The Role of Corruption and Virtue in “A Man for All Seasons”

A Man for All Seasons is a play written by Robert Bolt. It is inspired by true events and revolves around Saint Sir Thomas much, the prime minister of England during the 16th century.King Henry VIIIs wife, Catherine of Aragon (of Spain), is unable to bear a child and provide an heir for the throne. Owing to this reason, he wishes to divorce her and sweep up Anne Boleyn, the sister of his former mistress.However, Saint Sir Thomas much is against this idea and refuses to applaud of the Kings desire. The Pope too is against this notion as he had previously disregarded a biblical law in put in to allow Henry VIII to marry his wife. What follows is the test of a piece of musics ability to abstain from falling prey to the temptation of transplant and corruption, even if it means having to give up wealth, luxury and power.Thesis A major(ip) theme in A Man for All Seasons is the delineation amidst virtue and corruption in all its aspects, political, mental, moral and spiritual, depi cted principally through the leading characters.Robert Bolt, through the medium of the main characters in the play, has elucidates the differences among the corrupt and the conscience-driven the immoral and the principled. The play itself is a depiction of society and its some facets.Sir Thomas more(prenominal) characterizes holiness. He is a hero of selfhood, meaning that he allow for not compromise on his self or his value simply in order to please or gratify someone. He is the antithesis of the corrupt.The Common Man represents common privates and society in general. He performs divers(a) roles to portray conventional characters that one would encounter in everyday life. at long last he begins to forfeit his moral standards and concedes to the audience that in life, a slice must do what is required in order to subsist.The character of privilegedard Rich is symbolic of greed and avarice. He is a man that resultingly sacrifices his moral philosophy and principles for w ealth and position. He is the epitome of corruption and depravity. Through this representation of morality and its antithesis, the writer has aptly described to the audience the elements of corruption, in all its forms.Thomas more is the kind of man that would rather sacrifice his life than his ethics. Not nevertheless the audience but the other characters too view much as a man of morals. It is due to this fact that the King wishes to attain Mores acceptance before divorcing his wife and marrying another woman.Mores acquiescence would endow the Kings decision with morality and people would extol of it more readily. The various characters attempt to sway Mores gag rule of disapproval of the Kings marriage to Anne Boleyn. His steadfastness in resisting bribes demonstrates the chroma of his principles.For instance, when the Duke of Norfolk tries to convince More to sign an oath of allegiance, trying to reform England and the Church, More responds by stating, And when we stand b efore God, and you be sent to Heaven for doing fit to your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing according to mine, will you come along with mefor fellowship?The audience will notice that thither exists not an ounce of corruption in the character of Thomas More. He is the representative of a noble and virtuous human being. He is decollate because of lie told by Richard Rich and till the very end More clay a man of conscience who will not strike to bribery even if his life were to depend on it, literally. He remains a man anchored to his principles (36).The Common Man illustrates a middle channel between the virtuous and the unscrupulous. He depicts the base nature of an modal(a) man. The choices of an average man are governed primarily by his need to survive, whether by vacate or crook, and that is exactly what the Common Man portrays through his various images.His proclamation Better a live rat than a dead social lion in Act II look vii, is a perfect mannikin of this attitude of his. Here he is playing the jailer and affirms that hed rather live by taking bribes or resorting to corruption, than die as an honorable man who will not give up upon his morals. His actions are not guided by his conscience but by his will to live, no matter what the price.Richard Rich is a superficial and insincere individual who epitomizes the height of corruption. He, along with other characters that include Thomas Cromwell, Wolsey and Chapuys has been used by the author to embody the corruption existing in society. Rich is ordain to sacrifice anything to advance himself politically.He yearns for position and affluence at any cost. The break scene itself gives us a glimpse into Richs spirit when he tells More that he should be a teacher and disregards Mores advice saying that he should not be chasing after wealth and power and must surrender his corrupt ways.In Act I Scene viii it is insinuated that Rich has sold his soul to the devil when he divulges dat a about the gilded cup to Cromwell in exchange for a job. The crucial illustration of his corrupt nature is when he lies, under oath in court, and gets his friend, More beheaded for his own selfish needs.