Richard Rich A Man For All Seasons

Money may be the root of all problems but it is also what most people strive for. Money, wealth, and status all make the journey of life easier and more comfortable. Many people seek for these luxuries in life, making them greedy. In the play, A Man for All Seasons, written by Robert Bolt, there is a character named Richard Rich, who aims for this comfortable, enjoyable lifestyle. He speaks to the readers as if he is a part of the society. The author uses his character to convey the extent one is willing to go to as long as they are benefitted by their actions. Rich pleads, betrays, endures pain, and lies all to get what he craves and desires. Richard Rich is attracted to the appeal of wealth and status. He lives his life looking to become …show more content…
Cromwell is in a position where he is trying to find dirt on More to blackmail him with and get More to acknowledge the Act of Succession. The Act of Succession is an act that calls for people to take the oath recognising Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII's children as legitimate heirs to the throne. Cromwell, who works for the King, seeks out Rich to help him and bribes him with a job as, “Secretary to the Council” (71). In order for Rich to secure this job, he would have to betray a man that has done nothing to him other than refuse him a job, a job that was refused due to untrustworthy actions of Rich. He should have just put that behind him and moved on but he is offered a job as with good pay and recognition, how could a man …show more content…
Rich owes Cromwell a favour for the job he is to deliver, but Cromwell pushes his authority over Rich. He grabs Rich’s hand and puts it in a candle flame and to which Rich is only able to say that, “You enjoyed that! You enjoyed it!” (77). If Rich were to get even with Cromwell, he would no longer have the job opportunity that Cromwell had promised, therefore he has to keep his mouth shut and his hands to himself. Richard Rich is willing to go through pain for money and recognition that will come with the job as secretary to the council. Finally, Rich desires status and wealth so when he is given the option to lie under oath in exchange for Wales, he does. When one lies under oath, they can be faced with criminal charges only if proven guilty. In the play, Richard Rich is, “appointed Attorney-General for Wales” (158) by Cromwell for telling the court that Sir Thomas More is denying the title of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s children. Because this is seen as treason, Sir Thomas More is to be hanged. Richard Rich lies about More’s statement all so he could be the Attorney-General for