Introduction to A Man for All Seasons

Man for All Seasons Resources
What I have posted here so far are the notes and summaries from what we have studied in class, these will be a great resource to aid your revision and study of Man for All Seasons.


Man for All Seasons Summaries

Act One. Page 1-10
The play opens in the household of Sir Thomas More in Chelsea. The Common Man establishes his position and sometime role as More’s steward. More and Richard Rich discuss Rich’s desire to obtain a prestigious position of employment in London Society. An important part in this section is when More gives a valuable goblet to Rich, More does not want to keep the Goblet because it was part of a bribe over a court case he was presiding over. The scene ends with the announcement of Cromwell as Cardinal Wolsey’s secretary, and with More being summoned to see Cardinal Wolsey on the “Kings business’.
Page 10-13
More visits Wolsey’s apartments and is chastised by Wolsey for being late. This scene shows that there is some sort of power struggle between More and Wolsey, and Wolsey displays his authority over More in subtle but clear ways. Wolsey reminds More that he lacks power and authority by asking him to comment on the letter he has written to the Pope ‘before’ he sends it; he is not going to change it, regardless of More’s opinion. When Wolsey sees King Henry arriving home he assumes that the King has been with his mistress Anne Boleyn, whom he despises. It becomes clear that Wolsey attempt to gain Mores support regarding the King’s wish for an annulment have failed.
Key Quotes Pg11 ‘Catherine’s his wife and she’s as barren as a brick.
Pg11-12 “Now we are to ask the pope to – dispense with his dispensation.

Page 13-16
After Leaving Wolsey’s apartments, More goes to the riverbank to hire a boat to take him home. There he meets Cromwell, it is important to note that in the stage directions Cromwell ‘steps from behind arch’ Cromwell is Wolsey’s ambitious secretary, and soon after, Chapuys, the Spanish ambassador to England meets with More as well. Both appear to have been ‘loitering’ near the boats in the hope of ‘accidentally’ running into More after his meeting with Wolsey. In turn Cromwell and Chapuys both flatter More, and want to know what transpired between him and Wolsey. More tells them nothing but leaves them both with the impression that he has given them the information that they desire. It is ironic that Cromwell, who has no respect for the law, quotes it to the boatman.
Key quotes
The river looks very black tonight. They say that it’s silting up Pg15-16
More’s comment shows that the river is used as a metaphor for the political world. It is becoming increasingly dark and difficult to navigate.
A heretic adheres to an opinion or belief that contradicts established religious teaching.

Page 16 -25
More returns home at 3am and is annoyed that Margaret’s suitor Will Roper is visiting at this late hour. Roper reveals that he has asked Margaret to marry him, and More objects to this on the grounds of Ropers changeable religious views, in More’s eyes Roper’s decision to abandon the Catholic church to follow the teachings of Martin Luther makes him a heretic. More refuses to discuss his meeting with Wolsey with his family, and when they raise the subject of Wolsey’s rumoured fall and ask whether More would want to be Lord Chancellor he gives a very adamant no.
In the next scene the Common Man informs the audience of Wolsey’s demise and More’s promotion to the prestigious and powerful role of Lord Chancellor. Cromwell meets Rich who is now Norfolks secretary. Chapuys joins them; it is clear that Chapuys and Cromwell do not like each other. Cromwell informs them that the King is planning a surprise visit to More’s house, and will pilot his new boat along the river. When the Common man enters in the role of More’s steward it becomes apparent that he is being paid as an informant by both Cromwell and Chapuys. He doesn’t reveal any signinficant information about More but the fact that they pay him more than he can earn in a fortnight indicates how desperate they are for information.

Page 25-41
The central focus of this scene is King Henry’s surprise visit to More’s home and the interactions that take place between the two men. With the King’s arrival imminent, there is excited confusion and panic when no-one can find More. When More is found, he seems to be unperturbed by the Kings visit. Henry requests a private meeting with More where he broaches the real business of the visit; to persuade More to support his plans for remarriage. Although More is distressed, he resists Henry’s persuasion and promises of reward whilst pledging his loyalty. Henry decides to leave suddenly but does reassure More that unless he openly opposes the King he will not be put under any pressure.
Roper also appears in this scene and warns More that Cromwell and Chapuys are gathering information on him. He also announces that he has changed his views on the church. More also states that he feels safe because he stands ‘on the wrong side of no statute, and no common law.’

