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Becket's chameleon character: an analytical study of the universal appeal of Thomas Becket's dramatic character

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Becket's chameleon character: an analytical study of the universal appeal of Thomas Becket's dramatic character

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University Microfilms
300 North Z eeb Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106
A Xerox Education Com pany
I
72-21,657
CHAPMAN, Robert Edwin, 1928-
BECKET'S CHAMELEON CHARACTER: AN ANALYTICAL
STUDY OF THE UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF THOMAS
BECKET'S DRAMATIC CHARACTER.
University of Southern California, Ph.D., 1972
Theater
University Microfilms, A X ERO X Com pany, Ann Arbor, Michigan
C o p y rig h t © by
R O B E R T ED W IN CH A PM A N
1972
THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED.
B E C K E T ' S C H A M E L E O N C H A R A C T E R :
AN A N A LY TIC A L STUDY O F TH E U N IV ERSA L A P P E A L
O F THOMAS B E C K E T 'S DRAM ATIC C H A R A C TER
by
R o b e rt E d w in C h ap m an
A D is s e r ta tio n P r e s e n te d to the
F A C U L T Y O F T H E G RA D U A TE SCHOOL
U NIVERSITY O F SO U TH ER N C A LIFO R N IA
In P a r t i a l F u lf illm e n t of the
R e q u ire m e n ts f o r th e D e g re e
DO CTOR O F PH ILO SO PH Y
(C o m m u n ic a tio n - -D ra m a )
F e b r u a r y 1972
UNIVERSITY O F SO U T H E R N CALIFO RNIA
TH E GRADUATE SC H O O L
U N IV ER SITY PARK
LOS A N G ELE S, CALI FO R N IA 9 0 0 0 7
This dissertation, written by
..................... R obe.rt„E < Jw £n..Q kapi® att......................
under the direction of hxs..... Dissertation Com
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by The Gradu
ate School, in partial fulfillment of require
ments of the degree of
D O C T O R OF P H I L O S O P H Y
Dean
Dafe...F.e.brmr.y..l9.7.2........
PLEASE NOTE:
Some pages may have
in d is tin c t p rin t.
Filmed as received.
U n iversity M icrofilm s, A Xerox Education Company
TABLE OP CONTENTS
! C hapter
I . INTRODUCTION ............................................................................
I
The Problem
D e sig n and M ethodology
I I . REVIEW OP LITERATURE........................................................
S o u rces
B e c k e t 's H is to r ic a l-L e g e n d a r y F ig u re
A H is to r y o f B e c k e t's D ram atic C h a ra cter
I I I . EECKET CADENS .......................................................................
I n tr o d u c tio n
C h a ra cter A n a ly se s
IV . BECHET TRIUMPHANS .............................................................
I n tr o d u c tio n
C h a ra cter A n a ly se s
V. BECHET METAPHYSICA .............................................................
I n tr o d u c tio n
C h a ra cter A n a ly se s
V I. SUM M ARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS . . .
Summary
C o n c lu sio n s
I m p lic a t io n s
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Thomas B eck et was one o f th o s e f a s c i n a t in g h i s t o r i c a l
f ig u r e s who g r a s p s o n e 's i n t e r e s t in a v i s e l i k e g r ip and
d r iv e s one w ith a p a s s io n , a lm o st e q u a l t o h i s own, in
i
s e a r c h o f th e tr u e c h a r a c te r o f th e man. As A le th e a H a y te r !
h a s s a id , "B ecket i s one o f th e d u ra b ly e n ig m a tic p e r s o n - j
a l i t i e s , l i k e T. E. L aw rence. . . ." 1 T h is i s c o m p lic a te d
f u r th e r by th e f a c t th a t
There a r e th r e e B eck ets* th e B eck et o f H is t o r y ,
th e B eck et o f L egend, and th e B eck et o f L it e r a t u r e .
That t h e s e f ig u r e s som etim es o v e r la p d o e s n o t d e
t r a c t from th e g e n e r a l t r u t h o f th e s ta te m e n t. In
some r e s p e c t s th e le g e n d r y and th e l i t e r a r y f ig u r e s
a r e more I n t e r e s t i n g th a n th e h i s t o r i c o n e , f o r th e y
show th e p o p u la r and som etim es a r t i s t i c im a g in a tio n I
w orking th ro u g h lo n g p e r io d s o f tim e upon a n u c le u s
o f f a c t , and f r e q u e n tly r e s o lv in g th e c h a r a c te r in t o
an i d e a l . 2
i
In f a c t , Thomas B eck et ( v a r io u s ly known a s S t . Thomas J
o f C an terb u ry , S t . Thomas B e c k e t, Thomas si B e c k e t, Thomas !
o f London, e t c . ) happened t o be one o f th o s e men w hose l i f e
was such t h a t w ith th e p a ssa g e o f tim e , i t ten d ed t o become
1 N
A le th e a H a y te r, "Thomas A B eck et and th e D r a m a tis ts ,"
E s sa y s by D iv e r s H ands, 3rd s e r . , XXXIV ( 1 9 6 6 ) , p . 1 0 4 .
2 P au l A lon zo Brown, The D evelopm ent o f th e Legend o f
Thomas B eck et ( P h ila d e lp h ia i U n iv e r s it y o f P e n n sy lv a n ia
P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 ), p . 7 .
1
2
Im y th o p o eic, a s d e s c r ib e d here*
i
An u n lo v ed charm er, g e n t le and r u t h l e s s , se r e n e
and t a c t l e s s , a n a m b itio u s su r r e n d e r o r o f h i s w i l l ,
a v a in s a i n t — what can one make o f such a b ein g ?
One can p erh a p s make o f him a m yth, a P rom etheus o r
a F a u s t, th ro u g h whom p o e t s e x p lo r e th e r e a l i t y o f
t h e i r im a g in a tio n and a r e m a rty rs* t h a t i s , w i t
n e s s e s , o f i t f o r th e r e s t o f u s . 3
The a sc e n d e n c y o f B eck et t o le g e n d a r y s t a t u s s t a g g e r s
I th e im a g in a tio n w ith i t s sp eed and c o m p le te n e s s . H is
a p o t h e o s is was a lm o st in s t a n ta n e o u s , and w it h in m in u te s i
|
a f t e r he was s l a i n i n th e g r e a t C an terb u ry C a th e d ra l h i s
le g e n d r y began t o m erge w ith h i s a c t u a l s e l f in th e m inds j
1
o f th e p e o p le s
|
In England d u r in g th e M iddle A g es, th e g r e a t e s t
s u b j e c t s f o r m yth-m aking w ere K ing A rth u r, Thomas |
B e c k e t, R ichard t h e L io n h e a r te d and R obin Hood. I
Of t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s , a l l o f whom have become n a - . j
t i o n a l h e r o e s , B eck et was c e r t a i n l y n o t th e l e a s t . ^ i
A R e v iv a l o f I n t e r e s t i n Thomas B eck et
J u s t o v e r e ig h t hundred y e a r s have p a sse d s in c e B eck et
was m artyred by th e fo u r b a ro n s from Henry I I ' s c o u r t , y e t
h i s memory and th e d a te o f h i s m artyrdom , Decem ber 2 9 , 1170,
rem ain w it n e s s t o t h i s rem ark ab le man. In f a c t , h i s m ass
and c o n s e c r a tio n c o n tin u e d t o be c e le b r a t e d in th e Roman
C a th o lic Church l i t u r g y u n t i l 1959* and th e e ig h t h c e n
te n a r y c e le b r a t io n o f h i s martyrdom was h e ld i n th e
C an terb u ry C a th ed ra l in 1970 f o r th e f i r s t tim e s in c e th e
■^Hayter, o p. o l t . , p . 1 0 5 .
4
Brown, op . o l t . , p . x .
3
' e a r ly p a r t o f th e s ix t e e n t h c e n tu r y , a t t e s t i n g t o th e r e
su r g e n t I n t e r e s t In him .
