Martin Luther Character Analysis in Wolf Hall

While Martin Luther doesn’t appear as a character in Wolf Hall, his books and ideas are often discussed. He was a German theologian who questioned some ideas of the Catholic Church and whose writings led to the division of Western Christianity into Catholicism and Protestantism. His books are considered heretical in England during Henry’s reign and anyone who is caught reading them is arrested and executed by Thomas More. While Cromwell doesn’t agree with all of Luther’s ideas, he is interested in knowing what they are, which is why he smuggles the books into England and reads them. Cromwell even shares Luther’s ideas with Wolsey.

Martin Luther Character Timeline in Wolf Hall

The timeline below shows where the character Martin Luther appears in Wolf Hall. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Dogmatism vs. Open-Mindedness Theme Icon

While Cromwell doesn’t love Martin Luther and often wishes he were more subtle, he is interested in reading what he says,... (full context)

Cromwell thinks he must get someone else to translate Luther’s new book from German into Latin so it can be discreetly circulated—he doesn’t have the... (full context)

Power, Ambition, and Deception Theme Icon

...asks Cromwell if the cardinal will be sending him to Frankfurt to buy more of Luther’s books. More writes vitriolic pamphlets against Luther, and he wants to try to extradite Luther... (full context)

...these mules that pass for men.” Tyndale refuses to openly support Henry’s divorce, as does Luther, and Cromwell cannot comprehend why they cannot “sacrifice a fine point of principle, to make... (full context)

...so is a leather-seller who was found to be in possession of a book by Luther, even though he “was no doctor of theology.” The year goes out with “a pall... (full context)

...at Wolsey’s college, and while Cromwell was in Calais, Thomas More arrested him for translating Luther into English. (full context)

Children and Human Connection Theme Icon

...is done. There is a young, pregnant German woman with Cranmer, reading a book by Luther. Cranmer introduces her as Margarete, his wife, and Cromwell is shocked. He says that if... (full context)