The play, A Man for All Seasons, by Robert Bolt, is the story of Sir Thomas More. Through the play and other sources, one is able to clearly identify his many traits and qualities. Throughout More's life, he was a very orthodox Catholic. He always put God before the throne and that is what led to his death. More is a heroic figure of his contemporary society. We see this through his regard for the law, his defiance towards the king, and the many attacks on his ethics.

More's trust in the law was his trust in society: his desperate sheltering beneath the forms of the law was his determination to remain within the shelter of society. However, it was society that shut him out because his views of the law conflicted with theirs. In the eyes of the king and the rest of society, including his friends, all he had to do was put his hand on the Bible and go against beliefs and lie. An oath was a very serious thing to More. An oath was an invitation to God to act as a witness, and to judge. More knew that if he swore to the oath he would be damned into hell for committing perjury (false swearing). And so, instead of taking the oath, he refused and stuck to the law, God's law. It was

Sir Thomas More, even after the king himself consulted him about marrying Anne Boelyn, refused to give his blessings to the king, who was also More's friend. More always, put God before the throne. The Pope believed that it was not necessary for the king to divorce his wife Catherine. Because the Pope believed this, so did Thomas. More was constantly reminded that he was angering the king, but he showed no remorse (regret) for standing by his beliefs. After a couple of years, the king decided to pass the Act of Succession. This Act would make the king leader of the Church of England, and therefore, the king would be able to divorce Catherine. Everyone agreed to this Act, except for More. This displeased the king and More was sent to prison. Many people thought that More would change his mind and take the oath to pass the Act of Succession just to get out of jail. However, that was not the case, the king underestimated the will power of More. Throughout his time in prison, More was asked to sign the Act many times. In the last meeting that More had, the Duke of Norfolk said to More, " 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 the names… you know those men! Can't you do what I did, and come with us, for fellowship?" (A Man for All Seasons, pg. 78) Norfolk explains to More that he and the rest of the loyal subjects including the king were fed up with waiting around for More's signature on the Act and that More should just sign the Act even if he thinks it isn't right. More then went on to say to Norfolk, "And when 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, will you come with me, for fellowship?" (A.M.F.A.S, pg.78) More tells Norfolk that he will not sign the Act just because all his friends and colleagues did. More proved to Norfolk and the others that he was not scared of the king and therefore had no interest what so ever in signing the Act. " When all attempts to make him change his mind proved unavailing, he was beheaded, July 7, 1535, and his head fixed upon London Bridge." (Church History,

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