Thomas Cromwell: “What then, do we do with this man? He stands between the King and his desire. Who will rid me of him?”
This reflects Cromwell’s frustration with Sir Thomas More and his difficulty in achieving the king’s wishes. In Robert Bolt’s play, A Man for All Seasons, this moment comes alive, showing the dangerous mix of power and intent.(1) The king’s intention to secede from the Catholic Church pressured his officials to remove More as an obstacle to his plans and whether he says it outright or just hints at it, has a huge impact. The result was the orchestration by Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s senior minister, of Sir Thomas More’s arrest, trial for treason and execution.(2) The play reminds us of how the desires and words of those in power can translate into real-world actions with devastating effects.
