Thomas Cranmer Character Analysis in Wolf Hall

Thomas Cranmer is a Cambridge scholar who comes to court to work for Anne Boleyn since he, like her, is interested in the work of Tyndale and Luther. Anne believes that Cranmer’s learning might help to legitimize Henry’s struggle against the Catholic Church. A seemingly serious man, Cranmer seems to have a penchant for love and marriage even though he is a priest who is supposed to be celibate. He comes to consider Cromwell his special friend and asks for his help when he needs to hide his pregnant wife, Margarete, from Henry and the court. When Warham, the old Archbishop of Canterbury, passes away, Cromwell suggests that Cranmer be the new archbishop and Henry supports this idea. As the new archbishop, Cranmer has the power to annul Henry’s marriage to Katherine and recognize Henry’s marriage to Anne.

Thomas Cranmer Character Timeline in Wolf Hall

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

...Cromwell to consult with the “learned gentlemen” who are working on it, led by Dr. Cranmer. (full context)

Power, Ambition, and Deception Theme Icon

Cromwell goes to meet Anne Boleyn early one morning and finds that Cranmer is with her, just returned from Rome “with no good news.” Cromwell knows Cranmer from... (full context)

...hears that “Rome will issue a decree telling the king to separate” from her, and Cranmer says that doing so “would be a clear mistake on Rome’s part.” Anne agrees. She... (full context)

...crown on his head, Katherine on one side, and a headless Anne on the other. Cranmer offers to destroy it, but Anne says she can destroy it herself. She says that... (full context)

Children and Human Connection Theme Icon

As Cromwell and Cranmer are leaving, they see the pale girl heading toward them, and Cromwell asks her if... (full context)

Dogmatism vs. Open-Mindedness Theme Icon

Cromwell asks Cranmer if he is heading back to Cambridge, but Cranmer says that the Boleyns want him... (full context)

Later, Cromwell asks Wriothesley if Cranmer is as orthodox as he claims to be. Wriothesley says that Cranmer doesn’t like monks,... (full context)

Cromwell invites Cranmer to supper at his house. He discovers that he is the son of a gentleman... (full context)

Cranmer says that he, too, is a widower just like Cromwell. He married an orphan called... (full context)

...the pier, and he takes Cromwell up to the king’s chamber, where he also finds Cranmer. (full context)

...that Arthur seemed sad that Henry had “taken [his] kingdom, and […] used [his] wife.” Cranmer seems impatient as he tells the king that it was God’s will that Arthur died... (full context)

As Cromwell and Cranmer walk out of the king’s chambers, Cranmer says, “Neat work,” and Cromwell fights the urge... (full context)

...relief,” and Gregory says they thought that the king had thrown Cromwell in some dungeon. Cranmer is amused at this scene, and says to Cromwell, “Your children love you.” (full context)

...of advice. At his house, Cromwell meets with parliamentarians and gentlemen to strengthen his case. Cranmer has gone to Germany to win international support for Henry’s suit. In the city, many... (full context)

In late July, Cromwell gets a letter from Cranmer in Nuremberg. Usually, his letters ask for Cromwell’s advice regarding various matters, but this letter... (full context)

...overrule the king and appeal to the Pope. In the morning, he goes to visit Cranmer, who is to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury since Warham has died. Pope Clement... (full context)

Cranmer has been named archbishop, at great expense to the king. Chapuys tells Henry he does... (full context)

...Katherine says she knows nothing of this. Cromwell admires her astonishing lie. He tells her Cranmer will annul the marriage, whether she attends the court or not. (full context)

Christophe brings Cromwell the message that he is to go in secret to meet Cranmer at his old lodgings as soon as the feast is done. There is a young,... (full context)

...be called Elizabeth, and that the jousts must be canceled. He then pauses and asks Cranmer and Cromwell to join him in his closet. (full context)

...heart.” He tells Henry that one day, they will “make a great marriage for her.” Cranmer says that the king and Anne Boleyn are young and can have more children, and... (full context)

...and is being looked after by the women in Cromwell’s household. The Maid treats even Cranmer “with condescension,” claiming to know more about the Bible than he does because “An angel... (full context)

Some of Cromwell’s friends come to dinner at Austin Friars on Saturday night. They discuss Cranmer’s wife, and Vaughan wonders if it is possible for “Henry [to] know and not know.”... (full context)

...now go home to Kent, and Cromwell says he will see what he can arrange. Cranmer gently tells her that she will have to make a public confession before she can... (full context)

...against his conscience. He knows he will be damned to Hell if he does it. Cranmer reminds him that when he entered the king’s council, he took an oath to obey... (full context)