Murder in the Cathedral – T. S. EliotComplete Study Material
📚 Murder in the Cathedral – T. S. Eliot
Complete Study Material
1. Introduction
Murder in the Cathedral is a verse drama by T. S. Eliot, first performed in 1935. It dramatizes the martyrdom of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170.
The play is based on a major historical conflict between Thomas Becket and King Henry II of England. At the same time, Eliot transforms the historical story into a profound examination of faith, temptation, martyrdom, pride, sacrifice, and the relationship between spiritual and worldly power.
The play combines:
Christian theology
Greek tragedy
medieval religious drama
modern poetic drama
2. About T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) was one of the most influential poets, critics, and dramatists of the twentieth century.
Major Works
Poetry
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
The Waste Land
The Hollow Men
Ash-Wednesday
Four Quartets
Drama
Murder in the Cathedral
The Family Reunion
The Cocktail Party
The Confidential Clerk
Eliot's writing frequently explores spiritual emptiness, modern civilization, religious faith, sin, redemption, and the search for meaning.
3. Historical Background
The play is based on the conflict between:
Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury
and
King Henry II of England
Becket had once been closely associated with Henry II and served as his Chancellor.
After becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, however, Becket increasingly defended the independence of the Church against royal authority.
This created a serious conflict between the king and the archbishop.
In 1170, four knights associated with Henry II travelled to Canterbury and killed Becket inside Canterbury Cathedral.
Becket was later recognized as a martyr and was canonized as a saint.
4. Plot Summary
Part I
The play begins with the Chorus of women of Canterbury.
They sense that something terrible is approaching.
Thomas Becket returns to Canterbury after a period of exile.
The Chorus expresses fear and uncertainty about what will happen.
Becket understands that his return will probably lead to conflict with the king.
The Four Tempters
Four Tempters visit Becket.
Each tempts him in a different way.
First Tempter – Pleasure
The first tempter reminds Becket of the pleasures and comforts of his former life.
He encourages him to seek personal happiness rather than sacrifice.
Second Tempter – Political Power
The second tempter offers Becket the possibility of political influence.
He suggests that Becket could regain the power he once enjoyed.
Third Tempter – Alliance with the Barons
The third tempter proposes that Becket join political opposition to the king.
This would allow him to fight Henry through political means.
Fourth Tempter – Martyrdom
The fourth temptation is the most important.
Becket is tempted by the desire to become a martyr.
This is subtle because martyrdom appears to be a noble goal.
However, if Becket desires martyrdom for his own glory, his sacrifice becomes spiritually corrupted.
Becket recognizes this danger.
He realizes that true martyrdom must be God's will rather than an act of personal ambition.
5. Part II
The second part focuses on the confrontation between Becket and the forces representing King Henry II.
The four knights arrive at the cathedral.
They accuse Becket of challenging royal authority.
Becket refuses to surrender his principles.
The knights eventually murder him inside the cathedral.
The Chorus responds with fear and spiritual reflection.
The murder becomes a Christian martyrdom rather than merely a political assassination.
6. Epilogue
After Becket's death, the knights address the audience directly.
They attempt to justify their actions.
This creates an unusual dramatic effect because the murderers speak directly to the audience.
The play ends by emphasizing the spiritual significance of Becket's sacrifice.
7. Major Characters
✝️ Thomas Becket
Becket is the central character.
He is:
Archbishop of Canterbury
intelligent
courageous
spiritually aware
determined
proud but self-reflective
His greatest struggle is not simply against the king.
His real struggle is against his own ego and desire for glory.
His spiritual development leads him to understand the meaning of genuine martyrdom.
👥 The Chorus
The Chorus consists of the women of Canterbury.
They represent:
ordinary people
collective human consciousness
fear
suffering
spiritual awareness
The Chorus is strongly influenced by Greek tragedy.
They observe events and gradually move from fear and confusion toward spiritual understanding.
👤 The Four Tempters
The four tempters represent different forms of temptation.
| Tempter | Temptation |
|---|---|
| First | Pleasure and comfort |
| Second | Political power |
| Third | Political opposition |
| Fourth | Desire for martyrdom and glory |
The fourth temptation is the most intellectually important.
⚔️ The Four Knights
The knights represent the violent force of secular authority.
They murder Becket because they believe he threatens the authority of the king.
Their actions also raise questions about:
obedience
political violence
personal responsibility
moral justification
👑 King Henry II
Henry II does not appear directly on stage.
Nevertheless, his presence dominates the play.
He represents:
royal authority
political power
secular government
His conflict with Becket represents the larger conflict between Church and State.
8. Major Themes
1. Martyrdom
Martyrdom is the central theme.
Eliot distinguishes between:
True martyrdom – accepting God's will
and
False martyrdom – seeking death for personal fame or glory.
Becket must overcome his own desire for heroic recognition.
2. Temptation
Temptation drives the first part of the play.
The temptations are not merely physical.
They include:
pleasure
power
political influence
spiritual pride
The most dangerous temptation is the desire to make oneself a hero.
3. Church vs State
The conflict between Becket and Henry represents the struggle between:
Spiritual authority
and
Secular authority
Eliot explores the question of whether religious principles should surrender to political power.
