Short Summary - Murder in the Cathedral

 Murder in the Cathedral - T.S. Eliot

[alert-success] Murder in the Cathedral - T.S. Eliot [/alert-success]

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    Murder in the Cathedral is divided into two sections separated by an interlude. The play opens with the thoughts of the Chorus, a group of Canterbury's common women. Archbishop Thomas Becket is said to have been absent from his Canterbury congregation for seven years. Becket has been absent due to religious and political disagreements with King Henry II. While they miss his presence, the Chorus does not want Becket to return because they fear that his return would reignite old conflicts that could lead to his death. Three priests who previously served the Archbishop enter the scene, along with a herald who informs them and the Chorus that Becket has returned to England from France. The Chorus is dismayed and fearful that Becket's return will result in his demise and, consequently, religious turmoil. The priests, on the other hand, welcome Becket's return to Canterbury with open arms.
        Becket enters the scene and is immediately confronted by four "tempters" who, one-by-one, attempt to persuade or tempt him into adopting certain views on how he should balance his religious power as Archbishop with its associated political power — political power that could either supplement or replace his religious authority. Becket rejects all of the tempters' suggestions, believing that none of their visions for his future derive from the higher, spiritual dimension of destiny or God's plan. He decides that martyrdom — sacrificing his life out of devotion to God — is his destiny, and he refuses to be tempted by other, more earthly pursuits of political power or secular desires.
        In the interlude, Becket preaches to the Canterbury Cathedral congregation. He asks his audience to consider sainthood from a divine perspective and to reconsider the conventional, human understanding of saintliness as pure, peaceful, and acquired without tormenting hardship, adding that Jesus' disciples only became saints after enduring tremendous suffering. He concludes the sermon by speculating that this may be his final appearance before the congregation, foreshadowing his martyrdom.

        In the second act of the play, four knights serving Henry II arrive at Canterbury Cathedral and accuse Becket of being a crown traitor. Prior to Becket's departure, the king appointed him as both archbishop and chancellor of England. After initially accepting both positions, Becket immediately renounced the position of chancellor. 

        In addition, according to the knights, Becket began to abandon all the policies of the king that he had previously supported. The knights, claiming to be sent by the king, ask Becket if he will appear before Henry II and defend his actions. Becket responds that if the king has ordered his appearance, then the public should be able to hear Henry II's accusations against him and witness his defence against them. The knights disregard this response and move to attack Becket, but before they can do so, the priests and some attendants enter the scene. The knights depart with the intention of returning for Becket.
        Knowing that the knights will return to assassinate the Archbishop, the priests attempt to convince Becket to go into hiding, but he is fully committed to his martyrdom and refuses. When the knights return to the cathedral, the priests bar the main entrance to prevent their entry. Becket, however, demands that the priests open the doors, thereby offering his life to the swords of the knights and to his own martyrdom, arguing that it is against Church policy to bar anyone from entering one of its cathedrals. The priests unlock the doors, and the knights kill Becket after entering.
        The Chorus, devastated by Becket's death, cries out in agonising desperation for the sky and air to be purified of the death that has recently sprung up in Canterbury. However, the priests conclude that Becket's death was a result of fate, and that the Church is stronger because of it. The four knights then face the audience and defend their decision to murder Becket with arguments. They explain why they believe he betrayed the king and was largely responsible for his own demise. 

        The play concludes with the Chorus begging God to forgive and have mercy on them for initially failing to recognise Becket's martyrdom as having immense spiritual significance that transcended their own concerns. Following the priests, the Chorus comes to believe that Becket's death was caused by a divine force that they cannot comprehend but which merits their faith and devotion.

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