In "Bring Up the Bodies," Hilary Mantel explores the complex relationship between truth and power through the lens of law and politics. The protagonists, as lawyers, are not seekers of confessions like priests; instead, their focus lies on extracting the truth strategically. They only desire bits of information that are useful for their purposes, demonstrating a pragmatic and utilitarian approach to the truth. This distinction highlights the ethical divide between the roles of lawyers and priests. While priests seek a deeper, moral understanding through open confession, lawyers operate within a framework that values selective truth. This nuanced understanding of truth reflects the characters' motivations and the larger themes surrounding justice and manipulation in the narrative.

In "Bring Up the Bodies," Hilary Mantel explores the complex relationship between truth and power through the lens of law and politics. The protagonists, as lawyers, are not seekers of confessions like priests; instead, their focus lies on extracting the truth strategically. They only desire bits of information that are useful for their purposes, demonstrating a pragmatic and utilitarian approach to the truth.

This distinction highlights the ethical divide between the roles of lawyers and priests. While priests seek a deeper, moral understanding through open confession, lawyers operate within a framework that values selective truth. This nuanced understanding of truth reflects the characters' motivations and the larger themes surrounding justice and manipulation in the narrative.