Martyrdom as the Central Theme of T. S.

Eliot’s "Murder
in the Cathedral" : Critical Analysis

 "Murder in the Cathedral is not just a dramatization of the

death of Thomas Becket; it is a deep searching study of the
significance of martyrdom.” -To what extend does the concept
of martyrdom dominate the whole atmosphere and action of
the play?   
T. S. Eliot has the feelings and sentiments of a devout
Christian and through the entire play, Murder in the
Cathedral it resounds through the character of Becket who is a
veritable martyr. This martyrdom is the pivotal theme of the
play around which the other members of the dramatis
personae rotate.
Although the conflict between Church and state is a recurrent
theme in the play, it never assumes major
significance. Moreover, the clash of character and personal
antagonisms is deliberately avoided; the king does not appear
and the knights are at first not presented as individual
characters but act as a gang; subsequently it is stressed that
their actions have not been motivated by personal passions.

The central theme of the play is martyrdom, and Eliot’s

concept of martyrdom is the term as it was originally used. In
its strict ancient sense, the word martyr means witness, and
the church did not at first confine the term to those who had
sealed their witnessing with their blood. So Becket as a martyr
is not primarily one who suffers for a cause or who gives up
his life for some religious belief, instead, he is a witness to the
reality of God’s powers.

The actual deed by which Thomas is struck down is not

important as a dramatic climax. The audience is warned again
and again that it is not watching a sequence of events that
emotion the normal dramatic logic of motive, act, and result
but an action that depends on Gods will and not on human
behavior.
Moreover, Thomas himself can hardly be said to be tempted
for the play opens so near its climax that the temptations are
hardly more than recapitulations of things which have ceased
to tempt him; and the last temptation in so subtle and
subjective that no audience can really judge whether or not it
is genuinely over come. Although Thomas may say, “Now is
my way clear, now is the meaning plain”, a question has been
raised that can not be answered dramatically.  We either have
to accept Eliot’s interpretation that Thomas dies with a pure
will, or ignore the whole problem of motives as beyond our
competence.
The martyr’s sermon warns us that, ‘a martyrdom is never the
design of men’, and that a Christian martyrdom is neither an
accident nor the effect of a man’s will to become a saint.”
Becket has only to wait for his murderers to appear:  “All my
life they have been coming, these feet.” When the knights
rush to the alter, the murder takes place as a kind of ritual
slaughter of an understanding victim, and this episode is not
dramatically significant.
Accordingly, Murder In The Cathedral is just not a
dramatization of the death of Becket: it is a deep searching
study of the significance of martyrdom. Historical detail is
severely subordinated to this basic theme. Of the Arch
bishop’s former career, Eliot incorporates only what is
germane to his pattern of martyrdom and that retrospectively
through the first three temptations.  What historical detail
there is skillfully used to point the main theme and relate it to
the historical facts, for example, here we quote the second
Tempter’s speech:
          “your Lordship has forgotten me, perhaps. I will remind
you
           We met at Clarendon, at Northampton,
           And last at mountmirail, in Maine …….
           …….. you, master of policy
           Whom all acknowledge, should guide the state again.”
Becket finally realizes that the temptations mean present
vanity and future torments. This realization helps him to effect
expurgation or purification of mind and to safeguard him from
such lapses as are repugnant to true martyrdom.  Thereafter in
conclusion we find the essential virtue and rectitude of
Thomas which turns him to a worthy martyr. The following
pronouncements of Thomas stand as eloquent testimony to the
spiritual orientation and deep seated conviction of Thomas
which constitute the sine qua non of Christian martyrdom:
            “All my life I have waited.
             Death will come only when I am worthy
             And if I am worthy, there is no danger.
            I have therefore only to make perfect my will.”