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  • Essay / An analysis of the effectiveness of the opening scene of A Man for All Seasons

    The audience begins to understand the underlying or dominant ideas that make A Man for All Seasons, through their introduction in the very first scene of the play. The use of dialogue and action plays a notable role in introducing the characters, giving the audience a sense of their importance and further purpose. Additionally, the importance of the goblet and the exploration of deception and corruption creates tension and sets the tone for what comes next. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Common Man's entrance into a "single point of light" begins the play in a somber tone. A dark scene suggests secrecy and deception, where the audience does not directly start the play. This is important because it not only helps develop the atmosphere, but also allows the audience to understand what to expect as the play progresses. A suspicious point of light causes the audience to look closely at the scene, pay attention to details on stage, and expect trickery. The same tension continues in Common Man's monologue, beginning with "pervert" - a strongly negative word conveying the nature of the ideas discussed throughout the play. Bolt uses Common Man's prologue to introduce the characters while already influencing them. public opinion about them. The play is put into context by referring to “Kings and Cardinals” which depicts a political scene. This only causes more tension and allows us to understand the issues, because these are characters who influence an entire nation. The audience is constantly reminded of the serious implications of this situation through the use of music in the play. This is seen in the trumpets that sound during a conversation between Wolsey and More, reminding the characters and audience of the king's influence. The negative atmosphere continues, reinforcing what the audience had already felt. The air of deception and pretension is vividly rendered through the use of description of the characters, having fanciful "embroidered mouths", but only a facade. This creates a lack of confidence, which was introduced to them by wearing “talking costumes”, i.e. donning a mask that fits the moment, without being authentic. This is also ironic coming from the mouth of the Ordinary Man because, throughout the play, we see him change his costume depending on the situation. This indicates that although ingenuity should be looked down upon, it is in human nature and is necessary for survival. This is a theme that seems crucial in the play as we see that More does not adapt to his situations, while everyone else can, in order to survive. “Talking Suits” has yet another implication, and it begs the question of who the real man is for whom all the seasons are. One interpretation is that a man for all seasons is someone who can adapt to survive all seasons. This is supported by the fact that Bolt uses "a" man as opposed to "the man". A man for all seasons does not have or simply value individuality, rather he can blend in with the crowd, he is any man, a man in the crowd. As Common Man says, “all the centuries” are the centuries of a common man. His morality is reinforced when he says this immediately after drinking a glass of More's wine, stealing, and subsequently being deceptive. On the other hand, The Common Man's references to these themes are somewhat light-hearted. By using the term “stuff” in the context of liturgical matters, Bolt presents a crucial topic with.