Murder in the Cathedral Group at eNotes

Did Thomas Becket have a tragic flaw? In the classical sense, I suppose...

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:42:51 PST

Did Thomas Becket have a tragic flaw? In the classical sense, I suppose you could say that his flaw was pride. However, that pride manifested itself in obedience to the church and fulfilling his responsibility as the leader of the church in England. It was his faithfulness to the church and refusal to do what the king wanted that so angered the king and made him shout the famous line, "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"Is...

Thomas' Tragic Flaw in "The Murder in the Cathedral"?

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:09:49 PST

What tragic flaw does the character Thomas exemplify in "The Murder in the Cathedral"?

The 4 Tempters and the 4 Knights may or may not be played by the same...

Tue, 27 May 2008 13:32:06 PST

The 4 Tempters and the 4 Knights may or may not be played by the same actors, but they are quite different. Just as the devil does when Jesus goes out into the wilderness, so also the Tempters come to Thomas Becket at the beginning of the play to offer him all sorts of incentives to recant his rulings on the king. Thomas easily dismisses three of the Tempters, but when the fourth offers him sainthood and the fame that goes with it, Thomas...

Are the Tempters and the Knights in "Murder in the Cathedral"...

Mon, 26 May 2008 12:43:38 PST

Are the Tempters and the Knights in "Murder in the Cathedral" the same men?

The title simply states what happened: Thomas a Becket was murdered in...

Fri, 9 May 2008 06:17:59 PST

The title simply states what happened: Thomas a Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral.Eliot's play is based on real events. In the twelfth century, England's King Henry II clashed with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas. The two had been close friends, and Henry thought that by making Thomas the most powerful church leader in the country, he would not only control the secular government but also the church. But being elevated to the...

What does the title, "Murder in the Cathedral" mean?

Fri, 9 May 2008 04:16:51 PST

What does the title, "Murder in the Cathedral" mean?

Absolutely! This play is not just about the killing of Thomas a...

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:21:27 PST

Absolutely! This play is not just about the killing of Thomas a Becket, it is about standing up for what is right in the face of unpopularity. Henry wanted Thomas to allow him to use his friendship and his church title to abuse the power of the church for Henry's benefit. Thomas would not allow this abuse of power to happen--a very honorable and courageous display of not giving into peer pressure.Who among us is not faced with that on a...

Murder in the Cathedral is not so much a story of a martrydom as it is...

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:45:29 PST

Murder in the Cathedral is not so much a story of a martrydom as it is the story of a political assassination; therefore, it is relevant for today and the future. Henry II of England wanted state law to supersede church law, but Thomas Becket firmly opposed him. The three knights who killed Becket, therefore, were trying to please their king by removing a political opponent. They never intended to create a martyr.History is full of examples...

The Murder in the Cathedral is about a martyrdom that occurred in 1170....

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:44:12 PST

The Murder in the Cathedral is about a martyrdom that occurred in 1170. Does it still have meaning for a contemporary audience?

They both convey images of war. In Murder in the Cathedral, the image...

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:25:34 PST

They both convey images of war. In Murder in the Cathedral, the image of war is between the divine and the regal--King Henry II vs. Thomas a Becket of Canterbury. The Bishop refuses to give in to what Henry wants, and so he is murdered in his own cathedral.In Burial of the Dead, Eliot is referencing WWI, all the soldiers and other casualties who died and were buried during this time.Of course, the months and settings are different for...

Shakespeare conveys the general idea that man should not be timid and he...

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 12:43:08 PST

Shakespeare conveys the general idea that man should not be timid and he should not surrender before dejection.He should be careful and conscious in every work.He should not be blind must know uses and abuses.ok,he has great love for some one, he should not be blind but should use his wit and implement every thing with consciousness.He is of the opinion that dispondency is a great disease and man should get rid of it with patience.This world...

Hamlet is a play about conflict, both external and internal....

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:37:29 PST

Hamlet is a play about conflict, both external and internal. Externally, Claudius, Prince Hamlet's uncle, and Gertrude, his mother, have comitted horrific crimes. Claudius has murdered King Hamlet and Gertrude has betrayed her husband by marrying Claudius. Internally, Hamlet must struggle with wanting to avenge his father's murder, not feeling ready to assume the throne, and his own bravery to accomplish what needs to be done: exposing...

What is the general idea of the Shakespeare's play Hamlet?

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 04:25:51 PST

What is the general idea of the Shakespeare's play Hamlet?

Madness is an ongoing theme throughout Hamlet. It emerges primarily in...

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:34:19 PST

Madness is an ongoing theme throughout Hamlet. It emerges primarily in two characters, Hamlet and Ophelia, but other characters comment on it, speculate about it, etc. This makes it seem like madness is a common possibility, and something that happens to people, like a storm. In Hamlet's case, the main suggestions for why he might be mad are love for Ophelia and the loss of his father/remarriage of his mother. However, he is but pretending to...

The themes of madness in Hamlet by Shakespeare?

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 08:29:52 PST

The themes of madness in Hamlet by Shakespeare?

What are the differences and similaraties between Murder in the...

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:38:58 PST

What are the differences and similaraties between Murder in the Cathedral and Burial of the Dead by T.S. Eliot?

Murder in the Cathedral and Waste Land have some similarities, and many...

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:13:09 PST

Murder in the Cathedral and Waste Land have some similarities, and many diffierences. It would be impossible to go through all of them. But one major similarity, which was prominent in much of T.S. Eliot's work, is his use of previously existing myths/stories to base his poems around, yet still making sure they were modern and applicable. Murder in the Cathedral is based on the 1163 quarrel between King Henry II and Thomas Becket, ending in...

What are the differences and the similarities between the poems Murder...

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:58:25 PST

What are the differences and the similarities between the poems Murder in the Cathedral and The Waste Land?

fairly

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:15:46 PST

fairly

Comment with reference to context, "Your thoughts have more power than...

Sun, 4 Mar 2007 07:19:33 PST

Comment with reference to context, "Your thoughts have more power than kings to compel you" (Murder in the Cathedral)(T.S.ELIOT)