The r e v i v a l o f I n t e r e s t in B e c k e t, h ow ever, began In
th e n in e t e e n t h cen tu ry * j
The n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y was th e p r e -e m in e n t p e r io d |
o f p la y s a b ou t B e c k e t. I n t e r e s t In th e h i s t o r i c a l j
B eck et had b een q u ie s c e n t S in c e th e R e fo rm a tio n , when
Henry V III o rd ered th e d e s e c r a t io n o f h i s s h r in e . . . .
In th e two c e n t u r ie s t h a t f o llo w e d , B eck et w as men
t io n e d o n ly t o be a t t a c k e d , a s by Lord L y t t e lt o n in
h i s H is to r y o f Henry I I . In 1790 J o sep h B e r in g to n i
w ro te a book i n d e fe n c e o f B e c k e t, and t h i s seem s t o
have r e v iv e d i n t e r e s t i n B e c k e t, i f n o t a t f i r s t much
sym pathy f o r him . B etw een 184-0 and 1900 t h i r t y o r j
more b ook s d e v o te d to th e h i s t o r i c a l B eck et w ere pub
li s h e d i n E n g lis h , French and Germanj and h i s t o r i a n s
l i k e S tu b b s, G reen , and Freeman d is c u s s e d h i s c h a r
a c t e r and m o t iv e s .5
T h is c e n tu r y h a s n o t b een slo w t o f o llo w th e exam ple
o f th e n in e t e e n t h , and i n a d d it io n t o th e th o u sa n d s o f p ages
o f b io g r a p h ic a l in fo r m a tio n ab o u t B e c k e t, th r e e o f o u r m ost
t a le n t e d con tem p orary p la y w r ig h ts — T. S . E l i o t , Jean
A n o u ilh , and C h r isto p h e r F ry— have w r it t e n p la y s b a sed upon
th e B eck et s t o r y . In f a c t , i t was an i n t e r e s t i n th e tw en
t i e t h c e n tu r y p o r t r a y a ls o f B eck et w h ich e v e n t u a lly le d t o
th e d ev elo p m en t o f t h i s s tu d y .
The Problem
F u r th e r e x p lo r a t io n o f th e s u b j e c t o f Thomas' d ra m a tic
c h a r a c te r r e v e a le d t h a t he ap p eared t o have p la y e d a s i g
n i f i c a n t r o l e i n t w e n t y - s ix p la y s , o f w h ich tw e n ty -tw o
^ H a y ter, o p . c l t . , p . 9 6 .
w ere e x t a n t . He a c t u a l l y ap p ea red a s a m ajor c h a r a c te r in
s e v e n te e n o f th e e x ta n t p la y s* w h ich w ere w r it t e n b etw een
1799 and 1 9 6 1 . The a c t io n o f a l l o f t h e s e p la y s r e la t e d
t o th e b a s ic h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y B eck et a s he w as u n d er
sto o d a t th e tim e o f t h e i r c o m p le tio n , b u t e a ch p la y w r ig h t
i
c r e a te d a u n iq u e c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B e c k e t. N e v e r t h e le s s , j
|
e a ch fo llo w e d an a lm o st r i t u a l i s t i c p a t te r n i n th e d e v e lo p -j
ment o f th e B eck et s t o r y , and i t was t h i s u n it y o f p a t t e r n j
w h ich became th e i n s p i r a t i o n f o r th e d e s ig n o f t h i s stu d y .
The s t r u g g le o f t h in g s s p i r i t u a l and tem p o ra l i s r o o te d in j
th e m ost p r im o r d ia l c o n s c io u s n e s s o f man, c a u s in g him t o be
e v e r s e a r c h in g f o r an u n d e r sta n d in g o f i t . The t i t a n i c
s t r u g g le o f Thomas B eck et and Henry I I , a s w e l l a s th e one
w it h in Thomas h im s e lf , was a n a lo g o u s t o t h a t b a s ic a r c h e
t y p a l s t r u g g le in man.
Was th e r e so m eth in g w it h in th e a r c h e ty p a l p a t t e r n o f
B e c k e t 's h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y l i f e w h ich c o u ld h e lp e x p la in
th e u n it y , a s w e ll a s th e d i v e r s i t y , o f h i s s e v e n te e n d r a
m a tic c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s ? What was th e r e .la t io n s h ip b etw een
B e c k e t 's d ra m a tic c h a r a c te r and h i s b io g r a p h y and h a g io g
raphy? Why d id he a p p ea r i n so many p la y s o f t h i s and th e
l a s t c en tu ry ? T h e se , and r e la t e d q u e s t io n s , m o tiv a te d th e
r e s e a r c h w h ich was th e b a s i s f o r t h i s s tu d y .
I S ta tem en t o f th e Problem
The problem o f t h i s stu d y w as t o I s o l a t e and d e f in e
th o s e q u a l i t i e s o f th e h is t o r ic a l- le g e n d a r y ^ Thomas B eck et
w h ich form ed th e n u c le i o f h i s s e v e n te e n d ra m a tic c h a r a c
t e r i z a t i o n s and t o exam ine th e r e a s o n s why th e y made B eck et
I
an u n u s u a lly a p p e a lin g s u b j e c t f o r d r a m a tiz a tio n . P r e lim i- j
i
n a ry r e s e a r c h in d ic a t e d a phenom enal u n it y among th e |
c h a r a c t e r i z a t io n s , and th e r e w ere c l e a r in d i c a t i o n s t h a t i
i t r e s u lt e d p r im a r ily from th e p la y w r ig h ts ' s e l e c t i o n and
tr e a tm e n t o f some y e t u n d e fin e d q u a l i t i e s o f B e c k e t 's own
c h a r a c te r .
F u r th e r , i t was h y p o th e s iz e d t h a t , s in c e th e p la y -
!
w r ig h ts w ere li m i t e d o n ly by t h e i r im a g in a tio n i n th e ways
i n w h ich th e y sy m b o liz ed B e c k e t, th e u n it y o f t h e i r c h a r a c
t e r i z a t i o n s d e f i n i t e l y im p lie d a c o n n e c tio n b etw een i t and
B e c k e t 's a p p e a l a s a s u b j e c t f o r d r a m a tiz a tio n . T h e r e fo r e , j
i t a p p ea red t h a t b o th a s p e c t s o f th e problem c o u ld be
s a t i s f a c t o r i l y s o lv e d by» (1 ) a n a ly z in g B e c k e t 's s e v e n te e n
c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s and i d e n t i f y i n g th e p rim ary t r a i t s o f
e a c h , (2 ) c o n d u c tin g a co m p a ra tiv e a n a l y s i s o f a l l p rim ary
t r a i t s i n se a r c h o f t h e i r u n if y in g f a c t o r s , and (3 ) e x
a m in in g th e r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een t h e s e u n if y in g f a c t o r s and
Thomas' h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y f ig u r e .
^The term h i s t o r l c a l - l e g e n d a r y i s u sed h e r e and
th ro u g h o u t th e stu d y t o em p h a size th e f a c t t h a t B e c k e t's
b io g r a p h y and h a g io g ra p h y a r e in s e p a r a b le .
! 6 !
!
