The Common Man represents us. He is as relevant in the times of the play as he is now. He is typical of us and just wants enough money to get by with, without getting into dangerous situations. He also shows how we will manipulate a situation to suit our own needs and wants.

The Common Man shows self-interest on a small scale. Take for example when More is using the Common Man's boat and the issue of payment comes up. He asks More to 'make it worth his while". This shows us how most would act in the same s

Rich is the type of person who will change his standards and opinions almost instantaneously. Rich is desperate to get a job with power, so much so that he is willing to drop his standards and sinks to the point of trying to bribe the 'Cardinal's outer doorman' in order to get closer to Wolsey. Rich tries to convince More to get him a place at court and is 'bitterly disappointed' when More suggests becoming a teacher instead. Rich sees his friendship with More as something that will make him more powerful. He thinks it as wrong to be 'a friend of Sir Thomas' and still have 'no office'. Whereas most will have friends for their company and things, Rich only uses More when it is expedient to himself. At one point he even tries to deny and evade his friendship with More.

Cromwell is another political figure who like everyone is expedient. He puts his moral views aside and is motivated by what is politically expedient. Cromwell is intimidating to many characters that are just 'acquainted' with More. He is particularly intimidating towards Rich and this is shown when he holds his hand in a flame. He doesn't seem to have any respect for anybody's principles if it will benefit him. Cromwell is indirectly responsible for More's execution as he targets and preys Rich's vulnerability and greed for power and persuades him to lie on oath.

Norfolk is one of More's friends and like most, he supports his friend to a limit. Basically he will inconvenience himself slightly for his friend but wouldn't put himself in danger too deep. Norfolk gives us the impression that he knows More quite well. He can see that More 'takes things too far' and that 'it will end badly for him'. The second statement turns out to be more true then he realized it would.

Our first impressions of Rich are ones that make us see him as an intelligent, ambitious young man who wants power, prestige and money. He also comes across as fickle. It is ironic that he is the one that makes the comment that 'every man has his price' and that it is he that betrays himself the most as well as betraying More. Rich only seems interested in somewhat trivial matters compared to others. When Rich is talking to More about what money could buy he suddenly mentions 'some decent clothes'. He seems obsessed with his image. This is just as important to him as More's principles are to More.

As the jailer, the common man comes across as selfish, although you can see the reasons why. You also realize that you would act similarly in situations like that. More is in jail and is saying goodbye for the last time to his wife and child, two people that he has the greatest love for. The Common Man as the jailer has to remove Alice and Meg from the cell and when More asks him for more time he tries to make excuses and calls himself a 'plain, simple man' who just wants 'to keep out of trouble'. Once again, he puts himself first, as he knows that this could turn out to be a potentially dangerous situation for himself.

More is the exception of all characters, the only one in the play that stands by his principles and the only character that does not have a 'price'. It is made clear that he doesn't deliberately endanger himself and tries to keep his views to himself, as he knows that that what he thinks would be risky to say. He stands by his beliefs and admits t

Some topics in this essay:
Meg Meg, Anne Boylen, Alice Meg, Norfolk More's, Seasons' Rich, Chapuys Rich, Common Man's, Sir Thomas', Norfolk Norfolk, Wolsey Rich, compromise principles, principles love, marry anne, principles benefit, 'a seasons', comment 'every price', play range, sentenced death, range characters, stand principles, marrying meg, play 'a seasons', play range characters,