A Man For All Seasons Essay
Martin Luther, the seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation, once said, "I cannot and will
not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no
other, so help me God. Amen." Luther gives this speech at the Diet of Worms in Germany. They
summon him to renounce or reaffirm his views. If he chooses to recant and repent his works, he
could be welcomed back into the Church. If he refuses, he would be branded a heretic and could be
burned at the stake. However, Luther refuses and delivers a speech that affirms his beliefs. He
elucidates that he will maintain his integrity and act in accordance with his morals. Luther believes
that not going against his conscience and staying true to himself is more right and safe for him over
his potential death. Although Luther was declared a heretic, he was protected and saved. One can
argue it is because he did not forsake his conscience. In a Man for All Seasons, Robert Bolt develops
the theme that private conscience is paramount to one's public duty to society, as those who forsake
their conscience for their public duty may initially prosper, they will ultimately suffer; conversely,
those who value their conscience over their public duty may initially suffer, but they will ultimately
prosper. The theme is effectively exhibited through the characters of Sir Thomas More, Richard Rich,
and the Duke of Norfolk. These characters exemplify the significance of abiding by one's allegiance
to himself and his private conscience over his public duty and society.
To begin, More is a character who obeys his own conscience rather than his public duty. His
conscience is imperative in comparison to his wealth, reputation, and relationships. More relates his
conscience directly to his religion. Therefore, in his eyes, it would mean that if he disobeys his
conscience, he also disobeys God himself. He is guided by his conscience and acts in accordance
with his values, which is evident throughout the play when he does not support the annulment of the
marriage between King Henry and Catherine of Aragon. King Henry desires an annulment from his
wife since he believes that she is unable to provide him with a male heir and believes another woman
can grant those wishes. More plays a crucial part in the annulment since he is a respectable and
moral man to society and, as a result, would influence the Pope to grant Henry the annulment.
Additionally, More's consent is essential to the King because it would make the King feel and appear
moral to himself and the citizens to obtain his annulment successfully. However, More refuses and
sticks to his private conscience and values despite the consequences that could potentially follow.
This is evident when Henry's secretary Wolsey calls him into his office to gain More's support.
However, More is choosing not to get involved with the matters. He states,"...when statesmen
forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties… they lead their country by a
short route to chaos. And we shall have my prayers to fall back on." (Page 12) More states that
leaders must follow their conscience instead of prioritizing their public duty. Private conscience is a
compass strong enough to guide a ruler in governing his country adequately. He tells Wolsey that he
is praying for Henry to obtain the annulment while he continues not to partake in any actions relating
to the matter. As a result, More sacrifices his relationship with the King by not supporting his
decision. However, it does not trouble More since he will not forsake his private conscience for
anything, including his relationships. Later in the play, Henry appears at More's estate to have dinner
to coerce him into supporting him. However, More persists in following his morals and declines. The
King leaves and does not stay for dinner, which causes his wife to be upset due to More's refusal to
comply with the King. More responds, "I neither could nor would rule my King. But there's a little . . .
little, area . . . where I must rule myself. It's very little—less to him than a tennis court" (Page?) This
exemplifies that More will stay true to his moral values and will not forsake his private conscience
for anything, including his relationship with the King and his public duty.
Another illustration of Thomas More not forsaking his private conscience for his public duty
is when he resigns from his position as lord chancellor. The King’s previous lord chancellor, Wolsey,
is executed, and the spot is left vacant. As a result, More is appointed as Wolsey’s replacement.
However, More decides that he will resign if the English bishops go along with the act that appoints
King Henry as the supreme head of the Church of England. When More’s family questions and
argues with his decision, he states, “Morality’s not practical. Morality’s a gesture. A complicated
gesture learned from books…” (Page 55). More argues that morality only matters if he acts on his
morals, and if they are not put into practice, they do not have any meaning. The King’s supremacy
over the church does not fit into More’s values, and therefore, he can no longer stand by his side and
support him. Thus, More resigns from his position despite the consequences that may follow. It
demonstrates that More’s private conscience is above all else, including his status, wealth, or
reputation. As a result, he suffers significantly by losing his status as Lord Chancellor of the King,
receiving backlash from him, and losing his wealth. Although he will be losing almost everything he
has, he will not be losing his private conscience, which has the most value to him. Therefore, it is
evident that More will do anything not to jeopardize his private conscience for his public duty.
