NON-AFRICAN DRAMA
ROBERT BOLT: A Man For All Seasons
Discuss the decline of values in the play
Explanation
The society which Bolt presents is a morally decadent one in which the values normally associated with civilized society are destroyed. It is a cynical world in which 'every man has his price.' The king, who is the head of state, unsurps the power of the church because he now finds it convenient to do so. His lack of morals is clearly demonstrated in his desire to sacrifice correct behaviour on the altar of expediency.
The very dispensation which he persuades the Pope to give to allow him to marry his late brother's wife, he now tries to get the Pope to reverse, so that he can divorce his wife and marry another. When the Pope will not co-operate, he seeks through 'legal means, to strip him of all his power. Rather than serve as the fountain of honour and justice, the king perverts justice and debases honour. He is assertive and corrupt, determined to achieve his aims by any means possible. He does not find it difficult to garner support for his scheme because of the moral bankruptcy of the society. One of his most ardent supporters is Thomas Cromwell, an opportunist and an instrument of the King. He, like the King, will ignore all the niceties of conscience to achieve what he desires. The king also gets support from other officials whose primary aim is to keep themselves in comfortable positions. Richard Rich is one such character.
His lack of remorse after he has betrayed More points to the level to which society has degenerated. This is why More's sterling qualities radiate in the play. Social institutions also come in for scathing criticism in the play. The church is censured for allowing itself to be manipulated by the King. And the trial of More exposes the perversion of justice which has become characteristic of the judiciary. The ordinary people too, do not escape Bolt's censure. The woman who gives a "gift" to More in the form of a silver cup is a good example. We see therefore that corruption has become a way of life in the society and that values have been perverted.