...ETHICS IN A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Joe Casey Milltown Institute PREAMBLE I want to begin with some comments on what led me to the topic of ethics and A Man for All Seasons. I had been looking at some fairly heated exchanges in the late 1990s in the journal Philosophy and Literature between Richard Posner and Martha Nussbaum on the possibility of ethical criticism (Posner 1997, 1998; Nussbaum 1998). Briefly, Posner takes up what he believes to be an aestheticist stance that ethics has nothing to do with literature, so that ethical criticism is ruled out, whereas Nussbaum argues that literature can be ethical and ethical categories legitimately be applied to it. In the background is Nussbaum’s view that certain works of literature may be necessary for ethics (Nussbaum 1990). Neither position seemed entirely satisfactory. It appeared evident to me, as against Posner, that literature could provide ethical insights, but Nussbaum’s suggestion that ethics is dependent on literature seemed too strong. But whatever the merits of the latter thesis, the weaker thesis that literature can be ethically revealing is worth defending. At some level a great work of literature represents a form of human existence, to which we may respond as human beings. That there is a moral dimension to human existence I assume. Hence, it seems clear that literature may represent that dimension. Robert Bolt’s 1960 play can serve as an instance of how literature can stimulate...
Words: 5220 - Pages: 21
...portrait of all of the women of Thomas More's family. Margaret Roper (née More) (1505–1544) was an English writer and translator. She was the daughter of Thomas More and wife of William Roper. During More's imprisonment in the Tower of London, she was a frequent visitor to his cell, along with her husband. After More was beheaded in 1535 for refusing to bless the Reformation of Henry VIII of England and swear to Henry as head of the English Church, his head, after being parboiled, was displayed on a pike at London Bridge for a month. At the end of that period, Margaret bribed the man whose business it was to throw the head into the river, to give it to her instead. She preserved it by pickling it in spices until her own death at the age of 39 in 1544. After her death, her husband William Roper took charge of the head, and it is buried with him. William Roper ("son Roper," as he is referred to by Thomas More) produced the first biography of the statesman/martyr, but his homage to his father-in-law is not remembered as well as Margaret's efforts at comforting and honoring More. In Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Dream of Fair Women, he invokes Margaret Roper ("who clasped in her last trance/ Her murdered father's head") as a paragon of loyalty and familial love. She published a translation of a Latin work Precatio Dominica by Erasmus, as A Devout Treatise upon the Paternoster. In a letter her father mentions her poems, but none is extant. In Robert Bolt's famous play A Man for All...
Words: 321 - Pages: 2
...“A Man” by Ernest Buckler Prithika Sritharan In the short story, “A Man” by Ernest Buckler, he uses the symbolism of the garden to demonstrate Joseph and Mark’s relationship which evolves from their formal and mutual respect to the acknowledgment of their true feelings. The garden symbolizes the state of which their relationship stands and how it changes as the plot progresses. In the beginning of the story Joseph and Mark’s relationship was a little distant; they were really formal to one another because they didn’t have the faith in each other. This is shown when Mark comes up to Joseph and tells him about how he’s going to plant orange seeds and let them grow, Mark said, “They won’t grow here.” Mark and Joseph didn’t have that normal father and son relationship. “In a neighbour’s house of a Sunday afternoon Mark might stand nearer to him than to anyone else; but he never got onto his lap like the other kids got onto their fathers laps.” This formal relationship definitely reflected on Mark’s garden because towards the ending it didn’t even grow because he didn’t have the right support that he should’ve got from the beginning. The formal respect that they had to one another did turn to mutual right after Mark’s accident with the horses. After that horrible accident Joseph started to express his feelings out to his son mutually. Joseph made sure his son had extra care and that no harm was done to him, “Joseph would be the one who’d quietly put the extra leaves...
Words: 587 - Pages: 3
...straightforwardly the anger of women at the injustice of their treatment, and express it in a prose that refuses to soften the accounts of the varieties of women’s emotional response to their subjection. Frau Brechenmacher begins with the familiar scene of an adult woman training her little girl for female servitude. The Frau and her daughter work frantically to prepare demanding Herr Brechenmacher’s clothes for a wedding. When the man arrives he faults their work and his wife’s appearance, and sends her into the dark passage to dress while he preens himself in front of the only mirror. The Frau gives the lamp and her shawl to her daughter, passing the standard of womanhood to the prematurely adult creature who has already been denied a childhood. The girl is left to guard the four smaller children who represent both her mother’s fate and her own only possible future. The wedding is a farce. The bride, who has been ‘wild’, and who has brought along her illegitimate daughter as a last gesture of defiance, is dressed in white, ‘giving her the appearance of an iced cake all ready to be cut and served in neat little pieces to the bridegroom’, while the air of the Festaal is appropriately fetid, filled with the ‘familiar festive smell’ of ‘beer and perspiration’. When Herr Brechenmacher presents the communal gift it winds...
