Man for All Seasons, first essay

Hi ladies,


The presentation and consequences of religious faith.
Without religious faith, what would Henry's argument have been?  So we see that our argument need not be limited to those that have religious faith, only the choices and consequences created by its existence.

How is it presented?

• As an excuse
• As ineffective / weak / willing to compromise
• As a cause for problems, socially, nationally and personally
• As a guide
• As hypocritical / ironically Machiavellian (a means to an end)
• A position of power and politics
• The foundation for moral principle

Who are the characters that present it most tellingly?

• Roper - the zealot
• Wolsey - the "man of God" who seems not to really believe in God
• More - the man of integrity who believes God will guide each one to guide themselves and thus create a better nation
• Henry - who believes in the parts of the Bible that are convenient for him
• Cromwell - who has no faith
• The author's opinion - (page xiii) "the religion was very reactionary" and "'Religion' and 'economy' are abstractions which describe the way men live."

Other areas of exploration:

• Chapuys
• Spanish / English tension
• Self-inflicted demotion of status (More leaving office of Chancellor)
• Selfhood ultimately based on faith
• Inconvenience of faith- simultaneous influence, moral 

I'm sure there's more. (Hah!)

But this is a good start.

- T. Marcus