S ig n if ic a n c e o f th e S tud y j
V ery l i t t l e r e s e a r c h had b een done on th e d ra m a tiza tio n !
o f th e B eck et s t o r y . The few s t u d i e s r e l a t e d t o th e su b je c t
d id n o t have th e sco p e o f th e p r e s e n t o n e . In f a c t , o n ly
i
th r e e Im p ortan t w orks w ere fo u n d , and none o f them bore
d i r e c t l y on th e p u r p o se s o f t h i s o n e . For ex a m p le, none |
! j
had tr a c e d th e e n t i r e d ev elo p m en t o f B e c k e t 's d ra m a tic
c h a r a c t e r . T here I s seldom an o p p o r tu n ity t o exam ine a j
c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n w hich h a s b een so p r o l l f i c a l l y and co n
t in u o u s ly w r it t e n a b o u t o v e r a lo n g p e r io d o f tim e . T h is
a s p e c t o f th e stu d y w ould be a r e s p e c t a b le c o n t r ib u t io n t o
d ra m a tic h i s t o r y and c r i t i c i s m . I t w ould d i s c l o s e how one
h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y f ig u r e had b een r e c r e a t e d In v a r io u s
d ra m a tic s t y l e s ( N eo -S h a k esp ea rea n , m e lo d r a m a tic , r o m a n tic ,
r e a l i s t i c , t w e n t ie t h - c e n t u r y e c l e c t i c , e t c . ) by s e v e n te e n
p la y w r ig h ts f o r d iv e r s e a u d ie n c e s . Such r e s e a r c h would
n e c e s s a r i l y le a d t o a b e t t e r u n d e r sta n d in g o f th e p la y s o f i
!
th e p a s t c e n tu r y and a h a l f . j
S e c o n d ly , th e r e was an o p p o r tu n ity t o exam ine th e j
u n it y , a s w e ll a s th e d i v e r s i t y , o f Thomas' c h a r a c t e r . In
t h i s way we w ould be g a in in g new i n s i g h t I n to th e s u b j e c t
o f l i t e r a r y " a r c h e ty p e s ," w h ich h a s b een th e f o c u s o f
i a t t e n t i o n f o r su ch em in en t s c h o la r s a s C arl Ju n g, Maud
Bodkin and N orthrup F r y e. From th e f i r s t r e a d in g o f th e
p la y s i t was s u s p e c te d t h a t some s i g n i f i c a n t a r c h e ty p a l
p a t t e r n s would em erge from a co m p a riso n o f th e s y m b o liz a tio n
7
o f B e c k e t 's s e v e n te e n in d iv id u a l c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s . By a
c a r e f u l e x a m in a tio n o f th e p rim ary t r a i t s o f ea ch c h a r a c te r
i t was b e lie v e d t h a t one c o u ld f in d t h a t c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r - j
i
i s t i e s w ere dom inant th ro u g h o u t a l l o f th e p o r t r a y a ls o f j
I
I
B e c k e t. I f , i n f a o t , t h i s w ere tr u e i t w ould h e lp su p p o rt j
]
th e c o n c e p t o f l i t e r a r y a r c h e ty p e s and le a d t o an expanded j
I
stu d y o f t h i s method o f c r i t i c i s m ,
i
The m ost s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r ib u t io n w h ich t h i s stu d y
i
co u ld make, h ow ever, was t o a n a ly z e th e r e l a t i o n s h i p betw een
th e o v e r a l l p red o m in a tin g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e s e v e n te e n
d r a m a tiz a tio n s o f B eck et and p a r t ic u l a r f e a t u r e s o f h i s
h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y f ig u r e . In t h i s way th e u n iv e r s a l
a p p e a l o f Thomas' d ra m a tic c h a r a c t e r , e r g o , a u n iv e r s a l l y
a p p e a lin g a r c h e ty p a l p a t te r n o f c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n c o u ld be
c l e a r l y d e f in e d . S in c e we a r e a lw a y s in s e a r c h o f th o s e
q u a l i t i e s o f c h a r a c te r w h ich w i l l f u l f i l l th e n e e d s o f v a s t!
| . j
a u d ie n c e s , n o t o n ly o f th e p r e s e n t b u t o f th e f u t u r e , t h i s |
; i
stu d y co u ld be o f m ajor im p o rta n ce t o th e f i e l d s o f p la y -
w ri g h tin g and d ra m a tic c r i t i c i s m .
D e sig n and M ethodology o f th e S tu d y
The d e s ig n o f th e stu d y was d eterm in ed l a r g e l y by i t s
p rob lem . I t was n e c e s s a r y t o co m p lete th e r e s e a r c h in
th r e e s e p a r a te s t e p s j (1 ) in d iv id u a l a n a ly s e s o f B e c k e t's
c h a r a c t e r i z a t io n s , (2 ) a com p arison o f a l l c h a r a c te r
a n a ly s e s t o d eter m in e any s i g n i f i c a n t i n t e r r e l a t i o n s among
8
t h e i r predom inant c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o r sy m b o lic m ea n in g s, and
(3 ) an e x a m in a tio n o f th e r e l a t i o n s h i p s b etw een th e dom i
n a tin g c h a r a c te r t r a i t s w h ich w ere common t o a l l s e v e n te e n
p la y s and th e h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y B eck et h im s e lf .
F i r s t S te p — C h a ra cter A n a ly se s
The b a s i s f o r th e c h a r a c te r a n a ly s e s used, i n t h i s
stu d y was ta k e n from s e v e r a l s o u r c e s . For ex a m p le, th e
b a s ic c o n c e p t was found in M i l l e t ’ s R eading Drama, in
w h ich he p o in te d out*
The p la y w r ig h t - - u n lik e th e w r it e r o f f i c t i o n o r
th e p o e t— ca n n o t e x p r e s s h i s o p in io n o f h i s c h a r a c te r
d i r e c t l y but must c o n te n t h im s e lf w ith im p ly in g h i s
a t t i t u d e . The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th e r e a d e r o f drama
f o r th e fo rm a l a n a l y s i s o f a c h a r a c te r i s , t h e r e f o r e ,
h e a v ie r th a n t h a t o f th e r e a d e r o f f i c t i o n . You w i l l
f in d no ready-m ade a u t h o r it a t iv e a n a l y s i s o f th e c h a r
a c t e r ! in s t e a d , t o a r r iv e a t a s a t i s f a c t o r y g r a sp o f
th e c h a r a c t e r , you m ust s y n t h e s iz e th e r e s u l t s o f th e
m ethods th e p la y w r ig h t h a s used* what th e c h a r a c te r
lo o k s and a c t s l i k e , what th e c h a r a c te r s a y s and d o e s ,
and what th e o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s sa y a b o u t h im .'
A f u r th e r e x t e n s io n and c l a r i f i c a t i o n o f M i l l e t ' s
d e f i n i t i o n was d is c o v e r e d i n o th e r con tem p orary t e x t s .
For ex a m p le, B r o c k e tt su g g e ste d *
A c h a r a c te r i s r e v e a le d i n s e v e r a l ways* th ro u g h
d e s c r ip t io n in s ta g e d i r e c t i o n s , p r e fa c e o r o t h e r e x -
p la n to r y m a te r ia l n ot p a r t o f th e d ia lo g u e o r a c t l o n i
th ro u g h what th e c h a r a c te r s a y s ; th ro u g h what o t h e r s
sa y a b o u t him: an d , p erh a p s m ost im p o r ta n t, th ro u g h
what he d o e s.®
?Fred B. M i l l e t , R eading Drama (New York* H arper and
B r o th e r s , 1 9 5 0 ), p . 23 .
O
O scar G. B r o c k e tt, The T h ea tre (New York* H o lt,
R h in eh a rt and W inston, I n c . , 19^9)» p . 3 5 .
9
T heodore H a tlen d e s c r ib e d a s im ila r m eans f o r d e t e r
m in in g d ra m a tic c h a r a c t e r i
C h a ra cter may be d e lin e a t e d In fo u r w ays. F i r s t ,
c h a r a c te r i s d e lin e a t e d by a p p e a r a n c e . . . .
S eco n d , c h a r a c te r i s r e v e a le d by s p e e c h . The k in d
o f la n g u a g e em ployed by th e p e r s o n , h i s manner o f
s p e a k in g , h i s v o ic e q u a l i t y , h i s i n f l e c t i o n a l p a t
t e r n , p i t c h , r a t e , and g e n e r a l v i t a l i t y , a l l sa y
so m eth in g a b o u t him . . . .
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • a
A c h a r a c t e r * s e x t e r n a l a c t i o n s g l v « u s c l u e s to
h i s in n e r m o t iv a t io n s . H is r o le in th e r o o t a c t i o n
o f th e p la y i s r e v e a le d by t h e f i n a l c u lm in a tio n o f
th e p l o t , b u t th e s m a ll d e t a i l e d b u s in e s s o f c h a r a c
t e r i z a t i o n h e lp s th e a u d ie n c e b u ild up a c o m p o site
p o r t r a i t . . . .
