THEMES ANALYSIS

Integrity is the major theme of A Man for All Seasons. Sir Thomas More is tested to the extreme as he remains true to his conscience. In the end, he is beheaded because he remains true to his conscience.

A man cannot serve two masters. At some point, he will likely need to decide between the two. After that time, he will only serve one master. Sir Thomas tried to serve two masters, his King and his God. Sir Thomas truly loved his King. In earlier years they had been good friends. More had helped Henry to write in support of the Catholic Church. In those days Henry still considered himself a Catholic. Sir Thomas never felt like a traitor. He loved England and declined an invitation to a better life in Spain because of his love for his King and his Country. Sir Thomas also loved his God, and his Church. And, he deeply valued his own conscience.

Every man has his price. Thomas Cromwell operates on that assumption. As he figures it, a man's price is sometimes only avoiding unpleasantness and pain. Whatever that price is, Cromwell can find it and pay it to get what he needs or his King needs.

POINT OF VIEW

The integrity of oneself should be one's major goal. Without it, life is really not worth living. Death is unpleasant, but losing that part of oneself that guides our actions on the path that we deem to be correct would be unbearable.

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