AMFAS - who do you think is the least worthy character?

[lisafaustina]

and why?

[98.40_for_sure]

It depends on how you would define in your introduction 'worthy'. Morality wise? Or ability to survive and persist. Could also sway the topic into one of time, such as saying who was worthy under the reign of Feudal Tudor and how modern audience views the characters in terms of their worthiness nowadays.

Some random ideas:
More - unworthy/traitor/failed statesman and father -> now a saint and worthy of praise
Rich - unscrupolous and pitiful, does anything for a dime -> still seen as a little rat
Cromwell/Wolsey - they were only 'worthy' until their expiration date, used by Henry because they got the job done (subservience, pragmaticism, morally empty)

[lisafaustina]

soo.. for example when the topic asks "MFAS demonstrates that the society's values are corrupt" or whatever... it is OK to interpret in your way, and talk about the CURRENT society as well?

[98.40_for_sure]

Well if the topic is open ended like that: "society's values" there is no timeframe specified. Even if the topic is "16th century's societys values" then you can still talk about modern society in contrast, however the emphasis would have to be on 16th century. Pretty easy to mould topics into whatever you're comfortable with. You can't get downgraded for doing that unless you have just completely answered something else. Just base paragraphs around key words in the prompt if you're worried about relevancy.

Try doing some prompts you find very difficult and mould it into how you like, then ask your teacher if it is off-topic or not, just incase on the exam you're unlucky and get 2 prompts you have no clue how to answer straightforward.

[LOVEPHYSICS]

quote " More - unworthy/traitor/failed statesman and father " unquote from 99.95_for_sure, any instances when he is depicted by Bolt to be a traitor, and any examples from the play? I always thought that he was trying really hard to be the opposite of traitor, even though when he admits that he goes to his death as a ' loyal subject... but God's first,' I still don't think he can be labeled outright as a traitor. But heh, correct me if you can!

[98.40_for_sure]

It's [ quote ] and [ /quote ]

Depends on how you view the play. You can argue that he is a traitor to his country since he is a statesman and failed to fulfil his duties. Similarly, you can argue that he was not a traitor to himself and his religious beliefs.
Examples from the play is speeches from Wolsey "if only you could see things flat on without that moral squint"
Henry "your conscience is your own affair, but you're a statesman"
More "when statesman forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties"

His anachronism made him traitorous in his time, but his virtues are admirable in hindsight

[Greggler]

Yeah, i dont know how you can consider More as unworthy or a failure as a father etc.?

i've always considered him the most selfless character in the play; who is a victim of a corrupt society... :\

[98.40_for_sure]

Yeah, i dont know how you can consider More as unworthy or a failure as a father etc.?

i've always considered him the most selfless character in the play; who is a victim of a corrupt society... :\

Well, it was a father's duty to provide for his family in that time and age. He failed to do so, left his family in the dark so to speak. It was a statesman's duty to 'bend over' when the king wishes, and he refused to do so (didnt sign the oath etc)

I see where you're coming from, i'm just saying you have more leeway if you argue your piece from all sides

[LOVEPHYSICS]

Well put, but hmm, I would still be leaning abit onto how how Henry and Cromwell manipulates and sacrifices the truth to make him look like a traitorous subject, just like they did to his silence in which they equate to opposition, even when the justice system explicitly stated otherwise.  I find More's defense interesting, something like " How can you help your King when you populate England with liars?" etcc
He also warn Henry of the unrest in the North.
' Will not hear treasonable talk' ... etc
Sharply dismissed Norfolk when he questioned his loyalty, ' That's a silly thing to say...etcc'
Repeated like 50 times that he is the ' King's true subject.'

Bottom line is - Good conscience + Politics equates to, seemingly a traitorous subject which is where you are going I think.
Yeah, I can see were your heading, probably in the eyes of the modern audience, and the way Bolt depicts it, we probably tend to sympathize for More a little more, but o wells +P

[LOVEPHYSICS]

' it was a father's duty to provide for his family in that time and age,' yep (Y). I was just thinking, if it was for his family's life, like if you don't swear the oath, we will behead your entire family, think he will still maintain his silence? He prbly would.....=/ lol