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A Man for All Seasons | Introduction

Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons presents a "hero of the self" whose unwavering integrity collides with King Henry VIII's egoistic drive to wrench personal salvation and political permanence for the Tudor line from an unwilling, because politically cornered, Pope. The Pope refuses to condone an annulment for Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon (of Spain) having already dispensed with biblical law to permit him to marry her in the first place. Sir Thomas More ignores Henry's pleading demands, throws off the Duke of Norfolk's friendly advice, and places his family in jeopardy, because he cannot in good conscience submit his immortal soul to the commands of a mortal king. Neither does the political powder-keg that Henry's enemies may see More's obstinence as a signal for revolt convince him to submit. This crucible of moral standards takes place in the early sixteenth century, but Bolt contemporizes the drama by inserting an audience go-between, the Common Man, whose asides remind the viewer of More's relevance to twentieth-century heroism. The Common Man makes all too clear that the likes of a Sir Thomas More are as rare today as they were in Henry's VIII's kingdom.

A Man for All Seasons Summary

Preface
Robert Bolt, who took an honors Bachelor of Arts degree in history, provides a summary of the historical context of his play and defends his reasons for choosing Sir Thomas More as a "hero of selfhood" in an elegantly written Preface. He also explains his intention for the Common Man—to "draw the audience in, not thrust them away."

Act One
This drama set in the sixteenth century begins with a contemporary player, the Common Man. Dressed in black tights, he represents Adam, but he immediately steps into the role of Sir Thomas More's steward, the first of many personas he will adopt. More enters with Richard Rich, a political opportunist; they debate whether a man can be bought, even by suffering. Then enter More's wife Alice, daughter Margaret, and good friend, the Duke of Norfolk. More gives Rich a goblet he received as a bribe, and Rich manages to obtain a position as Norfolk's librarian, although More warns him to stay out of politics and teach. At eleven o'clock More is called to Cardinal Wolsey on the King's business, ending the dinner party.

Wolsey asks More to review a letter to the Pope, but, as Wolsey suspected, More sees things with "that horrible moral squint" and disapproves of Wolsey's efforts to sway the Vatican. The issue is that King Henry, having already obtained papal approval to marry his brother's widow (for state reasons), now wants to annul this marriage (Catherine not having... » Complete A Man for All Seasons Summary

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1. A Man for All Seasons: Introduction
2. A Man for All Seasons: Summary
   1. Act One Summary
   2. Act Two Summary
3. A Man for All Seasons: Robert Bolt Biography
4. A Man for All Seasons: Themes
5. A Man for All Seasons: Style
6. A Man for All Seasons: Historical Context
7. A Man for All Seasons: Critical Overview
8. A Man for All Seasons: Character Analysis
   1. Sir Thomas More
   2. Other Characters
9. A Man for All Seasons: Essays and Criticism
   1. A Tribute to the Ideal of Selfhood
   2. Review of A Man for All Seasons
   3. Drama Based on Life of Thomas More Opens
10. A Man for All Seasons: Compare and Contrast
11. A Man for All Seasons: Topics for Further Study
12. A Man for All Seasons: Media Adaptations
13. A Man for All Seasons: What Do I Read Next?
14. A Man for All Seasons: Bibliography and Further Reading
15. A Man for All Seasons: Pictures
16. Copyright

Related Topics

1. Henry VIII

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