Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

King Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Richard Rich

More has a bunch of opponents who are all on the same team. The main opponent is actually More's friend (or former friend)—King Henry VIII.

Henry likes More, but he's convinced himself that anyone who disputes his right to get divorced without the Church's permission is a traitor. He and More are forced into conflict—something both of them would've been happy to avoid.

On the other hand, bad dudes like Thomas Cromwell and Richard Rich seem to actually enjoy bringing More down. Cromwell is the antithesis of More: worldly where More is spiritual, and manipulative and deceitful where More is honest. He enjoys trying to dismantle the future martyr, trying to find a way to undermine or discredit him. Eventually, he has to resort to lying.

Rich initially wants More to employ him instead of Cromwell, but More won't since Rich has already proved himself willing to help Cromwell to More's disadvantage. Perhaps if he had, Rich wouldn't have betrayed him—but, then again, Rich finds it so easy to betray More that he probably would've jumped ship as soon as More was charged with treason… if he hadn't done so earlier. Rich finds it easy to recommend torturing More, and to finally tell the lie that seals More's fate.