F o u r th , c h a r a c te r may be r e v e a le d by what o t h e r s
sa y a b o u t him , and th e way i n w hioh t h e y r e a c t t o
him . 9
I n a much more c o n c is e s ta te m e n t, G. B. T ennyson s a id
" th a t a p la y w r ig h t h a s two t o o l s f o r r e v e a lin g c h a r a c te r ;
d ia lo g u e and a c t i o n , " 10 w h ile th e p la y w r ig h t John Howard
Lawson sim p ly s t a t e d , "The o n ly way i n w h ich we can u n d er-
!
i
sta n d c h a r a c te r i s th ro u g h th e a c t i o n s t o w h ich i t i s j
s u b s i d i a r y .h11
!
A d i s t i l l a t i o n o f t h e s e d e f i n i t i o n s o f c h a r a c te r p r o - j
v id e d th e c r i t e r i a f o r a n a ly z in g th e in d iv id u a l c h a r a c t e r
i z a t i o n o f Thomas B e c k e t.
^Theodore H a tle n , O r ie n ta t io n t o th e T h e a te r (New
Yorks M ered ith Pub. C o ., 1 9 6 2 ) , pp. W - 4 6 .
1®G. B. T en n yson , An I n t r o d u c t io n t o Drama (New Yorks
B h in e h a r t, H o lt, and W in ston , I n c . , 19^ 7)* p . ^ 5.
11John Howard Law son, T heory and T ech n iq u e o f P la y -
w r it in g (New Yorks H i l l & Wang, I 9 6 0 ) , p . 2fi0.
r ------
Second S te p — Comnarat1v e A n a ly s is
10
A f te r th e s e v e n te e n in d iv id u a l c h a r a c te r a n a ly s e s w ere
co m p leted t h e y w ere s u b je c te d t o an in t e n s i v e c o m p a ra tiv e
a n a l y s i s o f t h e i r d o m in a tin g t r a i t s and sy m b o lic m ea n in g s. !
T h is f i r s t r e q u ir e d t h a t th e dom inant f e a t u r e s o f ea ch j
i
c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n had t o be c a r e f u l l y d e f in e d . I t was p a r - j
i
t i o u l a r l y im p o rta n t a t t h i s p o in t t o c o n s id e r th e im p o rta n t j
m oral d e c i s i o n s w h ich B ec k e t made w it h in th e a c t i o n o f th e !
p la y s , and h i s r e a s o n s f o r m aking them . Once th e "ab
s t r a c t s " o f a l l o f h i s c h a r a c t e r s w ere d e te r m in e d , th e y
w ere com pared w ith on e a n o th e r t o s e e i f th e r e w ere s tr ik in g
r e se m b le n c e s b etw een an y o f them . Through a t e d io u s
m a tch in g p r o c e s s th e m a tr ic e s f o r ea ch g ro u p in g o f s im ila r
c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s w ere d e te r m in e d . To a s s i s t i n c l e a r l y
d e f in in g t h e s e m a t r ic e s , th e y w ere th e n com pared t o w e l l -
known a r c h e ty p a l f ig u r e s o f w e s te r n m yth and l i t e r a t u r e .
The e a r ly work o f C arl Jung was p a r t i c u l a r l y u s e f u l a s j
I
an i n s p i r a t i o n f o r th e d e s ig n o f t h i s p a r t o f th e s tu d y . j
For ex a m p le, he s t a t e d :
From th e v e r y b e g in n in g o f human s o c i e t y onward
m an 's e f f o r t s t o g iv e vagu e in t im a t io n s a b in d in g
form have l e f t t h e i r t r a c e s . Even i n th e R h o d esia n
c l i f f - d r a w i n g s o f th e Old S to n e Age t h e r e a p p e a r s ,
s id e by s id e w ith th e m ost a m a z in g ly l i f e l i k e r e
p r e s e n t a t io n s o f a n im a ls , an a b s t r a c t p a t t e r n — a
d o u b le c r o s s c o n t a in in g a o i r o l e . T h is d e s ig n h a s
tu rn ed up in e v e r y c u l t u r a l r e g io n , more o r l e s s ,
and we f in d i t to d a y n o t o n ly i n C h r is tia n c h u r c h e s ,
b u t i n T ib e ta n m o n a s te r ie s a s w e l l . I t i s th e s o -
c a l l e d su n -w h e e l, and a s i t d a t e s from th e tim e when
no one had th o u g h t o f w h e e ls a s a m e c h a n ic a l d e v ic e ,
i t ca n n o t have had i t s so u r c e i n any e x p e r ie n c e o f
11
th e e x t e r n a l w o r ld . I t I s r a t h e r a sym bol t h a t s ta n d s
f o r a p s y c h ic happening* I t c o v e r s an e x p e r ie n c e o f
t h e In n e r w o r ld , and I s no d ou b t a s l i f e l i k e a r e p r e
s e n t a t io n a s th e fam ous r h ln o o e r o u s w ith th e t ic k b i r d s
on I t s b a c k .12
In o th e r w ord s, I t was J u n g 's b e l i e f t h a t t h e r e w ere c e r t a in
" p rim o rd ia l e x p e r ie n c e s " o f man w h ich c o u ld n o t be fathom ed
i
th ro u g h o r d in a r y m ethods o f r e a s o n in g , and w h ic h , th e r e fo r e ,:
r e q u ir e d th e u se o f m e ta p h o r ic a l Im agery t o g iv e them form , j
I t was Maud B od k in , h o w ev er, who c l a r i f i e d th e m eaning !
o f J u n g 's e a r l i e r w ork. F or ex a m p le, sh e p o in te d up th e
im p o rta n ce o f h i s c o n c e p ts t o th e tinder s ta n d in g o f p o e t r y «
The s p e c ia l e m o tio n a l s i g n i f i c a n c e p o s s e s s e d by
c e r t a i n poem s— a s i g n i f i c a n c e g o in g beyond an y d e f i
n i t e m eaning co n v ey ed — he Ejung] a t t r i b u t e s t o th e
s t i r r i n g i n th e r e a d e r 's m ind, w it h in and b e n e a th
h i s c o n s c io u s r e s p o n s e , f o r c e s w h ich he term s ' p r i
m o r d ia l I m a g e s ,' o r a r c h e t y p e s . T h ese a r c h e ty p e s
he d e s c r ib e s a s 'p s y c h ic r e s id u o f n u m b e r le ss e x p e r i
e n c e s > f th e same t y p e s , ' e x p e r ie n c e s w h ich h ave n o t
happened t o th e in d iv id u a l b u t t o h i s a n c e s t o r s , and
o f w h ich th e r e s u l t s a r e I n h e r it e d i n th e s t r u c t u r e
o f th e b r a in , a p r i o r i d e te r m in a n ts o f in d iv id u a l
e x p e r ie n c e .1 3
i
I t was n o t im p o rta n t t h a t we a c c e p t th e id e a s o f Jung and j
i
B odkin a s e n t i r e l y t r u e . B a th e r , t h e y a c te d a s s ig n p o s t s j
w h ich g u id ed th e d e s ig n o f th e stu d y tow ard a m ethod f o r !
f in d in g th e m ost s i g n i f i c a n t common f a c t o r s o f B e c k e t 's
d r a m a tic p e r s o n a lit y .
1 2 C arl J u n g, " P sy ch o lo g y and L it e r a t u r e ," A Modern Book
o f E s t h e t i c s . M elvin R ader, e d . (3d e d . * New York* H o lt,
R h in eh a rt and W in ston , 1 9 6 2 ), p . 1^ 8.
1 3Maud B od k in , A r c h e ty p a l P a tte r n s i n P o e tr y (New York*
V in ta g e B ook s, 1 9 6 1 ) , p . 1 .
