Thomas More is a Tragic Hero but Still is Not.

May 1997

 
    A tragic hero has a flaw in his character that leads to his eventual downfall.  Thomas More has no tragic flaw but, like a tragic hero, More still dies.  More will not compromise his morals in order to employ Richard Rich; More will not compromise his morals for his family; More will not compromise his morals for the King of England.  Morals are rules made by the mind to control the heart.
    In the 1500s when a young man was finished with his education he went to the person in town he most wanted to work for and asked for a position.  This is what Richard Rich did prior to the opening of A Man For All Seasons.  More recognizes Richard's opportunistic style and knows that Richard will compromise his own morals in order to get ahead in this world.  Instead More offers Richard a job as a teacher becasue More knows Richard will not be as tempted at school as in a political position.  This does not suit Richard and instead of working for More Rich begins working for Cromwell in a position that is sure to falter.  Unfortunate though this is, More has not compromised his principles.
    In these medieval times a man's duty was to protect and care for his family at all cost.  More recognizes that he cannot compromise his principles and take the oath but he instructs his family to take the oath for their own safety.  He ensures that his family is protected before he goes to trial.  Yet More refused to take the oath in order to be near his family because it would compromise his principles.
    The King is the highest power in the land.  The King's commands are law and must be obeyed.  Yet even after the King commands that all must take the oath More still refuses.  He refuses to compromise his principles even for the King.  More does not once compromise his principles throughout the course of the play.
    Principles are rules that you mind makes, guided by some higher power, to rule your heart.  Compromising your principles would lower your moral standing, and could be considered a tragic flaw.  Thomas More has no tragic flaw but, like a tragic hero, More still dies.  More would not compromise his principles for a friend like Richard Rich, for his family, or even for the King.  Yet More's own uncompromising moral standards lead to his own death.  At least he would have dies knowing that he had committed no sin by giving into or falling into the traps that had been set for him in life.