A Man for All Seasons: Act 1 Summary & Analysis

The curtain rises to reveal the Common Man sitting on a dark stage with a basket full of props. He admits that he doesn’t know the exact right words to say to introduce the play, and suggests that a King or a Cardinal would give a more eloquent introduction.

The Common Man calls himself “Old Adam,” and assembles the Steward’s costume from his basket. As he speaks, the lights come up on the stage, revealing a table. The Common Man, now the Steward, begins to unpack his basket. He takes out a jug of alcohol and several goblets, including Thomas More’s silver cup, and sets the newly revealed dinner table. He asserts, “The Sixteenth Century is the Century of the Common Man. Like all other centuries.”

The newly set table suggests that we are now in Thomas More’s house in London. More and Richard Rich enter, clearly in the middle of an argument. Rich asserts that “Every man has his price!” but More gently disagrees. Rich argues that even if a man can’t be bought with material things, he can be manipulated. He also suggests that if a man is made to suffer, he can be bought off by promising to take the suffering away.

More notices that Rich’s argument sounds like the one Machiavelli, a contemporary diplomat and writer, makes in his book The Prince. More asks Rich who told him to read Machiavelli—it seems out of character for him. Rich admits that Thomas Cromwell recommended it. Rich says that Cromwell has promised to help him, presumably with his social status. More is surprised, as he wasn’t aware the two even knew each other, but Rich points out that More doesn’t know everything about him.

Rich complains that although he’s been in London for seven months, and made many acquaintances, he still isn’t in a position of power. Rich wonders aloud if More counts him as an acquaintance or a friend. More tells him that they are engaged in a friendship. Rich however, doesn’t refer to their relationship as a mutual friendship, instead calling himself “A friend of Sir Thomas.”

More reminds Rich that he could have a teaching position if he wanted, but Rich isn’t interested. More tries to explain that he struggles to navigate coercion and corruption, as his influence comes with built-in moral dilemmas. He shows Rich a silver cup which he was given as an attempted bribe. More feels corrupted just by keeping it in his house, and so gives it to Rich, who happily accepts. Although it’s a gift, Rich admits that he will immediately sell it for luxurious clothing like More’s.

The Duke of Norfolk, More’s wife Alice, and More’s daughter Margaret enter arguing about Norfolk’s recent hunting trip. Norfolk claims his hunting falcon was able to dive for its prey even though it could not see through the clouds, while Alice thinks this seems impossible. After a minute, their conversation turns to philosophy. Rich again praises Machiavelli’s The Prince, and defends it, along with Thomas Cromwell, whose aggressive political strategies both Norfolk and More dislike.

Now that they are on the topic of Thomas Cromwell, Norfolk reveals to the group that Cromwell has been promoted to the Cardinal’s Secretary. Everyone is shocked. Alice asks, “a farrier’s son?” but Norfolk reminds her that the Cardinal himself is the son of a butcher. Rich admits he likes Cromwell, and More suggests that Rich can use his connection to Cromwell instead of his friendship with More to advance himself.

The Steward enters with a letter summoning More to the Cardinal’s office, although it is now eleven at night. As More leaves he sees that Rich is unhappy. More suggests that Norfolk employ Rich in some clerical position. Rich thanks More, and More once again tells him, “Be a teacher.”

As Rich leaves, the Steward comments on the new goblet More has given Rich. After Rich has left the stage, the Steward observes that More gives too much away. He wonders what More will do when he’s asked “for something that he wants to keep,” hypothesizing “he’ll be out of practice.”

The scene changes, and Cardinal Wolsey and Thomas More meet in Wolsey’s office. It is now past one in the morning. Wolsey has More read over a dispatch to a Cardinal in Rome, in which the King requests that the Pope annul his marriage to his wife, Catherine. More doesn’t believe the marriage can be lawfully annulled, but he refuses to say so. Instead, he wishes there were “something simple” in the middle of the situation, and Wolsey responds that More is “a constant regret” because of his “horrible moral squint,” and that with “Just a little common sense” More “could have been a statesman.”

More and Wolsey hear the trumpet announcing the King. He’s returning from an evening with his mistress, Anne Boleyn. Wolsey asks how More is going to make sure the King has a legitimate son, and reminds him that if the King has no heir, the reign of the Tudors will end. More says he prays daily for the King to have a son. Wolsey counters that More is praying for a miracle. Catherine is barren, but Anne is not, and so it is in the best interest of the state to allow Henry to divorce and remarry. Wolsey once again asks for More’s support in securing the King a divorce.