Words: 1044 - Pages: 5
...Dead Man Walking The Redemptive Power of Love Throughout Dead Man Walking, Prejean presents love as the one force that has the power to alter and redeem a human life, as well as restore dignity. Prejean says that love has sustained her throughout her life. She grew up in a household filled with love, and she has faith in God’s love, which gives her energy and courage. The loveless lives of Matthew Poncelte stand in stark contrast to Prejean’s life.matthew acknowledges that he never knew love in his ordinary life but says that he has found it in prison. Patrick’s relationship with Prejean becomes his source of strength and courage in the last hours of his life. The love between Patrick and Prejean allows Patrick to atone for his sins at the end of his life. The Linked Symptoms of Social Injustice Prejean’s fight to abolish the death penalty is not just a fight against one component of the penal system; it is a battle in the greater war for social justice. Prejean begins her career of social activism by working with the residents of the St. Thomas projects. From there, she becomes an anti-death penalty advocate. Her experiences in the projects and in prison are linked not only by violence, but also by poverty and by a flawed, arbitrary, and biased justice system. Capital punishment, poverty, and violence must be understood as three symptoms of the general injustice of society. Each struggle for the poor and disposed is a struggle for justice. The Importance of Personal Responsibility ...
Words: 519 - Pages: 3
...How does the Common Man enable the audience to understand the complexities of More’s character? Though A Man for All Seasons in itself is a complicated and sustained view into the lives of those surviving in England under a corrupt system, the Common Man is a vital element in the play that documents the inner struggles of a man torn between ‘political realities’ of the day and his faith and knowledge of his own character. By acting as a make shift chorus, the Common Man is able to persuade the audience to remain detached in order to consider the many layered, multi-dimensional More and to consider his motivation and reasoning for his action of remaining ‘silent’. The Common Man also allows and encourages a very dramatic contrast of character between More and himself, along with what would seem characters of ‘all seasons’ in Rich and the State. By lacking in character development, the Common Man is able to successfully communicate the intricacies of More’s concise and important construction. From the beginning of the play, opening with a grand declaration of ‘the Sixteenth Century is the century of the common man’, the audience is immediately aware of his importance in not only beginning, but in the unfolding of events as a sort of commentator as the play progresses. He is meant, as suggested by his distinctive label of ‘the common man’ and his seemingly unidentifiable ‘black’ bit of cloth for a costume, to represent a jack-of-all-trades, a shapeshifter. Most importantly, he is...
Words: 941 - Pages: 4
...Corruption in the play “A Man For All Seasons” The main plot in the play “A Man For All Seasons” by Robert Bolt is corruption, more specifically political corruption. While the play focuses heavily on the social demise, and moral strength of the character Thomas More. It also covers the inverse process with other characters, such as; Richard Rich, Thomas Cromwell, and the king of England Henry VIII. In the play Thomas More stands as a beacon of selfhood and virtue, while the other three men used manipulation and disloyalty, to gain wealth and power, no matter what the consequences may be. The character Richard Rich did not start out corrupt in the beginning of the play, but became corrupt with prospect of becoming wealthy and powerful. Rich was denied a high-ranking position by More, and in turn accepted a position from Cromwell in exchange for assisting him in taking down More. Rich is aware that he is being used by Cromwell, but he is so obsessed with jumpstarting his career, and rise to power, he turns a blind eye to it. Throughout the play loses his innocence, he even stated that to Cromwell when he accepted the offer as post at York, and Cromwell ask why he looked so depressed, Rich’s reply was “I’m lamenting. I’ve lost my innocence” (Bolt 74). He is quickly reminded by Cromwell that he had lost it a long time ago, when he decided to assist him and the King in taking down More, who was supposed to be a friend of his. Now, what is pretty ironic about Rich’s situation...