Furthermore, Thomas More exhibits his integrity, and ultimate commitment to his private
conscience during the trial against him held at the end of the play. More is taken to trial after being
locked in a jail cell with no books and prohibited from seeing his family except for one short
interaction because he was unwilling to support King Henry in his annulment. During the trial, his
dear old friend Norfolk offers him one last opportunity to take the oath of his allegiance to Henry as
the head of the Church of England. Nevertheless, More refuses and stays silent. Shortly after, More
states, “I am used to hear bad men misuse the name of God, yet God exists. In matters of
conscience, the loyal subject is more bounden to be loyal to his conscience than to any other thing.” (
Page 92) It shows that More will continue to follow his conscience rather than compromise it by
taking the oath. He argues that loyalty to his conscience is more important than loyalty to the King,
and he will not do anything that will compromise his integrity and morals. Cromwell then reads the
charges, which claim that More conspired to undermine Henry’s authority as the supreme head of
the church, and More is accused of high treason. With Cromwell’s pressure, the jury quickly finds
More guilty. Before Norfolk can pronounce his sentence, More decides no longer to remain silent and
begins to speak. He alludes to the fact that the Magna Carta and the Coronation Oath guarantee the
authority of the Catholic Church. He asserts that he remains loyal to King Henry and proclaims that
he is not on trial for denying this act of supremacy but because he refuses to support the marriage
of King Henry. Shortly after, More is condemned to execution. Even though More’s life is at risk, he
will not discard his own religious beliefs and morals and his overall private conscience for something
he does not believe. He stays true to himself despite the severe consequences of death. Therefore, It
is evident that he does not forsake his private conscience for the King and public duty. Before he
gets executed, he says to the headsman, “Friend, be not afraid of your office. You send me to God…
He will not refuse one who is so blithe to go to him. “(Page 99). This illustrates that throughout the
entirety of Thomas More’s life, he is a man of integrity who never compromises his private
conscience for the sake of his public duty. Although More initially suffers from being imprisoned,
detained from his family, and executed for high treason, he ultimately prospers since he knows that
he is being sent to God and Heaven for staying true to his private conscience.
Moreover, Richard Rich is an additional character in A Man For All Seasons that portrays the
theme of private conscience being paramount to public duty. Rich is a character who continuously
forsakes his private conscience for public duty. It is apparent that he initially prospers, but he
ultimately suffers. In comparison to Thomas More, Rich serves as a character foil to him. Rich
disregards and eradicates his private conscience rather than obeying it. Throughout various
examples, it is evident that Rich has an increasing amount of willingness to sacrifice his moral
standards for wealth, status, and reputation. At the beginning of the play, Rich is searching for a job.
Thomas More offers him a teaching position which Rich declines. When More is offering Rich the job
opportunity and says Rich would be a great teacher, Rich replies, “If I was, who would know it?” (Page
4) This scene illustrates that Rich is declining an adequate job opportunity simply because it will not
grant him a high enough social status and reputation that he desires. It begins to demonstrate that
Rich is disregarding his private conscience for the sake of his reputation, wealth, status, and overall
public duty.
An additional example that illustrates Richard Rich as a character who neglects his private
conscience and prioritizes his public duty is when he agrees to work with Cromwell and becomes the
tax collector of York. Cromwell announces that he has secured the position of the collector of
revenues for York. He offers the position to Rich in exchange for incriminating information on More.
Cromwell must gain evidence in an attempt to convict More of high treason since he is not willing to
provide his support for the king to obtain the annulment of his marriage. Cromwell offers the
position to Rich and asks what he is willing to report or repeat about More. Rich replies, “Well,
nothing said in friendship, may I say ‘friendship’” (Page 42). However, Cromwell continues to
question him, and Rich states, “It would depend what I was offered.” (Page 43). Rich is tempted by
Cromwell’s proposal and begins to provide Cromwell with evidence on More. Rich tells Cromwell
about the silver cup More received as a bribe from a woman, which he passed on to Rich. Rich feels
guilty for betraying More, but he admits that it was easier than expected. Rich is eager to sacrifice
his friendship with More and betray him to advance his own self. Thus, it concludes that if Rich is
bribed and offered enough wealth, status or reputation, he will readily accept it despite whom it may
affect and the potential repercussions that may follow. Evidently, It displays that Rich is rapidly
willing to forsake his private conscience for his public duty.