12
An ev en c l e a r e r and c e r t a i n l y more d i r e c t sta te m e n t o f
t h i s phenom enon, w h ich w as Im p o rta n t t o th e d e s ig n o f th e
s tu d y , w as found In a hook by G ilb e r t Murray. W hile d i s
c u s s in g th e s i m i l a r i t i e s o f Hamlet and th e O r e s t e s , he
c o n c lu d e d t h a t th e them e u n d e r ly in g b o th p la y s was o f
14"
" alm ost e t e r n a l d u r a b i l i t y . " Murray c o n tin u e d by p o in tin g !
o u t t h a t common th em es su ch a s t h e s e two p la y s c o n ta in e d
i
w ere a lw a y s r e c o g n iz e d a s " p a r t ic u la r ly p rofou n d and p o e t l - i
c a l , " 1 ^ and t h a t t h e y w ere " d ee p ly im p la n te d i n th e memory
o f th e r a c e , stam ped a s I t w ere upon o u r p h y s ic a l o rg a n
is m ." 16
Murray f o llo w e d up t h e s e s ta te m e n ts w ith f u r t h e r
c l a r l f l o a t i o n :
. . .t h e r e i s t h a t w it h in u s w h ich le a p s a t th e
s ig h t o f [them] th e common th em es , a c r y o f b lo o d j
w h ich t e l l s u s we have known them a lw a y s . . . . !
In p la y s l i k e Hamlet o r th e Agamemnon o r th e E le c t r a
we have c e r t a i n l y f i n e and f l e x i b l e o h a r a c t e r - s t u d y ,
a v a r ie d and w e ll-w r o u g h t s t o r y , a f u l l command o f
th e t e c h n lo a l in s tr u m e n ts o f th e p o e t and th e drama
t i s t i b u t we have a l s o , I s u s p e c t , a s t r a n g e , un
a n a ly z e d v ib r a t io n b elo w th e s u r f a c e , a n u n d e r c u r r e n t
o f d e s i r e s and f e a r s and p a s s io n s , lo n g slu m b e rin g
y e t e t e r n a l l y f a m i l i a r , w h ich have f o r th o u sa n d s o f
y e a r s l a i n a t th e r o o t o f ou r m ost m a g ic a l d ream s.
How f a r i n t o th e p a s t a g e s th e strea m may r e a c h
b a ck , I d a r e n o t ev en su r m ise ; b u t i t seem s a s i f
th e pow er o f s t i r r i n g i t o r m oving i t w ere one o f
th e l a s t s e c r e t s o f g e n i u s . 1 '
^ G i l b e r t M urray, The C l a s s i c a l T r a d itio n i n P o e tr y
( O xford i O xford U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 2 7 )* P. 2 3 8 .
15I b id . l 6 I b id . 17I b ld .
13
F i n a l l y , I t w as M iss B o d k in 's stu d y o f a r c h e t y p a l p a t
t e r n s In p o e tr y w h ich l e d t o th e f i n a l d e s ig n o f t h e p resen t
w ork. In h er book sh e had exam ined fo u r m ajor a r c h e t y p a l
p a t t e r n s t (1 ) r e b i r t h , (2 ) P a r a d is e -H a d e s , (3 ) th e Image
o f woman, and (4 ) t h e d e v i l , th e h ero and God. Her d i s
c u s s io n o f th e fo u r th p a t t e r n w as m ost h e l p f u l .
Bodkin p o in te d o u t t h a t th e S a ta n and th e Hero f ig u r e s
o f an y g iv e n c u lt u r e a r e b u t two d i f f e r e n t s i d e s t o th e
same c h a r a c te r . B oth s i d e s a r e i n r e b e l l i o n a g a in s t t h e j
e s t a b lis h e d f o r c e s , b u t w h ile S a ta n i s s e e n o b j e c t i v e l y !
from w ith o u t and c o n s id e r e d an enemy o f th e com m u n ity's
v a lu e s , th e Hero s t r u g g le s a g a in s t d e s t i n y , d e f y in g th e
i
e s t a b lis h e d f o r c e s in th e same s e n s e t h a t man d e f i e s h i s
i
own m o r t a lit y . M iss B odkin d e s c r ib e d t h i s m y th ic a l tw o -
s id e d c h a r a c te r th u s :
No doubt t h i s i s a q u e s t io n o f v a lu e r a t h e r th a n
o f f a c t , t o be an sw ered d i f f e r e n t l y from d i f f e r e n t
s ta n d p o in ts . A m an 's s e n s e o f h i s own n a tu r e p ro
j e c te d I n to p o e tr y may ta k e Innum erable d i f f e r e n t
fo rm s, and an y o f t h e s e may a t some t im e , t o some
i n d i v i d u a l , a p p ea r o f suprem e s ig n i f i c a n c e } b u t a
p a t te r n t h a t s h a l l tr a n sc e n d d i f f e r e n c e s o f i n d i
v id u a ls and g e n e r a t io n s , g a t h e r in g up i n t o new
form s f o r new m inds th e o l d e s t sym bolism o f m an's
l i f e , m u st, I t h in k , show so m eth in g o f th o s e ch a r
a c t e r s t h a t a p p ea r i n th e t r a g i c h ero and i n th e
S a ta n o f P a r a d ise L o s t . The a r c h e t y p a l h e r o - f ig u r e
s ta n d s p o is e d b etw een th e D iv in e and th e D e v i l i s h ,
swung forw ard and upward i n r e f l e c t i o n o f th e im a g i
n a t i o n ' s u n iv e r s a l r a n g e , h u r le d back and downward
i n e x p r e s s io n o f in d iv id u a l l i m i t a t i o n and t h e r e
s t r a in in g c e n su r e o f th e w h ole upon th e p a r t . l °
*® Bodkin, o p . o l t . , p. 2 3 8 .
14
j She c o n tin u e d h e r d is c u s s i o n o f th e b ifo r m it y o f th e d e v i l -
h ero a r c h e ty p e by sa y in g *
i
In ex a m in in g th e way In w h ich M ilt o n 's S a ta n can
sy m b o liz e t o th e r e a d e r th e s e n s e o f h i s own e x i s
t e n c e , we have d is t in g u is h e d two c o n tr a s te d a s p e c t s .
In one o f t h e s e S a ta n e x p r e s s e s th e s p i r i t o f man r e s
o l u t e a g a in s t th e overw h elm in g m ig h t o f D e s tin y , In th e
o th e r he a p p ea rs a s I n f e r n a l s e r p e n t, sym bol o f l u s t
and h a t e , v a lu e s f e l t a s b o th human and d i v i n e . 19
Bodkin d o e s n 't sta n d a lo n e i n h er e s tim a te o f t h e tw o -
s id e d n a tu r e o f M ilto n 's S a ta n . For ex a m p le, W erb low sk y's i
i
L u c if e r and P rom etheus^ (a m onum ental stu d y o f M ilt o n 's !
e p ic poem) showed t h a t th e c r i t i c a l s t u d i e s o f P a r a d ise
i
L o st c o u ld be c l e a r l y d iv id e d in t o th e " S a t a n ls t s and j
a n t 1- S a t a n l s t s ." j
In a s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t c o n t e x t , R obert B r u s te ln d i s - j
c u sse d th e d u a l i t y o f what he c a l l e d th e " m e ssia n ic h ero*" j
The m e s s ia n ic h e r o , in s h o r t , i s a superm an, com
b in in g th e q u a l i t i e s o f m a le fa c to r and b e n e f a c t o r —
o f one who k i l l s God and one who b u ild s a Church. As
a m a le fa c t o r , he i s i n th e t r a d i t i o n o f th e e a r l i e r
R om antic h e r o e s . . .a n o u tla w w a rrin g on s o c i e t y and
s e e k in g co m p le te g r a t i f i c a t i o n beyond c o n v e n tio n a l
la w s . . . . The s t r u g g le o f th e m e s s ia n ic h ero w ith
God, h ow ever, m akes him a k in t o A e s c h y lu s ' Prom etheus
and G o e th e 's F a u s t. . . . P r o to ty p e s f o r th e m e s s i-
a n io h e r o , in f a c t , can be found among a l l th e g r e a t
in s u r g e n t s o f myth and r e l i g i o n s L u c if e r , M ep h isto -
p h e le s , C a in , J u d a s, Don J u a n .21
1 9 i b l d . . pp. 2 3 9 -2 4 0 .
