Financial vs. Moral Richness Theme Analysis

Over the course of the play, Thomas More’s fortune falls metaphorically (as he falls out of the King’s graces) and literally (as he becomes poorer as a result of his lower social standing). In contrast, More’s onetime friend Richard Rich becomes wealthier and wealthier from scene to scene—the two men’s relative fortunes are mirror images. Although from the outside Rich looks like the more successful of the two men, Robert Bolt demonstrates appearances can be deceiving, by contrasting monetary wealth with rich morals. A polished, luxurious appearance does not represent a pure heart. Instead, More’s relative poverty and Rich’s relative wealth represent the opposite of their moral standings.

As Thomas More becomes increasingly committed to his moral position, his social standing decreases. More begins the play affluent, with many servants, fine clothing, and the ability to gift fine goods, like the silver cup he passes on to Rich. Rich, who has an eye for luxury, even comments that he wants “some decent clothes,” specifically a gown like More’s. However, More doesn’t value material goods. When his fortunes fall he is unperturbed, since his conscience is more important to him than physical objects and social power. Although his house is cold and food is scarce, he refers to what little he has as a “luxury.” More’s misfortune is more difficult on his family, but he tries to comfort them by saying, even “at the worst, we could be beggars and still keep company, and be merry together!” In his mind, wealth means nothing without his family and personal values, and his family and his values are enough to support him even in the absence of conventional riches.

As Richard Rich sacrifices any morals and personal integrity, he is rewarded with gold, titles, and power. In his very first scene, Rich comments that any man can be bought for the right price. Throughout the play, he proves he can be purchased, as there is nothing he won’t do for the proper payment. Each time Rich reenters, his status has grown by degrees. In the first scene he remarks how he doesn’t want to be a teacher because “who would know it?” Although he does not say it, Rich likely also does not want to be a teacher because he wants the bribes that come with a more prestigious position. Soon after Rich is working for Norfolk, but trades information about More (who secured him his position with Norfolk) with Cromwell for an even more prestigious position. In his final appearance, during which Rich lies under oath, the stage directions note that he is “now splendidly official, in dress and bearing.” During a moment in which he essentially condemns More to death with a lie, Rich, now the Attorney General of Wales, is the richest he’s ever been. More even comments upon it, asking his former friend, “For Wales? Why, Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world…But for Wales!”

Throughout the play characters attempt to bribe each other with money, power, and status. For most, a bribe is powerful enough to override any previous loyalties or moral reservations. More is one of the only characters who cannot be swayed by offers of luxury, and although he is forced to suffer, he never weakens. He is even concerned with appearing to have taken a bribe. He tells his wife, Alice, that he is unwilling even to take charity from the church, because (despite that they are not paying him for his writings) “It would appear as payment.” Others have less integrity. More’s Steward sells secrets about him for money, as does Rich. Still others, notably the Common Man as the Jailer, note the true cost of bribes. He refuses an offer to report anything More says in prison. The Jailer realizes that taking the bribe would temporarily benefit him, but it would also involve him in a complicated, potentially deadly situation. He remarks “fifty guineas isn’t tempting; fifty guineas is alarming…if it’s worth that much now it’s worth my neck presently.”

When it comes to Thomas More and Richard Rich, monetary wealth indicates a lack of morality. Rich, whose name even suggests his eventual economic status, has no morals or conscience. As a result, he happily takes bribes, and gains money and power. Thomas More, in contrast, values a moral richness over a worldly one. He doesn’t necessarily despise money, but he would rather feel spiritually rich and true to himself than keep a well furnished, impressive home. Although accepting bribes works out for Rich in the short run, the Jailer points out that monetary gain can be a stepping stone on the path to the gallows, and More worries that although accepting bribes can lead to a comfortable life, they would damn him in the afterlife.