Page 41-46
The Common Man now adopts the persona of publican. The setting is a private room in a tavern, significantly named “The Loyal Subject” where Rich has come to meet Cromwell, who is flushed with success after being promoted to the position of Secretary to the Council. Even though it is evident that he does not like Rich, Cromwell offers him the role of Collector of Revenues for York Diocese. Cromwell questions Rich about the circumstances surrounding More’s gift of the silver goblet, this foreshadows Cromwells plan to frame More for judicial corruption. It is clear now that Rich will now act as Cromwells’ co-conspirator, thus trading his innocence for worldly success.
Key Quote “There are some things one wouldn’t do for anything. Surely” Pg43
Rich tentatively puts this proposition to Cromwell, but seems not to believe it himself.

ACT TWO

More’s house Page 47-57
It is now May 1532, two years have passed since Cromwells conversation with Rich at the end of Act One. In the meantime Henry has replaced the Roman Catholic Church by instituting the Church of England. The Common Man tells us that in the last two years those opposing the new church have suffered “disaster”. When More learns that the Archbishops have agreed to fall under Henry’s new Church he decides to resign he signals his desire to resign by removing his chains of office. More gathers his staff and tells them that due to a change in his economic status, he will now have not income. The Common Man declines to work for More at a reduced wage and leaves his service. We get the idea that More now wants to fly under the radar and not attract any attention to himself.
Key Quote: Obscurity’s what I have need of now. Pg 53. More believes that security lies in keeping his thoughts about the King’s actions private; therefore, he will not share his views with anyone, including his family.

Page 57-62 Cromwell Plots
Norfolk tries to protect More “...why not leave him silent?” pg 57 and argues that he is clearly a loyal subject of the King. Cromwell however will have none of it. He believe that More’s silence speaks volumes about his position on the King’s marriage and is determined to make a case against him. They interrogate the woman who tried to bribe More with the silver goblet, but finding that it is a “horse that won’t run” because More did not keep the bribe. Cromwell resolves to find “something better” pg60 with which to condemn him. Rich employs the Common Man as his steward.

Page 62-66 More’s House
More’s house in Chelsea is now a very different place: cold and dismal. Chapuys comes to visit and is still trying to win More’s support for Spain’s position. He leaves when his attempts are thwarted by More’s silence. The clergy has offered More a gift of money but, despite the family’s dire financial circumstances and against Alice and Margaret’s advice, he refuses it, fearing that the money will be construed as a bribe to secure his public opposition to Henry. Roper announces that More has been summonsed to go immediately before Cromwell to answer ‘certain charges” pg65
Key Quotes: If he’s opposed to Cromwell he’s for us. There’s no third alternative. Pg63 Chapuys does not foresee that silence will continue to be More’s third alternative.
My case is watertight pg 66 More continues to believe that he cannot be found guilty if he remains silent.

Page 66-70 Hampton Court
More appears before Cromwell while Rich acts as secretary, recording what is said. Cromwell interrogates more even though he asserts that there are “no charges”. He attempts to intimidate More by telling him that the King “is not pleased” with him. Cromwell tries to bribe More by stating that if More Cooperates the King will reward him. Pg67. More however is unmoved. They debate the King’s authority, each setting out their different positions. More is questioned about bribes and the book he helped the King to write, and then is allowed to go home for now.
Key quote: The King’s a man of conscience and he wants either Sir Thomas More to bless his marriage or Sir Thomas destroyed. Either will do. Pg70. Cromwell succinctly states the situation in which More finds himself.

Page 70-74 The Riverbank
After leaving Cromwell, More tries to catch a boat: however none will come for him, he has become a persona non grata. Norfolk appears and attempts to convince More to give up his silence. Norfolk states that More has become dangerous to know, and More ends up breaking off his friendship with Norfolk in order to protect him. Roper appears with Margaret and informs More that a new act of parliament is to be passed that demands all citizens have to pledge their support for the King’s marriage to Anne Boleyn by swearing an oath. Those who do not swear will be charged with high treason.

Page 74-81 The Tower of London
More has been imprisoned for over a year. The Common Man, in the persona of a jailer, outlines his perspective on the situation and informs the audience about the historical fates of a number of characters in the play. More is questioned by Cromwell, Cranmer and Norfolk. More still refuses to explain his reasons for not taking the oath even though Norfolk tries to persuade him to renege. Cromwell is desperate to obtain More’s oath and fears that if he has to execute More, the king will in turn execute him to keep his conscience clean.
Key Quote: Better a live rat than a dead lion Pg75
The Common Man prefers survival to heroism.