2^ T h is r e f e r s t o R. J . Zwl W erb low sk y's d is c u s s io n o f
th e v a r io u s s t u d ie s w h ich h ave b een done on th e th em es and
c h a r a c t e r s o f M ilto n 's P a r a d ise L o s t , w h ich i s found i n th e
P r e fa c e o f h i s book L u c if e r and P rom etheus (London* R ou t-
le d g e and Kegan P au l L t d ., 1 9 5 2 ).
21R obert B r u s t e ln , The T h ea tre o f R e v o lt (B oston *
L i t t l e , Brown and C o ., 1 9 6 4 ), p . lS.
15
F i n a l l y , th e f o llo w in g sta te m e n t o f W erb low sk y's
c l a r i f i e d th e c o n c e p t o f th e M anichean n a tu r e o f c e r t a i n
a r c h e t y p a l p a t t e r n s o f c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n i
The Prom ethean myth th u s b e t r a y s an i n t e r e s t i n g
a m b iv a le n c e , and show s i t s e l f c a p a b le o f d e v e lo p in g
i n tw o d i r e c t i o n s . As a t y p i o a l L u c if e r , 'b r in g e r
o f l i g h t , ' P rom etheus s h a r e s t h e f u l l a m b iv a len ce
o f t h i s a r c h e ty p a l im age. He h a s a l i g h t and a dark
s i d e , w h ich can e i t h e r d i f f e r e n t i a t e in t o s h a r p ly
d is t in g u is h e d f ig u r e s ( a s happened w ith th e o r i g i n a l
L u c if e r ) o r e l s e rem ain a m u lt iv a le n t , am orphous
w h o le , le n d in g i t s e l f , a t th e b id o f th e o c c a s io n ,
t o a b s o r p tio n by and am algam ation w ith o t h e r , more
c le a r - o u t and d eterm in ed im a g e s. The Prom ethean
myth can th u s p o in t to w a rd s C h r is t a s w e ll a s t o
w ards S a ta n , a c c o r d in g t o o u r s u s c e p t i b i l i t i e s and
o u r v ie w s ab o u t man, a s im posed on u s by o u r c i v i l i
z a t io n and th e e x i g e n c i e s o f o u r p h y s ic s i t u a t i o n . 22
T hese s ta te m e n ts c o n c e r n in g th e b if o r m it y o f th e
v a r io u s a r c h e ty p a l M anichean f ig u r e s o f m yth and l i t e r a t u r e
d ir e c t e d th e d e s ig n o f th e stu d y i n i t s t h ir d and f i n a l
s t e p . A long w ith th e r e s u l t s o f th e f i r s t two s t e p s o f
th e stu d y ? s r e s e a r c h , i t p o in te d t o th e h y p o t h e s is t h a t
B e c k e t 's h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y , a s w e ll a s h i s o v e r a l l
d ra m a tic c h a r a c t e r , was c l o s e l y r e la t e d t o th e M anichean
f ig u r e o f good and e v i l . F u r th e r , th e r e w as th e s u g g e s t io n
t h a t th e a c t i o n o f a l l o f th e p la y s r e l a t e d th e r i t u a l i s t i o
p a t te r n o f th e s a c r i f i c e o f th e s c a p e g o a t w ith B ec k e t b e in g
s a c r i f i c e d f o r th e good o f th e com m unity.
Beyond t h a t , i t s u g g e s te d t h a t B ec k et w as a lw a y s a
h e r o ic f ig u r e i n t h e p la y s and t h a t ev en i n t h o s e i n w h ich
2 2 W erblow sky, o p . o l t . , p . 6 3 .
16
h i s a c t i o n s ap p eared t o be e s s e n t i a l l y e v i l (c o n tr a r y t o
th e b e s t I n t e r e s t o f th e g e n e r a l w i l l ) , h i s c h a r a c te r r e
m ained h e r o ic . Bowra su p p o r te d t h i s I d e a , when he s a ld t
J u s t a s th e r e i s more th a n on e k in d o f human e x
c e l l e n c e , so th e r e I s more th a n one k in d o f h e r o .
The d i f f e r e n t k in d s r e f l e c t n o t o n ly d i f f e r e n t s t a g e s
o f s o c i a l d evelop m en t b u t th e d i f f e r e n t m e ta p h y s ic a l
and. t h e o r e t i c a l o u t lo o k s w h ich th e c o n c e p tio n o f a
h ero p r e su p p o se s.
Somewhat l a t e r i n th e same b o o k , Bowra d is c u s s e d th e
i n e v i t a b i l i t y o f th e h e r o 's c a r e e r e n d in g i n d i s a s t e r and
th e v a r io u s r e a s o n s f o r i t :
D if f e r e n t from th e d is a s t r o u s c h o ic e i s th e d i s
a s t r o u s m is ta k e . There a r e many form s o f t h i s , and
in a l l a d e c i s i o n i s made w ro n g ly th ro u g h some m is - |
c a l c u l a t i o n o r d e f e c t o f c h a r a c t e r . . . . The u s u a l
c a u se o f su ch d e c i s i o n s i s th e h e r o ' s p r id e , w h ich
f o r b id s him t o ta k e an y c o u r se w h ich he t h in k s d i s
h o n o ra b le o r b elow h i s d i g n i t y . H is h ig h s p i r i t
d r iv e s him o n , and s o , when d i s a s t e r f o l l o w s , i t ,
seem s i n e v i t a b l e and a lm o st a p p r o p r ia t e .2^
T h is s u g g e ste d t h a t i n i t s o v e r a l l d ev elo p m en t (1 7 9 9 -
1 9 6 1 ) B e c k e t's d ra m a tic c h a r a c te r c o u ld have b een a m u lt i -
I
1
form ed h e r o ic im age whose am orphous n a tu r e a llo w e d e a c h o f j
th e s e v e n te e n p la y w r ig h ts t o g iv e him a d i f f e r e n t m eaning
w ith o u t d e s tr o y in g h i s b a s ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
The p r e lim in a r y r e s e a r c h o f t h i s s tu d y , t h e n , le d t o
th e h y p o th e s is t h a t th e r e a s o n f o r th e a p p a r en t u n i t y , a s
w e ll a s th e d i v e r s i t y , o f B e c k e t 's d r a m a tic c h a r a c te r c o u ld
2 3 c . M . Bowra, H ero ic P o e tr y (New York: S t . M artin
P r e s s , 1 9 6 1 ), p . 9 1 .
2 Z < ,I b l d . . p . lOfc.
; 17
! be found w it h in th e e x p la n a tio n o f h i s am orphous h e r o ic
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , h i s m artyr (s c a p e g o a t) e id o lo n and n a tu r e
o f h i s r e b e l l i o n .
P rev iew o f R em aining C h ap ters
I
The rem a in d er o f t h e stu d y was d iv id e d in t o f i v e j
i
c h a p te r s . C hapter I I was t i t l e d R eview o f L it e r a t u r e , and i
i t in c lu d e d a d is c u s s i o n o f p r e v io u s c r i t i c a l s t u d i e s ,
s o u r c e s o f b io g r a p h ic a l and h a g io g r a p h ic a l m a t e r ia ls and
a r e v ie w o f B e c k e t's h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y l i f e . C h ap ter i
I I I , B eck et C adens, r e p o r te d on th e e a r l i e s t s i x c h a r a c - j
t e r i z a t i o n s o f B e c k e t. I t g ave a d e s c r i p t i o n o f e a ch one
and d is c u s s e d t h e i r i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s . The n e x t c h a p te r ,
B eck et T rium phans, d is c u s s e d th e e i g h t d r a m a tiz a tio n s o f
B eck et w h ich w ere w r it t e n b etw een 1863 and I 8 9 2 . I t f o l
low ed th e same form at t h a t had b een u se d i n C hapter I I I .
A ls o , th e same ty p e o f r e p o r t was g iv e n i n C hapter V,
B eck et M eta p h y sica . I t was a d i s c u s s i o n o f B e c k e t 's th r e e
c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s w h ich w ere w r it t e n d u r in g th e t w e n t ie t h
c e n tu r y . The t i t l e o f th e f i n a l c h a p te r , Summary, Con
c l u s i o n s , and I m p lic a t io n s , e x p la in e d i t s c o n t e n t s . I t
sum m arized e v e r y th in g w h ich had b een r e p o r te d i n th e
s tu d y , r e p o r te d on th e c o n c lu s io n s w h ich had b een r e a c h e d ,
and s u g g e s te d some p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h on
th e s u b j e c t o f Thomas B eck et a s a d r a m a tic c h a r a c t e r .
