Isaiah Athriene R.

Magnaye Philosophy of Law

3JDP

Reaction Paper

Part I:
a) What are the features of St. Thomas More’s personality that make him an appropriate
as a patron saint for lawyers?

Lawyers are viewed as a high class individual, having high standing other than the other
persons, as the former has high knowledge with regard ideals and knows how to respect
people. Lawyers are also filled with manners as they strive to show that they are ready to
help, for they know within themselves that they have the capacity to act and provide for
a solution or help to those in need. St. Thomas More’s personality made him an
appropriate patron saint for lawyers, as he was loyal to his beliefs and to his
responsibilities. St. Thomas More has the capacity to engage people and provide them
with ideals he himself has known.

b) How did St. Thomas More integrate upholding both natural law and positive law?
Give examples from the movie.

With regard the natural law, it provides that a marriage between a man a woman is
inviolable. Natural law is the result of human actions and responsibilities, hence the
marriage shall subsist during the lifetime under natural law. In the movie, St. Thomas
More believed that marriage made under the church between a man and a woman shall
not be separated by any person. On the subject of positive law, even though the divorce
was allowed by the king, St. Thomas More was prepared to die just to stay on what he
believed on, and on what his ideals stand.

c) Based on research, cite one to three effects of the events in this movie on English
history and/or society:
a. Peace negotiations between the religious conflict of reformation and the secular
government
b. The stand against the king’s decision to follow the pope
c. Spread of Christianity humanism throughout Europe

c. How is the movie relevant to Philippine society today?

The movie is relevant to the Philippine society today by the acts of the Public Officials. The
movie provided for those scenarios that showed that the persons subject therein has their
own issues that may be related to the Philippine society. The oligarchy here in the
Philippines is rampant, as well as the era during the movie, 1500s. The public officials are
compelled to stay and run again for their positions in order to keep their standing and keep
on increasing their wealth and social statuses. The movie has showed how important beliefs
 are, and how strong a person is. in comparison to the Filipino people, we have our own
beliefs that we always stood on, and we kept on fighting, just to attain our goal in life, even
if such journey to the top was a very dangerous and life threatening.

d) Asses the character of Richard Rich: in your opinion, what factors influenced his
character?

Richard Rich was the person who would trade anything for a higher standing. He was the
person who would devise a plan in order to provide for a better run around of a situation
making him look like a more legitimate person. He is the person who would betray a friend
even if such person did nothing bad to him. For me, Richard Rich was a typical User-Friendly
person who always manipulated people and do not give care about the outcomes. The
factors that influenced his character are those aspirations that he always wanted to acquire
the easy way. For me, he is the person who does not work hard to accomplish a goal, for he
would always do such in an easier way.

Part II:
Give your general reaction to the movie (e.g. did you like the movie, why or why not, any
favorite part or line, etc.)

I really liked the movie, for it shows how determined a person is. in movies, I search for those
strong characters that may be considered as “idols” for they show strength and perseverance
even though there are dark times. The movie presented what a lawyer must be, not those
pertaining to the likes of Richard Rich, but to those like St. Thomas More. St Thomas More have
set the standard of how intelligent a person can be. He gave time to studies, did not take the
high road and believed that there is always time for such, and the best part is when he stood
with his beliefs even if death was the payment, it reminds me of Dr. Jose Rizal and how he
showed is patriotism towards our country.