murder in the cathedral
A. Murder in the cathedral
B. In 1163, a quarrel began between the British King Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. The men had been good friends, but each felt that his interests should be of primary concern to the nation and that the other should acquiesce to his demands. Becket fled to France in 1164 in order to rally support from the Catholic French for his cause and also sought an audience with the Pope. After being officially (although not personally) reconciled with the King, Becket returned to England in 1170, only to be murdered as he prayed in Canterbury Cathedral by four of Henry's Knights. Three years later, he was canonized and pilgrims—Henry among them—have made their way to his tomb ever since.
C. Characters-
a. Thomas- Thomas Becket is the Archbishop of Canterbury and former Chancellor of England. Historically, he stood up against Henry II's demands that the Church subsume its authority to Henry's secular power, and ultimately died for the cause. In the play, he is represented as an overly proud and sanctimonious man who nevertheless transcends his weakness to accept martyrdom as God's will.
b. Henry- King Henry II, though not a speaking character in the play, is a large influence on the action. Historically, he was a impetuous King who wanted to subsume the various factions of English power under the crown, and the most contentious of these was the church, led in England by Thomas Becket. The knights arrive in his name, and he is cited frequently by those in the play who try to understand Becket's past and character.
c. The pope- Though not a speaking character in the play, Pope Alexander figures prominently. Historically, he was protecting Thomas Becket at the time of this play, allowing the archbishop to announce excommunications upon the English church. His protection was one of the many barriers between Thomas Henry and it gives Thomas a defense against the knights.
D. The setting takes place in England, in medieval times, about the early 1600’s. this is a significant time period because during this time, the church had power over the king, but that was beginning to become a problem for some people and it was beginning to be fought over.
E. The conflict would be Man VS Man, since the Archbishop Thomas was murdered by the drunken knights for not lifting the ex-communications of the church from the English rulers
a. Martyrdom- One of the most explicit philosophies Eliot explores is what constitutes a true Christian martyr. As Thomas explains in his Interlude sermon, a martyr is not merely one who dies for God, but rather is one who allows himself to be "the instrument of God"
b. Responsibility- There are two emotional journeys in the play: that of Thomas and that of the Chorus. Both of these journeys entail accepting responsibility for spiritual transcendence.
c. Opposites- In a variety of ways, Eliot explores the theme of opposites: elements that contain a contradiction within them. The most explicit manifestation of the theme is the mystery of Christ's death, which is paralleled in the death of martyrs.
B. In 1163, a quarrel began between the British King Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. The men had been good friends, but each felt that his interests should be of primary concern to the nation and that the other should acquiesce to his demands. Becket fled to France in 1164 in order to rally support from the Catholic French for his cause and also sought an audience with the Pope. After being officially (although not personally) reconciled with the King, Becket returned to England in 1170, only to be murdered as he prayed in Canterbury Cathedral by four of Henry's Knights. Three years later, he was canonized and pilgrims—Henry among them—have made their way to his tomb ever since.
C. Characters-
a. Thomas- Thomas Becket is the Archbishop of Canterbury and former Chancellor of England. Historically, he stood up against Henry II's demands that the Church subsume its authority to Henry's secular power, and ultimately died for the cause. In the play, he is represented as an overly proud and sanctimonious man who nevertheless transcends his weakness to accept martyrdom as God's will.
b. Henry- King Henry II, though not a speaking character in the play, is a large influence on the action. Historically, he was a impetuous King who wanted to subsume the various factions of English power under the crown, and the most contentious of these was the church, led in England by Thomas Becket. The knights arrive in his name, and he is cited frequently by those in the play who try to understand Becket's past and character.
c. The pope- Though not a speaking character in the play, Pope Alexander figures prominently. Historically, he was protecting Thomas Becket at the time of this play, allowing the archbishop to announce excommunications upon the English church. His protection was one of the many barriers between Thomas Henry and it gives Thomas a defense against the knights.
D. The setting takes place in England, in medieval times, about the early 1600’s. this is a significant time period because during this time, the church had power over the king, but that was beginning to become a problem for some people and it was beginning to be fought over.
E. The conflict would be Man VS Man, since the Archbishop Thomas was murdered by the drunken knights for not lifting the ex-communications of the church from the English rulers
a. Martyrdom- One of the most explicit philosophies Eliot explores is what constitutes a true Christian martyr. As Thomas explains in his Interlude sermon, a martyr is not merely one who dies for God, but rather is one who allows himself to be "the instrument of God"
b. Responsibility- There are two emotional journeys in the play: that of Thomas and that of the Chorus. Both of these journeys entail accepting responsibility for spiritual transcendence.
c. Opposites- In a variety of ways, Eliot explores the theme of opposites: elements that contain a contradiction within them. The most explicit manifestation of the theme is the mystery of Christ's death, which is paralleled in the death of martyrs.