A Man for All Seasons

Last night, for homework, I watched "A Man for All Seasons" the story about Sir Thomas Moore, who refused to recognize the marriage of King Henry to Anne Boleyn and was eventually killed for his resistance. But he did so based on his belief in the authority of the Catholic church and the laws of God. Even when all of his friends were pressuring him to do otherwise, he never backed down from his beliefs.

The part of the movie that I found most interesting was the story arch of Richard Rich. At the beginning, Rich is looking for a job and asks Thomas to recommend him. Thomas declines, saying that he has something better for Rich to do: he offers him a job as a teacher. Although the job is fairly well paid and with good benefits, Rich turns it down because it is not exciting enough. He ends up taking a job as an administrative assistant in King Henry's court. Eventually his greed builds and he seeks even higher and more prestigious jobs- ultimately becoming the attorney general for Wales. He receives these as bribes in return for his false testimony which condemns Thomas to death. 

One of the most famous lines from the movie is when Thomas addresses Rich after his false testimony: "Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales?"

While Rich got everything he wanted, in the movie you can see his metamorphosis as he becomes distraught at being dishonest, then complacent, then wholeheartedly buying into his own lie, condemning Thomas to death with no feeling.

Like Rich, I think it is easy for us to throw away good opportunities in hopes of obtaining something greater and grander. At this time of the year, "A Man for All Seasons" was a reminder to me to be grateful for what I have, and not selfishly or greedily seek for more than I need.

Rhetorically,
Rebekah