Sad for Claire (spoiler)

I agree...but that is part of what the film was saying. The Marshall was so wrapped up in what he wanted and what he thought he deserved and how much power he had that it did not occur to him that he might loose his "battle" with the townspeople. He had assumed that he was not vulnerable and made some arrogant assumptions. And this cost him his life. This story was Shakespearean in many ways or, anyway, a Greek tragedy.