Analysis of Murder in the Cathedral

Murder in the Cathedral is a historical fiction play with strong Christian

themes by the American-born British writer T.S. Eliot. It was first
performed in Canterbury Cathedral on June 15, 1935 as part of the
annual Canterbury Festival.The play is inspired by the murder of the
Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket on December 29, 1170. In his
younger days, although he was already an ordained priest, Becket had
been a close friend of King Henry II of England and lived a purely
secular life of pleasure. He was appointed Chancellor of England,
making him one of the most powerful men in the realm, although he
always obeyed the King’s authority. However, when Henry II appointed
Becket the Archbishop of Canterbury, he left his former life behind. He
refused to submit to the King’s secular power and, as a result, tensions
arose between the two men, forcing Becket to go into exile in France for
seven years. The play begins when Becket returns to Canterbury from
exile, although he knows that his life is in danger.

Murder in the Cathedral is divided into two parts (both of which are
in verse) with a sermon given by the character of Thomas Becket (in
prose) between them. The play shows influences of Ancient Greek
drama (with its inclusion of a Chorus) and of medieval morality plays in
which personifications of vices appear as characters.
A performance of the play was shown on BBC television in 1936, the
first year that television was broadcast in the United Kingdom. It was
adapted as a black and white British film in 1951. An Italian opera based
on the play, Assassinio nella catedrale, with music by Ildebrando
Pizzeti, was first performed in 1958.
Part 1
The play opens on December 2, 1170. The Chorus of women of
Canterbury gather at the Cathedral. They lament the difficult lives which
they have to lead and have a premonition that something terrible will
happen soon. They worry that Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, may soon return from his seven year exile in France, which
would anger King Henry II. Three priests also comment that they miss
their Archbishop but worry about what would happen if he were to
return.
A herald announces that Thomas Becket has returned to England and is
on his way to Canterbury. He regrets to say that Becket and the King
have not been reconciled and he fears that violence will follow.
The priests and the Chorus talk about how they are certain to suffer
when Becket returns. One of the priests tells the Chorus that they should
pretend to be happy when Becket comes back to Canterbury. At that
moment, Becket arrives unexpectedly. He tells the priest that he is
wrong and that the women are right to worry, since nobody knows
God’s plans.
Four Tempters appear, one after the other, to tempt Becket. The First
Tempter says that Becket should return to the secular life of pleasure
that he led as a young man. The Second Tempter tells Becket that he
should become Chancellor of England again, saying that he can do more
to help the poor in a political position than in a purely religious one. The
Third Tempter suggests that Becket form a new government composed
of the nation’s barons, allowing him to effectively rule England. Becket
finds these temptations easy to resist because they are things which he
has already experienced.
The Fourth Tempter’s proposition is quite different. He suggests that
Becket should seek to become a martyr. In death, his cause would be
recognized as just and his enemies would be condemned. His name
would long outlast those of the men that killed him. Becket recognizes
this as the worst temptation of all, that of “doing the right thing for the
wrong reason”. He says that he will not try to become a martyr but will
accept his fate, whatever it is.
Becket’s Sermon
On Christmas Day 1170, Becket delivers a sermon in Canterbury
Cathedral. He says that Christians should both mourn and celebrate the
death of Jesus. They should mourn the existence of the sinful world that
made Jesus’ death necessary and celebrate being able to transcend that
world as a result of that sacrifice. He says that, similarly, the sacrifices
of true martyrs should be both mourned and celebrated. According to
Becket, true martyrs submit completely to the will of God and find
freedom in doing so.
Becket concludes the sermon by telling his congregation that he believes
he may not live long enough to speak to them again.
Part II
The second part of the play opens in the Archbishop’s Hall on December
29, 1170. The priests comment that all the days since Christmas have
been dedicated to various saints but that December 29 is just an ordinary
day.
Four gruff knights arrive and demand to see Becket. When he arrives,
they insult him and accuse him of treason. The priests protect Becket, in
spite of the threats which the knights make towards them. Becket
comforts the Chorus, telling them that although life will become more
difficult for them after his murder, they will also find comfort in the fact
that they witnessed his martyrdom.
The knights return. Becket refuses to escape. Although the Cathedral
doors are initially locked and bolted, the priests agree to open the doors
and let the knights come in. The knights demand that Becket lift the
excommunications which he has placed on England’s nobles. Becket
refuses and is killed. While he is being murdered, the Chorus comment
on how much more difficult their lives will be.
After Becket’s murder, the four knights address the audience directly.
The language that they use in their speeches is much more
straightforward and much more similar to every day modern English
than that used in the rest of the play. The First Knight acknowledges that
he is not good at speaking and introduces the other three instead. The
Second Knight says that they were only following King Henry’s orders
when they killed Becket. The Third Knight says that Becket was a traitor
and deserved to die. The Fourth Knight says that Becket wanted to
become a martyr, consequently, his death was not murder but suicide.
The three priests express their concern about how the world will change
after Becket’s death. The Chorus say that they will try to live up to the
example which Becket set and ask him and God for mercy and
forgiveness.