CHAPTER I I
REVIEW OP LITERATURE
S o u rc es
j i
A sid e from th e g e n e r a l p r e p a r a to r y r e s e a r c h and th e |
p la y s In w h ich B ec k e t a p p e a r s , t h e r e w ere two p a r t ic u la r
t y p e s o f m a t e r ia ls w h ich w ere e s p e c i a l l y im p o r ta n ti p r e -
; i
v lo u s c r i t i c a l s t u d i e s and b io g r a p h ic a l m a t e r ia ls d e a lin g
w ith Thomas B e c k e t. j
P r e v io u s C r i t i c a l S tu d ie s
The s i n g l e m ost im p o r ta n t c r i t i c a l work w as B r it a
i
P u s c h e l's Thomas A B ec k et In P er L l t e r a t u r .* She h a s
w r it t e n a m ost co m p reh en siv e " p h ilo lo g ic a l" s tu d y o f B e ck et
in l i t e r a t u r e ; sh e d e v o te d n e a r ly on e hundred p a g e s t o a |
c o n s id e r a t io n o f th e p la y s In w h ich B ec k e t a p p e a r e d . The j
i
p rim ary fo c u s o f h er work was p h i l o l o g i c a l , b u t h e r d i s - j
i
c u s s lo n s o f th e p la y s w ere v e r y u s e f u l t o th fe sp r e se n t s tu d y .
P u s c h e l's book was h e lp f u l i n d e v e lo p in g a d e s ig n f o r t h i s
s tu d y , a s w e ll a s b e in g an e x c e l l e n t g u id e t o u n d e r sta n d in g
B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r in some o f th e p la y s .
1T h is r e f e r s t o B r ita P u s c h e l's Thomas A B e ck et i n P er
L lt e r a t u r (B ochum -L angendreeri V e r la g H e in r ic h P o p p in g -
h a u s, 1 9 6 3 ).
19
P a ir Rosamond c o n t a in s a p a r t i c u l a r l y f i n e d is c u s s i o n
o f th e s o u r c e s w h ich w ere u sed In d e v e lo p in g th e p l o t s and
c h a r a c t e r s o f s e v e r a l p la y s in w h ich B eck et a p p e a r s . I t s
a t t e n t i o n c e n te r e d on th o s e p la y s w h ich d e a lt w ith th e lo v e
s t o r y o f Henry I I and Rosamondj t h e r e f o r e , i t e x c lu d e d many
o f th e p la y s w hich made up th e p rim ary m a t e r ia ls f o r t h e j
c u r r e n t s tu d y . S t i l l , i t was a r i c h so u r c e o f background
in fo r m a tio n .
One o f th e m ost v a lu a b le d is c u s s i o n s o f Thomas B e c k e t's
d ra m a tic c h a r a c te r was c o n ta in e d i n an a r t i c l e by A le th e a
H a y ter. Her "Thomas A B eck et and th e D r a m a tists" ^ was a
s u p e r f i c i a l tr e a tm e n t o f th e s u b j e c t s in c e i t was o r i g i n a l l y
d e v e lo p e d a s a sp e e ch w h ich was d e liv e r e d b e fo r e a London
l i t e r a r y s o c i e t y . I t s v a lu e was In th e q u e s t io n s w h ich she ;
p o se d , s e v e r a l o f w h ich form th e b a s i s f o r th e p r e s e n t
s tu d y .
P au l A lon zo B row n's The D evelopm ent o f th e Legend o f
Thomas B eck et was in v a lu a b le i n le a d in g t o o t h e r r e s o u r c e
m a t e r ia ls , a s w e ll a s b e in g background t o th e l i f e and.
le g e n d o f Thomas B e c k e t. In fo r m a tio n le a d in g t o t e n o f th e
s e v e n te e n p la y s c o n s id e r e d i n t h i s stu d y was o b ta in e d from
2T h is r e f e r s t o V i r g i l B. H e l t z e l ' s F a ir Rosamond
(E v a n sto n , I l l i n o i s * N o rth w estern U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 ^ 7 ).
■^This r e f e r s t o A le th e a H a y te r 's "Thomas A B ec k e t and
th e D r a m a tis ts ," E ssa y s by D iv e r s Hands (London* O xford
U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 6 6 ) , pp. 90-105^
j 20
h i s w ork. H is d is c u s s io n o f th e h a g io g ra p h y w h ich q u ic k ly
d e v e lo p e d a f t e r th e martyrdom o f Thomas w as e x c e l l e n t . As
he s t a t e s n e a r th e b e g in n in g o f h i s book*
I t i s n o t g e n e r a lly known t h a t a b o u t Thomas B e c k e t,
a s a b o u t e v e r y h i s t o r i c a l p erso n a g e p r e s e n t in g p o p u la r
a p p e a l, th e r e d e v e lo p e d a g r a d u a lly a c c u m u la tin g body
o f le g e n d — o r , i f t h i s f a c t i s r e c o g n iz e d , th e r e i s no
a d eq u a te a p p r e h e n sio n o f how g r e a t , o r how f u l l o f i n
t e r e s t and s i g n i f i c a n c e t h i s body o f le g e n d i s . In
E ngland d u r in g th e M iddle A g es, th e g r e a t e s t s u b j e c t s
f o r m ythm aking w ere K ing A rth u r, Thomas B e c k e t, R ich ard
th e L lo n h e a r te d , and R obin Hood. Of t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s ,
a l l o f whom became n a t io n a l h e r o e s , B ec k e t w as c e r
t a i n l y n o t th e l e a s t . . . .^
Of p a r t ic u la r i n t e r e s t w as Brown’ s d i s c u s s i o n o f th e
le g e n d s w h ich d e a l t w ith B e c k e t 's p a r e n ta g e , many o f w h ich
a s s ig n e d him a Saxon h e r it a g e and o t h e r s a S a ra cen p r in c e s s
!
f o r a m o th er. T hese le g e n d a r y a c c o u n ts o f B e c k e t 's l i f e
f ig u r e d I m p o r ta n tly i n th e a n a ly s e s o f Thomas' d ra m a tic
c h a r a c te r .
Maud B od k in , b u ild in g on th e work o f th e em in en t p sy
c h o l o g i s t C arl J u n g , w ro te one o f th e e a r l i e s t c r i t i c a l
s t u d i e s o f l i t e r a r y a r c h e t y p e s . In A r c h e ty p a l P a t t e r n s i n j
P o e tr y (1 9 2 8 ) sh e h a s r ec o r d e d h e r m ost im p o r ta n t th o u g h ts j
i
c o n c e r n in g th e m a tic and c h a r a c te r p a t t e r n s w h ich h ave c o n - j
s i s t e n t l y ap p eared i n w e s te r n p o e tr y . She s u g g e s te d t h a t
th e r e w ere c e r t a i n "them es h a v in g a p a r t ic u l a r form o r
A
P au l A lon zo Brown, The D evelopm ent o f th e Legend o f
1 Thomas B ec k e t (P h ila d e lp h ia * U n iv e r s it y o f P e n n s y lv a n ia
!P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 ), p . 7 . —^ -
21
p a t te r n w h ich p e r s i s t s amid v a r i a t io n from a g e to a g e , . , ."5
L ik e J u n g , sh e r e f e r s to t h e s e p e r s i s t e n t p a t t e r n s a s
" p r im o r d ia l im a g e s," w h ich i s s im ila r t o w hat Freud c a l l e d
th e " c o l l e c t i v e u n c o n s c io u s ."
