII was succeeded by his son, Henry VIII, who was to rule England for 38 years.

Henry VIII was the second Tudor to rule England and was very different than his father. He was a tyrant, used to having his way and willing to cut off heads without scruple if he felt it was in his best interest. His most important achievement was the separation of the Church of England from Rome

King vs. PopeKing vs. Pope

Pope Clement VIIPope Clement VII(1478 –1534(1478 –1534

Pope 1523-1534)Pope 1523-1534)

King Henry VIIIKing Henry VIII(1491-1547 (1491-1547

Ruled 1509-1547)Ruled 1509-1547)

King vs. PopeKing vs. Pope Pope Clement VII was under the political and military

domination of Henry's enemy Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor and Catherine of Aragon’s nephew, He refused Henry's request for an annulment of the marriage.

Henry applied pressure to Rome through his Lord Chancellors, Thomas Wolsey and later Thomas More. Wolsey failed. More refused.

The King's response was to sever England's relationship with the Catholic Church and to set up a new Church of England with the King at its head.

Henry appointed the new Archbishop of Canterbury (Thomas Cranmer) as the highest cleric of the Church in England. Cranmer promptly annulled Henry's marriage to Catherine.

Sir Thomas MoreSir Thomas More

•Born 1478•Humanist and Lawyer•Lord Chancellor from 1529-1532•Executed by Henry VIII in 1535•Canonized a saint in 1935

Sir Thomas More: A Man of ContradictionSir Thomas More: A Man of Contradiction A leading humanist - advocating reforms in education,

society, and the Church

A devout Catholic Prayed extensively each day Seriously considered becoming a priest Decided to be good husband rather than a bad priest believed it was the visible communion of Christians that was the

permanent/living sign of Christ's presence Knew the Catholic Church needed reform worried that breaking from the Catholic Church would encourage

Protestantism in England.

Accused of treason, imprisoned, and beheaded in 1535 because he would not recognize Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne Boleyn

Named a saint by the Catholic Church for staying true to his belief, ultimately giving his life for them

CharactersCharacters1. The 1. The Common ManCommon Man – – takes on

several roles, the narrator, shows the effects of the action on the everyday person, designed to remind the audience that they are watching a play

2

2. Thomas 2. Thomas MoreMore – – lawyer, devout Catholic, humanist, friend of King Henry VIII3

3. Richard 3. Richard RichRich – – amoral, ambitious, antagonist, jealous of More

4

4. Duke of 4. Duke of NorfolkNorfolk – – uncle to Anne Boleyn, “aware of his own moral and intellectual insignificance”

CharactersCharacters

6

6. 6. MargaretMargaret More More – – More’s daughter, very educated, dedicated to her father and his beliefs 7

7. William 7. William RoperRoper – – educated gentleman, Protestant convert

88. Cardinal 8. Cardinal WolseyWolsey – – voice of the Catholic Church in England, Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII, ambitious but failing

5

5. 5. AliceAlice More More – – More’s wife, worships society, worships her husband

CharactersCharacters9

9. Thomas 9. Thomas CromwellCromwell – – advisor to Henry VIII, advocate of reform, antagonist, jealous of More, an “intellectual bully”10

10. Eustace ChapuysChapuys – dignified – dignified Spanish ambassador

11 11. Thomas 11. Thomas CranmerCranmer – –Archbishop of Canterbury, “lacks personal religiosity”

12. 12. KingKing Henry VIIIHenry VIII – still a – still a young man, the young man, the ““Golden Hope of Golden Hope of the New Learning throughout the New Learning throughout EuropeEurope””

Motifs of the PlayMotifs of the Play

Loyalty & FriendshipLoyalty & Friendship Duty to OneDuty to One’’s Self vs. Duty to Ones Self vs. Duty to One’’s Kings King IdentityIdentity Conscience & GuiltConscience & Guilt Power of SilencePower of Silence Corruption of AuthorityCorruption of Authority Laws of Man vs. Laws of Religion/GodLaws of Man vs. Laws of Religion/God

BibliographyBibliography Ackroyd, Peter.Ackroyd, Peter. The Life of Thomas More. The Life of Thomas More. (Doubleday, 1998).(Doubleday, 1998). Carnes, Ed. Carnes, Ed. Past Imperfect: History According to the MoviesPast Imperfect: History According to the Movies. (Henry . (Henry

Holt & Co., 1996).Holt & Co., 1996). Marius, Richard.Marius, Richard. Thomas More. Thomas More. (Knopf, 1984).(Knopf, 1984). Maynard, Theodore.Maynard, Theodore. Humanist as Hero Humanist as Hero. (MacMillan, 1947).. (MacMillan, 1947). Sanello, Frank.Sanello, Frank. Reel v. Real: How Hollywood Turns Fact into Reel v. Real: How Hollywood Turns Fact into

FictionFiction. (Taylor Trade Publishers, 2003).. (Taylor Trade Publishers, 2003). Teach with MoviesTeach with Movies. http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/man-for-. http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/man-for-

all-seasons.htmlall-seasons.html Wegemeyer, Gerard B. Wegemeyer, Gerard B. Portrait of CouragePortrait of Courage (Scepter Publications, (Scepter Publications,

1995).1995).