Man For All Seasons By Robert Bolt - Henry VIII :: English Literature

Man For All Seasons By Robert Bolt - Is Henry VIII an important character in the play? Is he the villain? Thomas More was the hero in the play because his standard up for his beliefs, he was not scared of anyone, he knows it was a sin if Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon and gets married to Anne Boleyn. Robert Bolt thinks Thomas More was a faithful Catholic and could not accept this, or swear the oath of loyalty to the king. Henry VIII wanted to get a divorce with Catherine of Aragon and get married to Anne Boleyn. In the eye of the Catholics he could not divorce Catherine of Aragon. Henry VIII wants his children inherited the throne; he introduced the act of succession and made himself head of the Church of England. When Henry VIII made Thomas More the Lord Chancellor, Henry VIII expected Thomas More to support him but Thomas More did not support him. Thomas More did not like the idea of Henry VIII getting divorce. Thomas More resigned as Lord Chancellor because he did not want to give Henry VIII a divorce so he resigns. Thomas More found it impossible to support the king in the end because Thomas More knew it was the wrong thing to do. Thomas Cromwell part played in the downfall of Thomas More was planning all the evidence and make sure he dies. Thomas Cromwell want Thomas More to come over to the king's side, Thomas more did not come over to the king's side so Thomas Cromwell said he had to get rid of him. But Thomas Cromwell and Duke of Norfolk are trying to get Thomas More killed, they are trying to find the person that gave Thomas More a cup for a bribe and they try to convict him of treason. I think Henry VIII was Thomas More's friend because Henry VIII did not want to put Thomas More on the rack. As we saw earlier in the Garden scene, Henry VIII has come to put pressure on Thomas More he wanted Thomas More to sort out the business with the divorce with Catherine of Aragon. He use a number of different techniques, first he tries to scare him by shouting at him but he also appeal's to be a friend. Henry VIII said he was joking but we know he was bulling him. Henry VIII use originates from the bible but it does not work, because Thomas More knows the bible inside out. There is a scene in the video which is missing in the book, it's when Henry VIII is having a party