Georges Danton and Thomas More share substantial characteristics ranging from their individual's influences to their execution method. Danton and More share almost similar occurrences of events except that they lived in different periods. During the French revolution, Georges Danton played a vital role in overthrowing the monarch and acted as people's spokesman up to the second year of the republic. On the other hand, Thomas More was respected by most people, including the king, not only for his strict upholding of laws but also for his good morals.
Both More and Danton's death was untimely and via execution since they failed to submit to authoritarian suppression and powers. Despite the repercussion, the two men bent the rules in their favor. Both More and Danton's historical accounts have the main subject that upholding and defining power separation in government is vital for freedom and liberty. Regrettably, Georges Danton and Thomas More died perpetuating this belief. These men's death allowed others to perceive the importance of separating powers to have a just government. Most nations, including the United States, have adopted this idea and have led to a fair and unbiased government structure.
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According to history, Thomas More was a prominent figure in the English government and was born in 1478. More was an English lawyer, statesman, author, and humanist. Also, Thomas More acted for a brief period as chancellor of England. In England, most people respected More for his unwavering stand in the eyes of laws and his support for the courts' fair ruling of cases. His moral codes and ethics made it difficult for his antagonists to find legal standing to arrest him after refusing to honor Hendry VIII. By then, Hendry VIII was the head of the Church of England. More failed to recognize Hendry VIII since he self-proclaimed his title to marry another woman without the Pope's permission. For failing to honor Hendry VIII, Thomas More was imprisoned for more than one year with the hope of making him honor the king or provide the evidence to show that he had committed treason by rebuffing the king's title. While in prison, Thomas More remained resolute in his religious beliefs until he was forced into a trial for treason claims.
During his last moments, Thomas More gave an account about his actual belief, a move he had not tried before. In his final words, Thomas More proved that the king had given himself too many powers, which was unlawful. His last words showed the importance of power separation. According to him, separating powers was crucial in eradicating injustices and tyranny against the people under the government and church authority. Thomas More was beheaded on July 6th, 1535, under treason charges by an executioner. His last speech to the people proved a clear distinction between the church's power and the monarchy's power. The way Thomas More defended his belief about power separation is the same way Georges Danton did, approximately 200 years after Thomas was beheaded.
In 1759, Georges-Jacques Danton was born in Northeastern France. He grew up and became one of the influential leaders during the French Revolution. During this period, Danton played a vital role in overthrowing the monarchy government before the French Revolution. Georges Danton became the Committee of Public Safety's first president. As a president, he was deeply concerned about the people's needs above any other things.
After watching how people suffered during the reign of terror, Danton could not stand how they were treated. In response, Danton stood against these injustices strategically to keep his involvement secretive. His primary aim was to maintain peoples' interests without any impediments from his public position within the committee. Danton united the people and relayed the actual state of the people through newspapers. Unfortunately, Maximillian Robespierre stopped Danton's efforts.
Maximillian Robespierre, a close friend to Danton, realized how much support Danton had gained behind committees' back. Due to this, Maximillian Robespierre could not continue supporting what Danton was doing and planned to arrest him alongside other committee members. Even though Danton was thrown into jail, his voice remained influential, just like Thomas More. While in prison, Georges Danton went against the law several times by addressing the public and convincing them how tyrannical government was absolute power to oppress them.
During Danton’s trial, there were no witnesses since he had public favor. However, the court sentenced him to death by guillotine after treason allegations. Death by guillotine represented the traditional way of beheading Thomas More had gone through. Before his death on April 5th, 1794, Georges Danton advocated for freedom of expression, which helped the people against the government in power.
Indeed, Georges Danton and Thomas More share more similarities than differences. Even though the two men acted under different periods, they both stood on one primary objective. Both More and Danton could not allow any power to become absolute, especially when it was not right. Thomas More stood against King's self-proclamation as the head of the Church of England. More believed that the role the King was assuming only belonged to the Pope. Georges Danton opposed the absolute authority that the French government had founded. Danton fought against the government strategically by convincing the people that the government was unjust as it could not address most of their needs.
In advocating for their beliefs, both Danton and More used indirect opposition routes. Thomas More was denying and not officially stating that he never recognized the King until his death sentence was determined. Consequently, Georges Danton remained anonymous until he was arrested and put on trial. Another profound similarity between Danton and Thomas More is how they died. According to history, both Danton and More were beheaded, a common form of execution that was prominent by then. Their deaths were more symbolic as the executioners did not want the ideas that both men believed to be associated with the people opposing them.
Both Thomas More and Georges Danton were upright men who stood on what they believed in. they were both determined to uphold their values regardless of the prevailing consequences. Thomas More lived in a time where monarchy was the only respected form of government. Georges Danton lived in a revolutionary time where change was the main influence in maintaining the people's interests.
Furthermore, both More and Danton led their actions governed by their ideals and beliefs, and they could not act against those of the same class. Undeniably, Georges Danton and Thomas More were similar individuals as they share many characteristics. The only difference was the fact that they acted at a different time in history. Despite the difference, both More and Danton fought for what they believed in until they were executed.
References
Wajda (Director). (1983). Danton [online film]. Paris, France: Gaumont.
Zinneman .F (Director). (2006). A man of all seasons [online film]. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