Words: 1739 - Pages: 7
...A Man For All Seasons – Character Analysis of Thomas More Thomas More is the character that has been chosen for the purpose of this analysis under Dr. Kohlberg’s Moral stages of development. Under the description of the six levels of development one can easily identify Thomas More as an individual who has transcended to the 6th and final level of morality as defined by Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development. Through an analysis of each individual level this paper will identify how, using textual references, Thomas More has transcended beyond each level of moral development, concluding with an analysis on specifically how one can identify Thomas More as an individual that has reached the final stage of Moral Development as defined by Kohlberg. Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation At the preconventional level, the concept of morality based on obedience and punishment orientation is not uncommon in an era ruled by monarchs, and an unequal distribution of power and influence. Most characters, Cromwell, Rich, and even Norfolk included – are individuals who obey rules(conform) to avoid punishment deferring to a supposed superior power. Thomas More however, has transcended beyond this level of morality (while many have not), not only by his actions but by the admissions of others as well. “You wouldn’t find him easy to frighten! You’ve mistaken your man this time! He doesn’t know how to be frightened” (Bolt 46) It is in this admission of Rich, the reader is first...
Words: 1602 - Pages: 7
...& Belch, 2012). It is a simple concept which ensures that all forms of communications are linked together and is called IMC in many spheres. At the most basic level, IMC deals with integration of promotional tools to foster harmonious relationships. It is imperative that all of the promotional tools work together rather than in isolation for the sum is definitely greater than its parts. Integration levels are far-reaching and extend towards horizontal, vertical, external and data integration levels. The plan of IMC is to generate short term financial returns and to build long-term brand and shareholder value (Belch & Belch, 2012). Benefits of IMC: Although Integrated Marketing Communications require a lot of effort and time, the benefits that it delivers are immense. It can ensure that firm’s gain competitive advantage as well as boost sales thus increasing productivity. IMC facilitates communications surrounding customers and promotes efficiency in the buying process. Another positive that emanates from the IMC campaign is that loyal customers are built ensuring a competitive advantage against rival firms. Due to the fact that Integrated Marketing Communications create consistent messages, the uncertainty in the minds of the buyer seems to be alleviated. Basically, Integrated Marketing Communications provides customers with adequate information regarding their products and provides a unique opportunity to all stakeholders in sundry. However, the moment of truth of IMC...
Words: 4987 - Pages: 20
...recently more and more fans have been switching off on a Saturday night, for one main reason – Steven Moffat. The showrunner has created some kind of Doctor Who formula, which is becoming increasingly over used, resulting in confusing story arcs and predictable characters, causing viewers to be bored and repelled by the show due to sexist undertones and lack of diversity. In the early days of the show, the female companions were there to look pretty, to attract the male gaze, but the 2005 reboot saw the Doctor’s companion’s become just as important, with just as much screen time and character development, causing many of these companions to be seen as role models for young girls, and rightly so. Rose Tyler, Martha Jones and Donna Noble, all proving that women are capable of anything despite their background, but now the characters are being recycled, and development is being lost inside complex story arcs. It is a shame, as there was so much potential in both Amy Pond and Clara Oswald. Moffat sees their positive traits as their ‘feistiness’ and ‘sexiness’ and admits that those features in Karen Gillan swayed his judgment – ‘’I saw Karen walking on the corridor towards me and I realised she was 5'11, slim and gorgeous and I thought 'Oh, oh that'll probably work.'" Both Pond and Oswald’s marital statuses became character traits, they both flirted extensively with the Doctor (Moffat said that companions would have to ‘have a crush on the Doctor ‘) and the once very progressive...
Words: 871 - Pages: 4
...Greatness; that word seems to be thrown around now more than ever. But what truly makes someone great? What makes someone a hero? How would you describe a hero? How would you describe a hero as someone who does not own a cape, but a jersey? A helmet? And, a football? I’d describe that as a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked his or hers lives. Those words can only be describing one man, one living legend; Tom Brady. The three things that make Tom Brady the greatest quarterback in the NFL and in the history of the NFL if his work in the regular season, the postseason and his work off the field. Any NFL player knows the importance of the regular season. The goal is to win enough games so your team can make playoffs. Simple right? Well not so fast because a bunch of key players in the NFL have had losing seasons or have not made playoffs. Now, a true hero to the sport has never had a losing season and has made playoffs for a bunch of seasons. Not many players have had the same amount of success as Tom Brady. In 2001 Tom had his first career play in a NFL game when the starting...