Wolsey acknowledges More’s right to his own conscience, but points out that as a statesman, he should consider the fate of the state. Wolsey admits that the actions they must take are “regrettable,” but believes they are necessary for the sake of England; without an heir, England will have a war of succession. Wolsey wonders how More “can obstruct those measures for the sake of [his] own, private, conscience.” More replies, “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.” He then admits that he would love to live in a country governed only by prayers.

Wolsey asks More who should be the next Cardinal. More suggests a man named Tunstall, but says he would rather be Cardinal than allow Thomas Cromwell to take the position. Wolsey tells More that they are enemies for the moment, and that he should keep this in mind if he is interested in being the next Cardinal. Wolsey tells More he’d be better off as a cleric, and More reminds Wolsey that the position he, Wolsey, holds is in fact a religious one.

The scene changes to the banks of a river. More calls for a boat and the Common Man appears dressed as a Boatman. More tries to get the Boatman to take him home, but the Boatman is off duty. As they’re talking, Cromwell steps out from behind an arch on the stage. He’s on his way to talk to the Cardinal, but clearly been listening to More’s conversation. He wonders if More left the Cardinal in “his laughing mood,” but More explains that he did not. Cromwell tells More he admires him. The Boatman tells More that people refer to Cromwell as “the coming man.”

Before More can start on his way home, the diplomat Chapuys appears on the bank of the river. Chapuys represents the King of Spain’s interests, and reminds More that the King of Spain will be insulted by any insult paid to his relative, Catherine. Chapuys wonders if More and the Cardinal parted “amicably” and “in agreement,” which is his way of asking if More helped the Cardinal secure the King’s divorce. More says that they only parted “amicably.” Chapuys understands that this means More does not support the divorce. He calls More a “good man,” but More says Chapuys doesn’t know him well enough to make that claim.

More turns to the Boatman, who agrees to row him home. They discuss the river. More wonders if it is filling with dirt, but the Boatman replies “not in the middle, sir. There’s a channel there getting deeper all the time.” The Boatman says his wife is “losing her shape…losing it fast,” and More jokes “so are we all.”

Back at home, although it is very late at night, More finds Margaret is still awake. Her suitor, Will Roper, is also at the house. Margaret tells More that Roper wants to marry her. Will tells More that although his family is not involved with the palace, he comes from a good background, and More agrees that his pedigree is fine. Still, More forbids Margaret from marrying him, and explains that as long as Will is a “heretic” More will not bless the marriage.

Will argues that he is not a heretic, but that the Church itself is heretical. He sympathizes with Martin Luther and The Protestant Reformation, and believes that the Catholic Church is corrupt. More counters that Roper is constantly changing his mind regarding religion, and so his opinions can’t be trusted. More then sends Roper home. More tells Margaret that Roper is like his father, who just liked being contrary and “swimming in the opposite direction” of popular opinion.

Alice wakes up and joins More and Margaret. The two women want to know why Wolsey called More to meet. They tell More that Norfolk thinks More will be Chancellor if Wolsey dies. More tells them he doesn’t want to be Chancellor, and refuses to talk about it further, pointing out that “there will be no new Chancellors while Wolsey lives.” More is also getting sick, and Alice brings him tea, reminding him that all men, both great and poor, can get sick. The Common Man then enters the stage and announces that Wolsey has died, and Thomas More has been appointed the next Lord Chancellor. Wolsey died on his way to the Tower of London “under charge of High Treason.”

The sets change and the stage becomes Hampton Court, the royal palace. Richard Rich passes Thomas Cromwell in a stairwell, and the two begin to talk. Cromwell wants to know what Rich is doing in Hampton, and Rich explains that he is currently working for Norfolk, who came to the castle to hunt with the King. Cromwell comments on changing fortunes; Wolsey was once high-powered but died a traitor, and Rich, once a political unknown, is rising quickly. Cromwell describes Thomas More and Rich as friends, which Rich is hesitant to confirm. Rich instead describes More as someone who helped him once professionally. Cromwell wonders if Rich has any allegiances to More or Norfolk, or if he is open to bribes.

Rich doesn’t answer Cromwell’s question because Chapuys and his Attendant interrupt their conversation. Chapuys wonders what exactly Cromwell’s job entails, and Cromwell explains that he is the “King’s Ear,” and that “when the King wants something done, I do it.” He explains that the legal system of Justices, Chancellors, and Admirals are all written into the constitution, but he has a role outside of the law.

