Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons and Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye are both portrayed as heroes. Robert Bolt and J.D Salinger allow the reader to identify heroic qualities in each of the protagonists as the narratives progress. Although More and Caulfield both possess heroic qualities, they approach their heroic quests in a different manner to the archetypal hero. More, in A Man for All Seasons, is illustrated as an existential hero, who instead of receiving motivation and power from a supernatural source or presuming that he was born with a premeditated quest, finds the essence of his existence within himself. Although Holden Caulfield possesses heroic qualities, he is illustrated is as antihero as he lacks the conventional heroic attributes (Pazdzior, 2014).
In A Man for All Seasons, More goes on an archetypal night journey. More experiences a crisis of conscience when he is requested to take an oath that goes against his principles. More, a devout catholic, displays his loyalty to the church and God when he opposes King Henry’s request to divorce Catherine of Aragon. However this leads to his imprisonment and ultimately his death. During this journey, More is confronted with various characters who encourage him to neglect his morals. More gains insight into the dark heart of humanity when Rich and Cromwell accuse him of high treason on false claims. More accepts responsibility for his decisions and is willing to die in defence of his conscience and his own