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November 08, 2005
Bolt, "A Man For All Seasons"
Steward: "My master Thomas More would give anything to anyone. Some say that's good and some say that's bad, but I say he can't help it-- and that's bad... because some day someone's going to ask him for something that he wants to keep; and he'll be out of practice."
What an great foreshadowing line. At some point More's idealogy will get in the way of his generous nature.
Wolsey: "You're a constant regret to me, Thomas. If you could just see facts flat on, without that horrible moral squint; with just a little common sense, you could have been a statesmen."
The method Wolsey uses to try to get More to take his side is complex, and this line is a set up. I enjoy how More's ideological side comes through when he debates,
"Well...I believe, when statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties... they lead their country by a short route to chaos."
Wolsey may be more practical, but I like More's prespective. Wolsey after all, is the enemy.
Posted by DavidDenninger at November 8, 2005 03:34 PM
Comments
That first quote stuck out to me too. As soon as I read it, it immediately stuck out to me. It's clearly foreshadowing.
Posted by: Chera Pupi at November 8, 2005 04:06 PM
David, you have a way of pulling out thoughts that I have when I read but I can't identify, or I think about too quickly to really grasp. They are just fleeting thoughts that enter and leave my mind as I read. I get too involved in the works to write down everything and to really think every line through. I think that is a way this blogging helps. Anyway...I thought the same thing about the first line, and I think your right about the other two. Wolsey definitely has some good points and it more practical, while More is more ideological
Posted by: Lorin Schumacher at November 8, 2005 11:29 PM