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Select one quotations from A Man for All Seasons Part One. and…
Select one quotations from A Man for All Seasons Part One. and explain the context of the quotation and the significance of the quotation as it relates to one of the following: theme, character, or a literary device. Do not select a quotation that has been selected at least three times previously by classmates. Also comment on two other student responses. When commenting on another student’s response do not comment on a quote that you have already discussed.
When responding to classmates, please think of the following points:
You may say that you agree with what a peer has posted, and then repeat what has been posted. However, this type of “I agree with you” post is not a high quality post.
To achieve a high quality response, you should be able to make a reference to the text and to agree or disagree with your peer – based on your reference to the text (in this case, A Man for All Seasons). By making another reference to the text, you are building on what your colleague has stated. The minimum requirement is two responses to colleagues. You are more than welcome to make more than two responses.
Quotes to choose from:
WOLSEY Indeed! Indeed! Are you going to oppose me? (Trumpet sounds again. WOLSEY visibly relaxes) He’s gone in . . . (He leaves the window) All right, we’ll plod. The King wants a son; what are you going to do about it? MORE (Dry murmur) I’m very sure the King needs no advice from me on what to do about it. Page 8
CHAPUYS Sir Thomas, I will be plain with you . . . plain, that is, so far as the diplomatic decencies permit. (Loudly) My master Charles, the King of Spain! (Pulls MOBS aside; discreetly) My master Charles, the King of Spain, feels himself concerned in anything concerning his blood relations. He would feel himself insulted by any insult offered to his mother’s sister! I refer, of course, to Queen Catherine. (He regards MORE keenly) The King of Spain would feel himself insulted by any insult offered to Queen Catherine Page 10
CROMWELL Oh, sly! Do you notice how sly he is, Rich? Well, I suppose you would call me (He suddenly turns) “The King’s Ear” . . . (A deprecating shrug) It’s a useful organ, the ear. But in fact it’s even simpler than that. When the King wants something done, I do it. Page 15
HENRY Antiquone modo Latine loqueris, an Oxoniensi? [Is your Latin the old Latin, or Oxford Latin?] MARGARET Quem me docuit pater, Domine. [My father’s Latin, Sire.] Page 19
HENRY You must consider, Thomas, that I stand in peril of my soul. It was no marriage; she was my brother’s widow. Leviticus: “Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife.” Leviticus, Chapter eighteen, Verse sixteen. Page 21
MORE No, far below; but let me draw your attention to a fact-I’m not God. The currents and eddies of right and wrong, which you find such plain sailing, I can’t navigate. I’m no voyager. But in the thickets of the law, oh, there I’m a forester. I doubt if there’s a man alive who could follow me there, thank God . . . Page 26
RICH (Hastily buffooning) I’m lamenting. I’ve lost my innocence. CROMWELL You lost that some time ago. If you’ve only just noticed, it can’t have been very important to you. Page 29
MORE No- (ALICE exhibits indignation) Alice, it’s a point of law! Accept it from me, Alice, that in silence is my safety under the law, but my silence must be absolute, it must extend to you. Page 36
NORFOLK That was it then. (New realization) And it was April! The April of twenty-six. The very month that cow first put her case before him! (Triumphantly) In other words, the moment he knew it was a bribe, he got rid of it. Page 38
CROMWELL We feel that, since you are known to have been a friend of More’s, your participation will show that there is nothing in the nature of a “persecution,” but only the strict processes of law. As indeed you’ve just demonstrated. I’ll tell the King of your loyalty to your friend. If you like, I’ll tell him that you “want no part of it,” too. Page 38
ROPER (Quietly) While we are witty, the Devil may enter us unawares. MORE He’s not the Devil, son Roper, he’s a lawyer! And my case is watertight! Page 42
CROMWELL Yet do you know that even now, if you could bring yourself to agree with the Universities, the Bishops, and the Parliament of this realm, there is no honor which the King would be likely to deny you? Page 43
If you are using secondary sources for this assignment, the correct MLA notation for a website looks like this:
Best, Michael. Shakespeare’s Life and Times. Internet Shakespeare Editions, University of Victoria: Victoria, BC, 2001-2005.
Author. Title of the document or website. Organization / Affiliation. Place. Retrieved (date you visited the site)
Options to respond to:
option 1:
6. MORE No, far below; but let me draw your attention to a fact-I’m not God. The currents and eddies of right and wrong, which you find such plain sailing, I can’t navigate. I’m no voyager. But in the thickets of the law, oh, there I’m a forester. I doubt if there’s a man alive who could follow me there, thank God . . . Page 26
This quotation was said by Sir Thomas More while talking with William Roper. Earlier, Richard Rich comes to visit Sir Thomas More to tell him Cromwell has been asking questions and collecting information about him. After Richard Rich leaves Margaret, Alice, and Roper all plead to Sir Thomas More to arrest Richard. More explains to Roper that he will only do what is legal. Roper then states that More is putting society’s laws above God’s.
This quotation is significant because it demonstrates Sir Thomas More’s challenges with deciphering right from wrong. It also represents Sir Thomas More as both a man of law and a man of God. More believes that if something is not definite and can be open to interpretation, he will not act on it. He does this to protect himself in case of wrongly accusing someone. Therefore, the law is simpler to follow and does not jeopardize going against God.
This quotation relates to the literary device of symbolism. This quote refers to both the symbols of water and dry land (LitCharts 2023). More explains the currents and eddies of moral decisions are hard for him to follow. Just as the water, specifically the sea, is unpredictable and hard to navigate. However, More says that within the law he is a forester. This symbolizes dry land, which is clear to navigate and understand as you can see and touch the ground, compared to the vastness of the sea. More believes the moral decision of arresting Richard Rich is up for interpretation. Fortunately, human law is reliable, safe, and can be left to no interpretation as Rich has not broken the law.
Work Cited
LitCharts. “Dry Land Symbol Analysis.” LitCharts, 2023, www.litcharts.com/lit/a-man-for-all-seasons/symbols/dry-land. Accessed 7 July 2023.
Option 2:
WOLSEY Indeed! Indeed! Are you going to oppose me? (Trumpet sounds again. WOLSEY visibly relaxes) He’s gone in . . . (He leaves the window) All right, we’ll plod. The King wants a son; what are you going to do about it? MORE (Dry murmur) I’m very sure the King needs no advice from me on what to do about it. Page 8
The context of this quote is Cardinal Wosley invites Sir Thomas More to speak about King Henry’s decision to divorce his wife because she cannot give him a son. The King wants to divorce Catherine of Argon and marry Anne Boleyn. This quote shows that the cardinal is in support of the king’s wish and is willing to help him fulfil it. It also shows with the dry response of More that he is against it as he doesnt think it is morally correct.
The significant of this quote is that it shows the contradiction of values and interests between Wosley and More. Thomas more is a religious man with high morals and believes that with time and prayer the king will get his heir while Wosley is trying to use his authority to More to throw away his beliefs and comply with him. The part where wosley says “Are you going to oppose me?” seems like there would be a consequence for More if he doesn’t do what Wosley wants him to.
It relates to the theme of power and politics. Wosley trying to abuse his authority to get More to disregard his beliefs. The literary device shown in this quote is foreshadowing. This interaction with Wosley and More foreshadows that there will be more to it as More didn’t comply with Wosley to support the kings decision to divorce his wife.
