Tomasz More w ujęciu W. Szekspira

Abstract

Although V. Shakespeare did not devote any of his plays to Sir Th. More, he, undoubtedly, was interested in that feuoous personality. He oollaboräted on the three pages of the manusoript of "Sir Thomas More" and made Cardinal Volsey in "Henry VIII" speak positively about Th. More as his successor to the Chancellorship. Especially interesting is the first of the plays mentioned above, for it is entirely based on Th. More's life. The soene whioh is believe to be written by Shakespeare deals with the bloody events of the Evil May Day of 1517 when only owing to Th. More's pleadings the young apprentices and journeymen escaped the wrath of Henry VIII. Shakespeare's presentation of Th. More show him as a brave politician, wise and honest judge, understemding and humanitarian man despite the faot that all his religious and political opponents had been trying to defame his reputation sinoe the reign of Henry VIII till that of Elizabeth I except the five years' reign of Mary Tudor. Thus, we may presume that Shakespeare based his presentation of Sir Thomas More on the vivid memory oherished by the common people of London who still remembered him as their real friend and defender.