NON-AFRICAN DRAMA
ROBERT BOLT: A Man For All Seasons
Discuss the theme of friendship and betrayal in the play.
Explanation
The relationship between More and others like Rich, the Duke and Cromwell, defines the theme of friendship and betrayal in the play. These relationships determine the direction of the plot. Rich is a friend of More's. Very early in the play, More takes Rich's loyalty for granted and opens up considerably to Rich to his detriment. For the sake of friendship, More offers Rich valuable advice concerning a career: teaching is quiet, safe and devoid of temptation. Rich rebuffs the advice. More gives Rich a cup he has been offered as a "gift". Rich accepts this. However, Rich shows divided loyalty. He denies his friendship with More when Cromwell asks him about it. His switching of friendship from More to Cromwell for the sake of getting a good job and an enhanced life is under-standable. In befriending Cromwell, however, Rich betrays More. He provides damming evidence against More. At the trial, Rich's betrayal of More is complete when he turns star witness and lies on oath without compunction.
The Duke of Norfolk proves a steadfast friend to More. When the king is visiting after launching the Great Harry, More is nowhere to be found. This alarms his family and disturbs the Duke. Norfolk attempts to draw More to the side of what he sees as reason without success. But he supports More's candidature for the Chancellorship. However, Norfolk does not agree to clinging to his conscience as does More, so he stays on his job; and he does prosecute More only because it is his duty. Norfolk stands by his friend till the very end, careful to avoid More's steely adherence to his conscience.
Between Cromwell and More, there is no love lost. Cromwell bides his time for opportunities to hurt More. He holds More in spite. His insistence that the boatman take the correct fare is to give More up as one who overpays the boatman illegally. Cromwell is obviously not More's friend. He secures the most serious bits of evidence for condemning More through a friend of More's. However, he offers Rich a job for the opportunity to gain access to information and not because the two are friends. He intimidates, bullies and even cajoles Rich. He finally secures Rich's willingness to commit perjury. At the crucial moment, he contrives the evidence from alleged witnesses to incriminate More.
It is clear from the play that friendship is not based on a true and lasting relationship; rather. it depends very much on patronage, self interest and expediency and there-in lies the element of betrayal.