 Cromwell reveals that the King will soon visit More in his home and ask him for another answer regarding the divorce. The King will travel in his own new ship, built to his specifications, and which the King will steer himself. Chapuys is surprised, as he knows More has already made his opinion regarding the divorce known. He insists that More “is a good son of the Church!” and will not approve the divorce. Cromwell replies “Sir Thomas is a man,” suggesting that any man can be persuaded to change his mind.

More’s Steward enters. Clearly both Cromwell and Chapuys want to talk to him. The two men end their conversation, and each says “good day,” expecting the other to leave, but neither does. Eventually, Chapuys caves in. He pretends to leave, but gestures to the Steward to follow him. Instead of fully exiting he hides onstage with his Attendant, within earshot but out of sight. Rich remains onstage, unsure of where to go. Cromwell presses the Steward for information about More. The Steward reveals that lately More has seemed frightened and nervous. Cromwell then leaves the stage, and gestures for Rich to follow him. Rich defensively claims that he has no gossip to share.

Chapuys and his Attendant reemerge from behind the curtain to talk to the Steward. The Steward reveals that More prays and goes to confession often. Chapuys knows the Steward is serving as an informant to both him and Cromwell, and he tells the Steward it is impossible to be loyal to both of them. The Steward explains that in fact he is not loyal to Cromwell, to Chapuys, or to his master, Thomas More, but instead he is faithful to God. He reveals that he is wearing an enormous cross, described as a “caricature” of the cross Chapuys himself wears.

Rich reenters after Chapuys and his Attendant have left the stage. He gives the Steward a coin and asks him what Chapuys wanted to know. The Steward repeats to Rich what he told Chapuys, and adds that he just tells people what they want to hear. As Rich turns to go, the Steward points out the direction that Cromwell went, assuming Rich would want to follow him. Angrily, Rich purposefully exits the stage in the opposite direction. The Steward, now alone onstage, takes a moment to speak directly to the audience. He explains that he shares common knowledge like it’s gossip, and doesn’t trade in real secrets. He says it is important “not to get out of your depth,” for “when I can’t touch the bottom I’ll go deaf, blind, and dumb.”

The scene transitions to More’s house. Alice, Margaret, and Norfolk are looking for More. The King is arriving soon on an unofficial visit (that everyone nonetheless knows about) and More cannot be found. More eventually shows up—he’s been praying. He is wearing a cassock, which Norfolk, Margaret, and Alice make him take off. More seems unconcerned by Henry’s “surprise” visit, and when Norfolk accuses him of “dishonor[ing] the King and his office,” argues that worshiping God is important, and shouldn’t be “a dishonor to any office.”

King Henry arrives by boat, which he himself navigated. More, Margaret, and Alice all pretend that his visit has surprised them. The King flirts with Margaret, and praises her intelligence, but is unhappy when she proves herself to be better at Latin than he is. He then asks Margaret if she can dance, and praises her legs, while mocking Norfolk’s “wrestler’s leg.” Despite this, the King argues that he could beat Norfolk in a fight. The King then tells Margaret that he, too, is a scholar. She knows of the book he wrote, and the King jokes that More, a known but unofficial collaborator, heavily contributed.

The King finally turns his attentions to More. At first he doesn’t talk about politics. Instead he talks about the “great experience” he had steering his eponymous ship, “The Great Harry,” down the river. Finally, he turns to court affairs, and tells More he is grateful he has “a friend for my Chancellor,” although More is “readier to be friends…than he was to be Chancellor.”

Henry and More discuss the late Cardinal Wolsey. More comments that Wolsey was “a statesman of incomparable ability.” Henry argues that because Wolsey failed him, he could not have been a great statesman. Henry criticizes his pride, and his ambition; Henry was convinced Wolsey wanted to be Pope. The King reveals he felt trapped and controlled while the Catholic Church and its Cardinals remained influential in England.

Although he has promised not to, Henry once again brings up his divorce. More says that although he’s been thinking about it since their last conversation, he hasn’t come to any conclusions. This frustrates the King, even when More pledges his loyalty. The King explains that he needs More’s approval, because, as it is, he “stand[s] in peril of [his] soul.” The King uses the passage in Leviticus which says “Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife,” to invalidate his own first marriage. When More explains that he thinks it’s a complicated situation best left to the Catholic Church itself, Henry responds angrily. He says he doesn’t need the Pope to tell him that he’s sinned; he can tell for himself. He says that his inability to have a son is a sign from God that his marriage is illegitimate.

