A Man For All Season and Machiavelli's Doctrine: Reiteration of History
A Man For All Seasons, a play written by Robert Bolt, in essence is both a moral play and a historical play. Sir Thomas More, a "man of the greatest virtue this kingdom has ever produced" (Dean Swift), is famous for choosing to suffer death rather than swearing to an oath that would counter his principles. Sir More had acquired a high position of Lord Chancellery under the reign of King Henry VIII, but stepped down since he could not do what the king had asked of him since this action would conflict with his beliefs and conscience. From that time, Sir More was in disagreement with King Henry's divorce, which led him to his own doom. Realizing that Sir More would not submit, the king decided to turn to his other advisors and approached Sir Thomas Cromwell.
Machiavelli said, "cruel behavior is to be used only when necessary for the common good". To Sir Cromwell, it is a necessity that the king's orders must......
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