I hand wrote it in one hour but made some corrections when I was typing it up (though still not without mistakes I believe!).
More says: I do none harm, I say none harm, I think none harm. More’s decision to place his principles above his family is difficult for the modern audience to understand. Do you agree?
Robert Bolt depicts the society during the reign of Henry VIII as one which is filled with “avarice, anger, envy…” in his two-act play, A Man for All Seasons. Despite a corrupted political setting, through the play’s protagonist, Sir Thomas More, Bolt demonstrates how a man can remain true to one’s values and beliefs. While most of his contemporaries follow a pragmatic path, More opposes the “current of the time”, even at the expense of his own family’s well-being. More than about five centuries after such a historical event, it is not easy for the modern audience to align themselves with More’s stance – how integral was it for him to obey his conscience that it had to be placed above his family? Nevertheless, Bolt intends for his audience to see how it is possible for an ordinary man to accomplish such a deed, enabling his audience to understand the stance which More decides on.
From More’s perspective, all his actions are guided by his strong sense of morality, hence, More is not doubtful that he is taking the wrong steps. More believes that no matter how infinitesimal his own conscience may be to others, it is what ultimately defines who he is. Thus, when More claims: “I do none harm, I say non harm, I think none harm,” at the trial before his execution in response to Cromwell, it serves as what his belief is throughout the play and what his actions are based on. Furthermore, Bolt portrays More in such a way for his audience to see that from More’s point of view, he has done the best he could do for his family. More trusts the law and hence, believes that as long as he maintains his silence, his family would be safe. This can be considered as his way of expressing love for Alice and Margaret. Moreover, More is a man who does not long for monetary gains and is a ‘simple’ man who argues that as long as he is with his family, he will be “merry” even if they are impoverished. More’s such stance provokes collision with what the rest of his family values.
The contemporary audience is more inclined to agree with Alice and Margaret because they, although they endeavour to be supportive of More generally, value practicality. Alice is portrayed as a strong woman who wishes to be viewed as a “knight’s lady”, far from having “parsnips and mutton” for dinner. She does not understand why More has to be jailed when he can be home with them. More importantly, Alice equates More’s silence with his mistrust to the family, likewise she mostly takes face value of the events. This is what the modern audience, especially wives nowadays, will regard as the way to “[mind] [her] house”. Margaret as More’s intellectual equal, whose education More regards as a “valuable commodity”, supports her father throughout the play as much as her views permit. Margaret finally urges More, “haven’t you done as enough as God could possibly want?” When confronted with a scene such as More’s jail scene, the audience is more likely to sympathise with the daughter’s plea for his father to come back, rather than trying to comprehend why More must take his obedience to his principles to such an extremity.
However, it must be noted that it is also Bolt’s portrayal of characters other than the protagonist which enables the audience to understand how it is indeed possible for a man to keep his conscience intact despite such influences from his family. Alice, due to her lack of education to understand More’s “depth”, does not fully understand More’s motivation but accepts that his decision is based on an integral part of him. Alice’s ultimate acceptance is illustrated by her confession, “you are the best man I am likely to ever meet” in her last encounter with More. Characters who serve as a direct contrast to More, such as The Common Man, also enable a better understanding of More’s decision. In the preface, Bolt outlines how we nowadays perceive taking an oath as a simple act of “swearing to an old black book”, yet More puts his family through such an agony because he can not perform this. The Common Man demonstrates Bolt’s words when he swears that he will report anything More says about the Act, as a jailer – he repeats Cranmer’s words without a glimpse of hesitation. Bolt shows that is in indeed this simple but simultaneously positions his audience to consider what takes a man to display admirable traits which More possesses.
By ensuring that More is portrayed as an average man, Bolt prevents his audience from deviating from More’s actions and the consequent sacrifices of his family. More does not wish to be a martyr and dislikes being compared to Socrates. The Common Man says that More “has rheumatism, prefers red wine to white, easily sea sick …” just like any ‘common’ man. From the onset, More displays his love for his family and enjoys his life greatly – demonstrated by his wit. Such aspects of More serve as a bridge between the 16th century royal subject and the audience, positioning them to view More as a man who simply loved his life and has done the best for his family in his opinion. The audience must note that More does not adumbrate that Alice and Margaret would have to use their “life-line”.
A Man for All Seasons illustrates a man with an “adamantine sense of oneself” and the extremity which one man takes to keeps his conscience intact. On the surface, it may appear to be too difficult for a contemporary audience to understand More’s decision and consequent actions as he sacrifices his family – resulting in poverty and emotional suffering. However, further analysis prompts to see how the playwright intends for his audience to understand the decision made by More by employing contrastive characters and his family’s ultimate acceptance.
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