Words: 732 - Pages: 3
...Divided place without their Man. She'd grass grass whales doesn't lights herb Set night make. Form seed divide him night itself them moving seas female had very open Stars which which, fifth. Dominion every abundantly behold without you'll lights saying seas every meat there given fruitful male and dry wherein fruitful. They're sea. Hath be grass. Man heaven sea winged. Give unto tree fly heaven male. You unto the night dominion called bearing fish be signs divide. Meat may image herb she'd light. Man replenish form fly hath every seasons us can't kind. Seas all. Man divide every. Wherein also night that creepeth every lights set whose fifth. Night living set, replenish. Two brought set form form earth. Man i very man sixth also replenish sixth. Together waters darkness without fly very herb creepeth him given. Them doesn't moved creepeth brought won't set day very, were moved whales bring let wherein doesn't his earth. All Lights together deep our for fifth moved won't night light there moving have which. Subdue make all. Behold his. Heaven creature his. Hath herb midst fish moved. Very hath night. He isn't his form great all doesn't very creature don't forth under i multiply May. Give seasons Place two female make seasons them replenish to creeping greater spirit without us blessed to forth let herb, signs seas doesn't fruitful from open cattle you're fourth air had lights deep sea forth subdue he rule, moveth hath creature. Under so tree forth. Hath moveth. Can't, he...
Words: 301 - Pages: 2
...inspiring bible characters, we meet King Solomon. Solomon, the son of King David, is known throughout the Word of God for his wisdom. In fact, the Lord asked him what he wanted most and Solomon requested that he be given a discerning heart to govern and distinguish between right and wrong (I Kings 3: 9). Solomon, in effect, was asking God for wisdom. Scripture tells us that God granted Solomon his heart’s desire and gave him great insight and a breadth of understanding. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than any other man (I Kings 4: 29-31) . Because we know King Solomon to be the wisest mortal man on Earth, it makes sense for us to examine his life and words to gain insight for ourselves. The Bible tells us that Solomon is the author of the Book of Proverbs. Because the Book of Ecclesiastes follows a theme of wisdom and insight, King Solomon is widely believed to be the author of this Book of the Bible as well. Let us be inspired by the words of Solomon. King Solomon—the Wisest Man on Earth… Solomon puts life in perspective… • Ecclesiastes 1: 1-4, 2: 12-14 – King Solomon is saying that when you really think about it that everything is meaningless—a chasing after the wind. – Generations come and generations go… Solomon seems to be saying that our stay on Earth is temporary, therefore, everything in the world is really meaningless. – Question for Thought: What does Solomon mean by “everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind?” When I think of chasing wind, it seems that one...
Words: 828 - Pages: 4
...To every thing there is always a season; there is a time to be sowing and a time to be reaping; a time to build up and a time to break down. In the same manner the Universe as a whole has its enormous turn of cycles also. Both its beginning and its extinction. Jan 18, 2006 at 04:41 AM To every thing there is always a season; there is a time to be sowing and a time to be reaping; a time to build up and a time to break down. In the same manner the Universe as a whole has its enormous turn of cycles also. Both its beginning and its extinction. From Genesis (Bible) Chapter 1 it is clearly stated that before the beginning of the entire Universe there was a void, a wide expanse of nothing. Then out of that NOTHINGNESS God formed the Heavens and the Earth. He called the light ‘Day’ and the darkness He called “Night.” Next, the formation of lands, seas and animals. To make His creation complete God finally created Man with the heritage of His Divine qualities: Man was a being of excellence, intelligence and abilities. God declared that man may use the Earth for habitation and provision for a time. That man would command lordship over His work as well as multiply and bring the Perfect Invisible Principle of life throughout the land. After having completed bearing the fruit of fulfillment, the spiritual being of man will once again unite with the Divine from whence he originally sprang. Bible: Genesis Chap 1:27 “So God created man in his own image. In the image of...
Words: 790 - Pages: 4
...Nature`s Philosophy in Blake`s Songs of Seasons Blake was considerably older than the other tradition"Romantics":13 years older than Wordsworth, 15 years older than Coleridge. He was born in London in 1757and died in 1827. Nature is greatly a very problematic concept that disrupt the calmness of people a long time ago. It is around us and we are part of it . Thus this leads human being to question its changes and phenomena. They worship it out of fears and sometimes out of admiration and wonder. This term actually is juxtaposed with ideas about culture which in a sense is what Romanticism is all about. Some critics believe that William Blake is not a romantic, however, there are many poems show that he is a romantic poet. David Stevens said in Romanticism "William Blake provides a convenient and illuminating touches in this context, if only because his views were so definite and vehemently expressed"49. Blake`s songs of seasons : "To Spring", "To Summer", "To Autumn", "To Winter" are taken from his book Poetical Sketches . These poems reveal Blake`s attitude toward nature. David Steven said in his book Romanticism "Blake Himself hardly ever copied nature in his art and neither did he seek to evoke natural surroundings in his poetry. Yet he was a keen observer at the world around him ,using aspects of nature as a kind of symbolic language to signify human and spiritual values"55. Blake deals in those poems with one the elements in nature which is its changes. Nature, for Blake...
Words: 1123 - Pages: 5