Furthermore, the ultimate signifier that Richard Rich is a man who prioritizes his public duty
over his private conscience above all is towards the end of the book when he testifies against his
friend Thomas More in court, condemning him to execution. After Rich agrees to work with
Cromwell, they construct a plan to frame and put More on trial since his approval was required for
King Henry to assume the title of Supreme Head of the Church of England. Not only does Rich give
information to conduct this plan, but furtherly, he goes to the extent of testifying against More. While
Rich takes the stand and oath, he takes his hand off the bible in between sentences. Therefore, it
demonstrates that Rich evidently lies on the stand and commits perjury. During the trial, Rich
testifies that while More was imprisoned, he was supposed to carry away More’s books, and they
spoke on the matter pertaining to the King’s supremacy of the church. Rich claims he heard More
say that Parliament had no power to declare Henry as the head of the church and that More denies
Henry’s title. More explains how highly he regards an oath and swears on oath that he never denied
Henry the title of the head of the church, denying he said anything relating to that nature. To prove
this, More recalls there were two other people there that could confirm Rich’s statement to be false.
However, Cromwell states those people were out of earshot, causing no evidence to disprove Rich’s
statement. Once Rich is excused from the stand, More asks to see the chain of office he is wearing,
which he recognizes as the chain of the attorney general for Wales. More states, “For Wales? Why,
Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world… But for Wales!” (Page 95) More
explains that the bible states it profits a man nothing to sell his soul to gain the world, and it profits
Rich a pittance for selling his soul to gain the position of the Attorney General for Wales. Rich sells
himself short by committing perjury and deceiving his friend for the prize of Wales. It is evident that
Rich initially proceeds to prosper by gaining social status, wealth, and reputation due to following his
public duty above all else, including his private conscience. However, More implies that Rich will go
to hell due to following his public duty, demonstrating that he will ultimately suffer from forsaking his
private conscience. Therefore, it is evident that Richard Rich is a man who will go to tremendous
lengths to obtain wealth, reputation, and social status for his public duty despite his conscience.
Lastly, the Duke of Norfolk is a character in the play who obeys both his private conscience
and public duty while not forsaking either. Throughout the play, it is evident that Norfolk is a great
friend to Thomas More. Their friendship demonstrates Norfolk’s ability to follow both his conscience
and public duty. While Cromwell was obtaining information on Thomas More to use in order to frame
and put him on trial, Cromwell makes it an obligation for Norfolk to be involved. During Cromwell and
Norfolk’s conversation with Rich about More, Norfolk specifically says he does not want to partake in
the situation. However, Cromwell asserts to Norfolk that he has no choice since the King wishes him
to be active in the matter. Cromwell explains, “We feel that since you are known to have been a friend
of More’s, your participation will show that there is nothing in the nature of a ‘persecution’, but only
the strict process of law. As indeed you’ve just demonstrated. I’ll tell the King of your loyalty to your
friend. If you like, I’ll tell him that you ‘want no part of it’, too.” (Page 60) Cromwell threatens Norfolk
that he will tell the King that he sides with someone they view guilty of high treason, which will cause
him to be viewed as a traitor as well. Although Norfolk is now involved in the trial against his friend,
Thomas More, he does not entirely abandon his friendship with him. When talking to Cromwell,
Norfolk states that since More does not actively oppose Henry’s divorce, he is not a concern to them.
However, Cromwell and Rich ignore Norfolk’s insight and further the investigation. To furtherly
demonstrate Norfolk’s loyalty to More, he does not offer any fabricated information to Cromwell. He
only corrects and states facts concerning More. This is evident when Cromwell questions where the
silver chalice came from. Rich and Cromwell believe the chalice to be a bribe that More accepts from
a woman to have a legal case turned in her favour. Norfolk asserts that once More found out the
silver cup was a bribe, he got rid of it, which is why it was given to Rich. Norfolk explains that More
would not accept such a thing and always puts his cases before him. Although Norfolk is
cooperating with Cromwell and is involved in the trial concerning his friend in order to uphold his
public duty, he does not forsake his private conscience and stays true to his friendship with More.
An additional example of Norfolk being a man who obeys both his private conscience and
public duty is when he informs More about Cromwell’s plan and his own role in the matter. By telling
More in advance, Norfolk attempts to warn More about the severity of the situation and strives to get
him to change his mind regarding his support of the King’s annulment and supremacy of the Church.