More wonders why, if Henry is so sure of himself, he needs More’s approval. The King explains that many of his followers lie to him because he is king and they respect him, like Norfolk, or else because they see the ways that he can benefit them, like Cromwell. But More, Henry explains, isn’t like that, and is sincere and honest, and can be counted on for an honest opinion. He then asks More for his thoughts on the music that had been playing earlier during his arrival. More suspects that the King wrote this music himself, and praises it.

The King tells More his “conscience is [his] own affair,” and that he, the King, will leave More alone as long as he remains silent, and does not oppose him publicly. Yet Henry warns that any noise, any words, signs, letters, or pamphlets will count as treason. He tells More that anyone who claims Catherine is his wife is a liar and a traitor. In a final gesture, the King attempts to bribe More. He tells him, “If you could come with me, you are the man I would soonest raise,” but More is flustered and cannot respond. Although he had planned to stay for dinner, Henry observes that “the tide will be changing,” and leaves early.

Alice is upset that More has not been more cooperative. She asks him to “Be ruled!” or else rule the King by actually stating his opinion. More explains that although he is the King’s loyal subject, he needs to have some control over his own life, and his own conscience. Alice urges him to “stay friends” with the King. More says he’ll do his best to smile and flatter.

Suddenly Will Roper arrives, flustered. He has been offered a seat in Parliament, and because of his “inconvenient conscience” doesn’t know whether or not to take it. More suggests that Roper would be a good fit because of his heretical religious views, which are in line with the new religious reforms the King is making, and which More privately sees as heretical. But Roper admits he’s become more moderate recently.

The Steward enters, and announces that Richard Rich, has come to visit uninvited. Rich is in a strange mood, and complains that he feels unwelcome in More’s house. He confesses that Cromwell has been asking questions about More. Rich says that More’s Steward has been questioned both by Cromwell and Chapuys, which More already knows and does not seem to mind. Rich acts guilty, and asks More to employ him, promising to be trustworthy. More declines, on the grounds that Rich can’t even be trusted to act in his own best interests, much less the interests of an employer.

More’s family wants to arrest Rich. Margaret thinks he should be arrested for being bad, as that is God’s law, but More counters, “Then God can arrest him.” Roper argues that More is setting man’s law above God’s, but More explains that he finds man’s law simple to follow, whereas God’s law is too complicated. He explains, “The currents and eddies of right and wrong…I can’t navigate. I’m no voyager. But in the thickets of the law, oh, there I’m a forester.”

Roper says he’d “cut down every law in England” if it meant he could somehow indict the Devil, but More argues that laws are important for the safety of mankind, even if it means that the Devil also gets some protection. Roper then argues that the law seems to be More’s god, which offends More. He tells Roper that he will “hide in the thickets of the law” with Margaret, where she will be safe and Roper will not be able to woo her with his constantly changing “seagoing principles.” More repeats that he believes he is entirely safe, as he is not on the wrong side of the law.

The scene changes to a pub. The Common Man enters as himself, but then dresses himself from a basket on stage, and sets up a table with mugs and stools. He has transformed himself into a Publican (Inkeeper). He jokes that he can barely understand what More is saying because he is so common. Cromwell enters the pub and asks for a private room. Rich joins him, and they meet in a backroom. Cromwell shares court gossip with Rich, who promises not to repeat it, because this conversation is “in friendship.” Cromwell wonders if Rich is really capable of keeping a secret, and Rich clarifies that it “would depend what I was offered.” Cromwell doesn’t necessarily respect Rich, but he likes that he is so open about being so corruptible.

Cromwell offers Rich a position as Collector of Revenues for York Diocese, if Rich will help the King secure his divorce. Cromwell explains that his role as a royal administrator is to make sure the courts run smoothly and conveniently, and so if the King wants a new wife, he will make it as easy as possible for the King to get a new wife. He continues that if the King’s life is more convenient, so is everybody else’s. Rich accepts Cromwell’s offer, but is surprised by his good fortune. Cromwell observes that Rich seems depressed. Rich explains that he feels like he’s lost his innocence, though Cromwell suspects he lost it a long time ago. They both believe that Thomas More has an innocent conscience, but Cromwell nevertheless begins to plot to manipulate him. Cromwell believes that since More has sense, he can be frightened. To demonstrate how a man can be manipulated due to fear, Cromwell holds Rich’s hand over a candle flame and burns him.