4. Pride and Humility
Becket's spiritual journey involves overcoming pride.
He learns that even the desire to die as a martyr can become a form of spiritual pride.
True humility means accepting God's purpose rather than imposing one's own.
5. Death and Sacrifice
Death is not presented merely as an ending.
Becket's death becomes a form of sacrifice and spiritual transformation.
His physical death is interpreted as spiritual victory.
6. Suffering
The Chorus repeatedly expresses the suffering of ordinary people.
The suffering of Canterbury becomes connected with Becket's martyrdom.
Eliot presents suffering as something that can lead to spiritual awareness.
7. Good and Evil
The play presents a conflict between:
spiritual truth and worldly power
humility and pride
sacrifice and selfishness
faith and temptation
However, Eliot makes the conflict psychologically complex rather than simply dividing everyone into "good" and "evil."
9. Significance of the Chorus
The Chorus is one of the most important features of the drama.
Eliot borrows the Greek tragic chorus and adapts it to a Christian setting.
The women of Canterbury:
observe the action
express fear
represent ordinary people
react emotionally to Becket's return
experience spiritual transformation
The Chorus begins with fear and uncertainty but gradually develops a deeper understanding of martyrdom and divine purpose.
10. Greek Tragedy and Christian Drama
Murder in the Cathedral combines two traditions.
Greek Tragedy
Eliot uses:
Chorus
tragic hero
prophecy-like anticipation
ritualistic language
conflict
catastrophe
Christian Drama
He incorporates:
Christian theology
sin
temptation
martyrdom
sacrifice
spiritual redemption
Therefore, the play can be described as a modern Christian tragedy influenced by Greek drama and medieval religious theatre.
11. The Four Temptations – Important Exam Point
The four temptations can be understood as stages in Becket's psychological and spiritual struggle.
First: "Enjoy life."
Second: "Recover political power."
Third: "Fight politically."
Fourth: "Seek glory through martyrdom."
The fourth is the most dangerous because it appears to be religiously virtuous.
Becket realizes that martyrdom must be accepted, not deliberately pursued for personal glory.
12. Symbolism
🏛️ Canterbury Cathedral
The cathedral represents:
Church
sacred space
spiritual authority
martyrdom
🩸 Blood
Blood represents:
sacrifice
death
martyrdom
religious transformation
🌊 The Chorus
The Chorus symbolizes the collective consciousness of ordinary humanity.
⚔️ The Knights
They symbolize the violent power of secular authority.
13. Eliot's Use of Language
The play is written primarily in poetic verse.
Eliot uses:
repetition
imagery
symbolism
religious vocabulary
Biblical references
lyrical passages
dramatic dialogue
chorus speeches
The language often has a ritualistic and solemn quality, appropriate to the subject of martyrdom.
14. Important Literary Concepts
Objective Correlative
Eliot's critical concept of the objective correlative refers to the use of objects, situations, or events that evoke particular emotions.
In the play, the cathedral, the Chorus, the approaching danger, and Becket's murder create a powerful emotional and spiritual atmosphere.
Modern Drama
Although the story is medieval, Eliot wrote it for a modern audience.
The play therefore connects:
medieval religious conflict
modern political power
human psychology
spiritual crisis
15. Why Is Murder in the Cathedral Important?
The play is important because Eliot transforms a historical event into a philosophical and religious drama.
It asks:
What is true martyrdom?
Can sacrifice become an act of pride?
Where should the limits of political power lie?
What is the relationship between Church and State?
Can death become a form of spiritual victory?
16. Important Exam Questions
Short-answer Questions
Who wrote Murder in the Cathedral?
Who was Thomas Becket?
Why did Becket return to Canterbury?
Who are the four tempters?
What does the fourth tempter represent?
Who forms the Chorus?
Who are the four knights?
What is the historical basis of the play?
Why is the cathedral important?
What is the significance of martyrdom?
Essay Questions
Discuss Murder in the Cathedral as a Christian tragedy.
Analyze Thomas Becket as a tragic hero.
Discuss the significance of the four tempters.
Examine the role of the Chorus.
Discuss the conflict between Church and State.
Analyze the theme of martyrdom.
Discuss pride and humility in the character of Becket.
Examine Eliot's use of Greek tragic conventions.
Discuss symbolism in Murder in the Cathedral.
Analyze the play as a modern verse drama.
17. Quick Revision Notes
Author: T. S. Eliot
Genre: Verse drama / Christian tragedy
First performed: 1935
Setting: Canterbury
Historical figure: Thomas Becket
Historical event: Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170
Central conflict: Church vs State
Central character: Thomas Becket
Chorus: Women of Canterbury
Main themes: Martyrdom, temptation, faith, pride, sacrifice, power
Major dramatic influence: Greek tragedy
Religious context: Christianity and martyrdom
🌟 Conclusion
Murder in the Cathedral is much more than a historical account of Thomas Becket's assassination. T. S. Eliot turns Becket's death into a profound exploration of faith, temptation, spiritual pride, sacrifice, and martyrdom. The play's combination of Greek tragedy, medieval religious drama, and modern poetic technique makes it an important work of twentieth-century English drama.
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