Thomas More

The play “A Man For All Seasons” is based on particular events in the life of the Catholic martyr Sir Thomas More, who becomes the Lord Chancellor of England during the time of Henry VIII.

This play is not simply biographical, because significant facts of More’s life are not described, for example, his book Utopia, or dispute between Henry VIII and the Pope in Rome. Also, the life of Thomas More is expanded or shortened in order to suit the play, which is the nature of a play. You can show the exact life of someone in the play, but it would not give audience the same impression. The goal of a writer is to make his play interesting.

Sir Thomas More is a major figure in the era of Henry VIII. Thomas More is also a supporter of the humanist movement. More opposed the idea which is the “Reformation in England” which led Thomas More to execution. After church’s political supremacy is over, Henry VIII calls himself the head of the church in England.

The play shows that people should have moral principles that will not be compromised for anything even death, just as Thomas More does not compromise. The author gives the example of Richard Rich to make moral principles more seen in the play so that people can take away the lesson easier.

Thomas More is against the divorce because it is against the Catholic law and his moral principles, and he doesn’t sign the Supremacy of the King. He is imprisoned because of opposing the Supremacy of the King. After a trial he is executed.