Becket | Becket

At a glance:

Author: Jean Anouilh
First Published: 1959
Type of Work: Play
Type of Plot: Historical
Time of Work: The twelfth century, 1154-1189
Setting: England, France, and Rome
Genres: Drama, History play
Subjects: History, Values, Power, personal or social, France or French people, Friendship, England or English people, Christianity, Kings, queens, or royalty, Martyrs or martyrdom, Middle Ages, Saints or sainthood, Rome
Locales: France, England, Rome, Italy

Henry II, the high-strung Norman king of England, who defines his power in terms of his relationship with his friend, adviser, and eventual adversary Thomas Becket. Henry’s demeanor, as well as his age, changes as he goes from young optimistic monarch to disillusioned sovereign. Initially, he believes that all he has to do to accomplish something is to give the order and have it obeyed. This simplistic attitude changes as he discovers that vested interests are for-midable bulwarks. Furthermore, people develop different priorities as circumstances change;...

Becket | Becket

At a glance:

Characters Discussed

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