Norfolk explains that simply being around him is dangerous in the eyes of the King. More insists that
Norfolk should forget his friendship and do his duty. Norfolk continues to protest that discarding
their friendship is impossible and explains that More should seriously reconsider his decision. In his
attempts to convince More, Norfolk says, “Oh, confound all this… I’m not a scholar, as Master
Cromwell never tires of pointing out, and frankly I don’t know whether the marriage was lawful or not.
But damn it, Thomas, look at those names…You know those men! Can’t you do what I did, and come
with us, for fellowship?” Norfolk begs for More to change his mind and give his acceptance to the
King. More responds, “And we stand before God, and you are sent to Paradise for doing according to
your conscience, and I am damned for not doing according to mine…” (Page 78). It is evident that
Norfolk is trying his best to get More to surrender so he will not get executed. However, More refuses
since it would forsake his own private conscience. More explains that he is simply following his
private conscience, and Norfolk should not feel bad as long as he is doing the same. In turn, More
implies that Norfolk will be sent to God as well as long as he obeys his conscience. Therefore, it is
apparent that Norfolk acts in accordance with his public duty and private conscience since he
follows the King’s orders but warns More about the consequences that will arise if he does not
accept the King’s act of succession. Norfolk does everything to his best abilities to keep More safe,
demonstrating that he obeys his private conscience and duty to the King.
At the end of the play, it is exceedingly apparent that Norfolk upholds his public duty but
does not forsake his private conscience for it. At the beginning of More’s trial, Norfolk gives him one
last chance to take the oath and support the King rather than continuing to stay silent. However,
More refuses. As a result, Cromwell reads the charges, and the trial continues. Throughout various
times, Norfolk allows More to speak and change his mind. Additionally, Norfolk questions Rich
several times during his testimony. Norfolk recognizes that Rich’s story seems unconvincing and
asks him to restate what he proposes More had said. However, despite Norfolk’s numerous attempts
to save More, he is proven guilty of high treason. Before More’s execution, Norfolk says, “I can come
no further, Thomas. Here, drink this.” (Page 98) Norfolk offers More wine to reduce his suffering and
numb his senses, which he refuses since Jesus was not offered that before his own execution.
Therefore, it is evident that throughout the play, Norfolk repeatedly tries his best to save More while
not forsaking his public duty or private conscience. Thus, it is evident that Norfolk will ultimately
prosper. In the play, The Common Man states that Norfolk should have been executed on the charge
of high treason. However, the King dies of syphilis and can not sign the warrant. Norfolk is relieved
from his death, demonstrating that he prospers for acting in accordance with his conscience.
Norfolk seemingly abides by both his public duty and private conscience while not forsaking either
and will ultimately prosper as a result.
In summary, the play A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt portrays the theme that private
conscience is paramount to one’s public duty to society, as those who forsake their duty for their
private conscience will initially prosper, but they will ultimately suffer; conversely, those who obey
their private conscience above all will initially suffer, but they will ultimately prosper. This theme is
exhibited through the characters of Sir Thomas More, Richard Rich, and the Duke of Norfolk
throughout the entirety of the play. Thomas More is a character who prioritizes his private
conscience above all else and will not forsake it for his public duty. Although he is executed and
initially suffers, it is evident that he will be sent to Heaven and ultimately prosper for doing so.
Furthermore, Richard Rich is a character who is willing to forsake anything, including his private
conscience, for his public duty. He is willing to go to any extent to advance himself and obtain
wealth, social status, and reputation. Lastly, The Duke of Norfolk obeys his public duty and private
conscience while not abandoning either. It is illustrated that Norfolk ultimately prospers since he
was released from his execution later in the play. Hence, it is evident that the theme of private
conscience is paramount to one’s public duty. Those who forsake their private conscience for their
public duty will ultimately suffer.
Furthermore, does private consciousness still have the same role in modern society as it
does in A Man for All Seasons? Private conscience is of higher value and matters significantly.
However, who is truly in control of it? Each individual, conditioned by various factors, whether it be
family, religion, or educators, depending on the individual, is commanded that they must follow
particular social norms that should be engraved into their personal conscience. However, is it truly in
accordance with each individual’s private conscience? What are people’s true thoughts and morals
without the influence of others? As seen throughout the play and in the modern world, private
conscience is exceedingly significant and should not be forsaken for anything else. However, how
does one decipher whether the initial suffering is worth it?