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Richard Rich, also known as Baron Rich, is the secondary antagonist in Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons as well as its 1966 film adaptation. He is based on the historical figure of the same name.
He was portrayed by the late John Hurt, who also played Raskolnikov in the 1970 film adaptation of Crime and Punishment, Caligula in I, Claudius, the Horned King in The Black Cauldron, Percival Graves in King Ralph, Mr. Mole in Thumbelina, Claudandus in Felidae, General Woundwort in the Watership Down television series, Harry in Pride, Adam Sutler in V for Vendetta, King Cotys in Hercules and Sailor John in Thomas and Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.
Biography[]
Richard Rich had at one time been an associate of Lord Chancellor Thomas More, and hoped to get a job at the Royal court though him. Instead Moore offers him a teaching job with a house, a servant and 50 pounds a year (a very good income for the time) and says he would be a good teacher. He advises that if Richard went to court he would be offered bribes and he should avoid temptation. Rich refuses as he dreams of power and wealth at Court and turns to Thomas Cromwell, first to inform on Moore and then to frame him. In particular, Rich conspires with Thomas Cromwell against More, whose refusal to accept the King Henry VIII 's marriage and his title of Supreme Head of the Church of England was politically damaging to the King . When Thomas More is put on trial for treason, Rich commits perjury, dooming More to execution.
In a famous scene, More refuses to use the power of his office to arrest Rich, who was clearly dangerously ambitious but had not yet broken any laws, and to do so would have been a betrayal of More's principles. As a consequence, More pays for his integrity with his life.
Personality[]
Richard Rich is a conniving and treacherous public official who longs for high status, in contrast to the film's protagonist, Thomas More who lives by principle. Rich casually betrays More in order to secure a career in public office, which he uses to enrich himself. He is willing to go to any lengths to bend More to his will, even at one point advocating torturing More, although Thomas Cromwell and King Henry decline to go that far.