A Man For All Season And Machiavelli'S Doctrine: Reiteration Of History

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 be followed whatever it takes: "...it's much more a matter of convenience, administrative convenience" (Bolt, 1963, 49). Their craftiness reflects Machiavelli's writing about politics seeing it as a public responsibility that cannot afford to govern under the laws of morality. Yet to some degree, harm still comes repetitively to individuals who oppose people with dictative power. "It must be understood, that a prince ... cannot observe all of those virtues for which men are reputed good, because it is often necessary to act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion, in order to preserve the state." (Machiavelli).

Machiavelli remains one of the controversial figures of political history. One of his works, The Prince (also known as "A Handbook for Dictators"), contains many references to ancient history, but is mainly based on the political career of his political beliefs. His book, The Prince is often divided into four sections. The first section deals with principalities ("monarchies"), of which according to Machiavelli there are four types. First is the hereditary principality, which is traditionally under the control of a ruler's family and their descendants. The second type of principality is called the mixed principality, where the hereditary is considered with newly conquered territories. Next, the principality acquired by new people where the territory of another is acquired by force, through someone else (for example as a gift from a king), through a crime or cruelty of the inheritor, or through the favor of the prince's fellow people. Lastly, the principalities of Ecclesiastical, which it can only be obtain through good fortune or virtue because this is sustained by the religious ordinance.

The second section of The Prince deals with military, it was discussed how a principality can prepare itself militarily. There are four types of armies that can be employed: the mercenaries, the auxiliaries, the nationals, and the mixed armies. The mercenaries and auxiliaries were said to be "useless and dangerous". Mercenaries will fight but are not willing to die for their ruler, while the auxiliaries will act as either an offense or defense. The nationals, also known as natives, serves as the best fighting force since they are fighting for their homeland.

The next section of The Prince discusses what kind of qualities a prince must possess. It was said that the prince must conduct himself in regard to his friends and subject. Machiavelli wrote in the book, "...It is better for a ruler to be feared than loved, as fear is a stronger and more binding emotion." Meaning, the prince must provide set of rules and make it effective but must avoid making him be despised by others.

And lastly, the book also discusses the political state that existed in Italy. "Italian princes have all lost the control over their states because 'common weakness in regards to military organization' and unable to balance allegiance of people and loyalty of nobility." Fortune was mentioned in dealing with principalities; Machiavelli suggests that fortune controls half of what men do. "...That from mean to great fortune, people rise rather by fraud, than by force." These "fortunes" are all those causes of historical change that are beyond the deliberate, rational control of men.

People became so involved questioning the principles of Machiavelli's prince that they do not realize that effectiveness of power is more important than the morality of the principle. For this reason, Machiavelli was considered to be the devil incarnate when he wrote The Prince. The term Machiavellian, was born after publishing the book during the Elizabethan era, symbolizing a leader marked with cruelty and ruthlessness. The Machiavellian tactic is the acting in accordance with the principles of government, in which politics is placed before morality or power over values. The tactic involves use of deceit to maintain authority and carry out the policies of a ruler. From The Prince, Machiavelli was explaining how people struggle for power and authority. Machiavelli got the idea during the military scandal in 1499, from his first diplomatic mission to France (1500), and from his acquaintance with Cesare Borgia (1502).

Machiavelli influenced the court of the king, and King Henry VIII himself during his reigning years, by using Machiavellian scheming. King Henry VIII made some compromise to public response by canceling some of the financial obligations of those who had been subjected to extortion in the interest of the public during the reign of his father. However, in matters of doctrine, Henry displayed a determined aversion to reform. He opposed Luther's onslaught against the Papacy and the sanctity of Catholic doctrine and dogma. In 1534, the Act of Supremacy was passed under King Henry VIII stating that he was "the only supreme head in earth of the Church of England" (Bolt, 1963, ##).

In A Man For All Seasons, Richard Rich was talking to Sir More during the opening act; he said, "Every man has his price" (Bolt, 1963, 02). Rich's contemptuous remark shows a typical Machiavellian spirit, which he was explaining that a man might be persuaded to do anything, as long as he is provided a sufficient reward. Moreover, in Machiavelli's doctrine, a message was being sent that in politics, being thrifty, clever, and cultured is not enough. Sir Cromwell shows this when he bribes Rich with a position for Wales, he used Rich and the information he knew to get to Sir More. During King Henry's visit to Sir More's home, he tried to win Sir More's