Margarette Bailon
Ms. Massa
AP English Literature
Period 4 Set during one of the most well known historical events, Robert Bolt's infamous play A Man For All Seasons, explores the power that religious beliefs and the law hold over society and the struggle to maintain control over both aspects of life. The central character, Thomas More, deeply contrasts the antagonist of the play, Thomas Cromwell, in his understanding of power. More as a man with a strong sense of self and as a righteous Catholic is arguably the only character who does not care for gaining more power. Whereas, his foils Cromwell and Rich are power hungry enough to do anything, including put aside their morals and God, to attain more power until their unsatisfiable appetites …show more content…
This scene as well as other instances will ultimately bring More to being executed and Rich will then gain the power that Cromwell had offered him previously. As this play is about morals, religion, and the law, the previous scene mentioned could be an allusion to the Bible in which Jesus is at the Last Supper. He gives the disciple who will later betray him a piece of the bread and sends the disciple off to follow through with his plans. As More is seen as the moral and virtuous man, it is possible that Bolt is alluding to Jesus and how he was betrayed by Judas, or in the case of A Man For All Seasons, Richard Rich. Richard Bolt's play A Man For All Seasons truly captures the essence of how some members of society are willing to give up their lives and sell their soul to attain power in this world. As More's time in the play becomes shorter, it is evident that the desire for power will drive some to extreme lengths. The ending of the play is unfortunate as More dies, however until his last breath he still believes that the law will save him. However, it is not completely tragic as the struggle to become free of the idea of power finally comes to a
Ms. Massa
AP English Literature
Period 4 Set during one of the most well known historical events, Robert Bolt's infamous play A Man For All Seasons, explores the power that religious beliefs and the law hold over society and the struggle to maintain control over both aspects of life. The central character, Thomas More, deeply contrasts the antagonist of the play, Thomas Cromwell, in his understanding of power. More as a man with a strong sense of self and as a righteous Catholic is arguably the only character who does not care for gaining more power. Whereas, his foils Cromwell and Rich are power hungry enough to do anything, including put aside their morals and God, to attain more power until their unsatisfiable appetites …show more content…
This scene as well as other instances will ultimately bring More to being executed and Rich will then gain the power that Cromwell had offered him previously. As this play is about morals, religion, and the law, the previous scene mentioned could be an allusion to the Bible in which Jesus is at the Last Supper. He gives the disciple who will later betray him a piece of the bread and sends the disciple off to follow through with his plans. As More is seen as the moral and virtuous man, it is possible that Bolt is alluding to Jesus and how he was betrayed by Judas, or in the case of A Man For All Seasons, Richard Rich. Richard Bolt's play A Man For All Seasons truly captures the essence of how some members of society are willing to give up their lives and sell their soul to attain power in this world. As More's time in the play becomes shorter, it is evident that the desire for power will drive some to extreme lengths. The ending of the play is unfortunate as More dies, however until his last breath he still believes that the law will save him. However, it is not completely tragic as the struggle to become free of the idea of power finally comes to a