There w ere o n ly two r e c e n t l y w r it t e n d i s s e r t a t i o n s
w h ich d e a l t d i r e c t l y w ith th e s u b j e c t o f Thomas B eck e t a s
a d r a m a tic c h a r a c t e r . One w as w r it t e n by S i s t e r Mary Aquin,;
and th e s t a t e d p u rp o se o f h e r stu d y was " to com pare th e
p u r p o se , form and te c h n iq u e s o f f i v e p la y w r ig h ts who h ave
w r it t e n on th e B ec k e t s t o r y . H o w e v e r , a c l e a r e r s t a t e
ment o f h e r p u rp ose m igh t be t o d is c o v e r th e m o tiv a tin g
f o r c e b eh in d f i v e p la y w r ig h ts ' d r a m a tiz a tio n o f B e c k e t.
A lth o u g h h e r d i s s e r t a t i o n f a l l s s h o r t o f i t s d e s ig n , i t was
v e r y u s e f u l a s a c r i t i c a l stu d y o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r i n
modern dram a, a s w e ll a s b e in g h e lp f u l i n th e d e s ig n o f th e |
p r e s e n t s tu d y . !
i
B io g r a p h ic a l M a te r ia ls
I t h a s b een p o in te d o u t a lr e a d y t h a t th e volum e o f j
b io g r a p h ic a l m a t e r ia ls o f Thomas B ec k e t was f a r to o immense
t o be c o n s id e r e d u s e f u l t o t h i s s tu d y . The n a tu r e o f th e
p r e s e n t work d id n o t demand t h a t e v e r y d e t a i l o f B e c k e t 's
^MAud B od k in , A r c h e ty p a l P a tte r n s i n P o e tr y (New
Yorki V antage B ook s, 1 9 6 1 ) , p . 4 .
1 * * S i s t e r Mary A quin, "A C om parative S tu d y o f F iv e P la y s
| o f th e B ec k et S to r y i By T en n yson , B ln y o n , E l i o t , A n o u ilh ,
! and Fry" (u n p u b lish e d P h.D . d i s s e r t a t i o n , U n iv e r s it y o f
! N o tre Dame, 1 9 6 3 )» P . l i .
I 22
l i f e be docum entedi r a t h e r , a good g e n e r a l k n ow led ge o f h i s
l i f e and le g e n d was n eed ed . T h e r e fo r e , R ich ard W in sto n 's
con tem p orary b io g ra p h y ? was th e m ost u s e f u l , and I t se r v e d
: i
e n t i r e l y a s th e so u r c e from w h ich th e m a t e r ia ls f o r th e I
f i r s t p a r t o f C hapter I I w ere o b ta in e d .
H ow ever, when more d e t a il e d I n fo r m a tio n w as n e e d e d ,
r e f e r e n c e w as made t o J . A. R o b e r ts o n 's se v e n v o lu m es o f
m a t e r ia ls i n th e R o lls S e r i e s .^ H is se v e n v o lu m es r e p r e - j
s e n te d th e m ost co m p le te c o l l e c t i o n o f b io g r a p h ic a l i n f o r -
i
m a tio n on th e p u b lic and p r iv a t e d ocu m en ts r e l a t i n g to th e
l i f e o f Thomas B eck et w h ich was a v a i l a b l e .
U n fo r tu n a te ly , much o f th e I n fo r m a tio n i n R o b e r ts o n 's
book s w as d i f f i c u l t to a s s i m i l a t e b e c a u se i t w as i n th e
!
o r i g i n a l L a tin . T h e r e fo r e , The L if e and D eath o f Thomas |
I
Q *
B e c k e t7 by G eorge Greenway was v e r y h e l p f u l b e c a u se i t j
c o n ta in e d m a t e r ia ls from R o b e r ts o n 's w orks w h ich had j
I
b eeh e d it e d and t r a n s la t e d in t o E n g lis h . j
? T h is r e f e r s t o R ich ard W in sto n 's Thomas B ec k e t (New
York* A lfr e d A. K nopf, 1 9 6 7 ) .
O
T h is r e f e r s t o J . A. R o b ertso n ( e d .), M a te r ia ls For
th e H is to r y o f Thomas B e c k e t. V o ls . I - V I I , R o lls S e r ie s
iLondon* B r i t i s h Museum, 1 & 7 5 -1 8 8 5 ).
^ T h is r e f e r s t o G eorge Greenway ( t r a n s . & e d .), The
L if e and D eath o f Thomas B eck e t C h a n c e llo r o f E ngland and
I A rch b ish o p o f C anterbury b ased on th e A ccount o f W illia m
F lt z s te p h e n h i s C lerk w ith A d d itio n s from o t h e r Contem
p o ra ry S o u rc es (London* F o lio S o c ie t y , L t d ., 1 9 6 1 ) .
23
B e c k e t 's H is to r ic a l-L e g e n d a r y F ig u r e
B e c k e t 's P a ren ta g e
I
B ecau se o f th e u n u su a l c ir c u m s ta n c e s o f B e c k e t 's l i f e , i
I
and more e s p e c i a l l y h i s d e a th , th e p o p u la r mind h a s a s - |
c r lb e d m ost u n u su a l and e x o t i c c ir c u m s ta n c e s t o h i s b i r t h , i
t
I
For ex a m p le, b e fo r e th e end o f th e t w e l f t h c e n tu r y p o p u la r j
|
t r a d i t i o n had e s t a b lis h e d th e m is c o n c e p tio n t h a t B e c k e t's
t
m oth er was a S aracen p r in c e s s whom h i s Saxon f a t h e r had met
w h ile In an A ra b ic p r is o n d u r in g th e F i r s t C ru sa d es. The
s t o r y h a s b een r e t o l d i n many v e r s io n s and h a s l a s t e d a s a n !
" e s t a b lis h e d ” f a c t u n t i l th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y . F u r th e r
m ore, such h i s t o r i a n s a s Hook, L y t t le t o n and T h ie r r y co n
t r ib u t e d t o e s t a b l i s h i n g th e m is c o n c e p tio n t h a t B e c k e t's
f a t h e r was a Saxon. T h is I s im p o rta n t i n th e p r e s e n t stu d y |
s in c e s e v e r a l o f th e p la y s u sed th e su p p osed Saxon b i r t h t o I
I
e s t a b l i s h B eck et a s a h ero o f th e common p e o p le in o p p o s i- J
i
t i o n t o h i s Norman k in g , Henry I I .
A c t u a lly , th e r e a r e a c c u r a te h i s t o r i c a l r e c o r d s w h ich j
have e s t a b lis h e d th a t Thomas' f a t h e r , G ilb e r t B e c k e t, was
born i n th e to w n sh ip o f T h i e r c e v i l l e , Normandy, and t h a t in
a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , h i s m other was a n a t iv e o f Caen. So i t
can be s e e n t h a t Thomas B eck et w as born t o a r a t h e r o r d i
n a ry m id d le - c la s s London Norman f a m ily . G ilb e r t B eck et was
a p r o sp e r o u s b u sin essm a n who had p r o b a b ly r e t i r e d b e fo r e
Thomas was b o rn . Some s o u r c e s sa y t h a t G ilb e r t l o s t a l l o f
I Zk
h i s p r o p e r ty In a g r e a t f i r e t h a t sw ept London d u r in g th e
same y e a r t h a t h i s so n w as h o rn , but th e c o in c id e n c e I s
r a t h e r s u s p e c t , and i t I s more p r o b a b le t h a t i t was th e
fam ous f i r e s o f 1 1 3 5 -3 6 w h ich d e s tr o y e d G i l b e r t ’ s p r o p e r ty
and l e f t him i n p o v e r ty .
Thomas' f a t h e r was t h e S h e r i f f o f London a t one t im e , j
w h ich , d u r in g th e M iddle A g es, was a h ig h -r a n k in g p o s i t i o n , j
As f o r B e c k e t's m other we know l i t t l e beyond th e f a c t t h a t j
1
sh e was c h a r it a b le and v e r y d e v o u t, w h ich m igh t a c c o u n t t o
some d e g r e e f o r th e r e l i g i o u s z e a l w h ich B eck et showed i n
i
l a t e r l i f e . A lth o u g h sh e was g e n e r a lly known by th e name
o f M a tild a , i n a t l e a s t one so u r c e sh e i s c a l l e d R o esa.
Thomas B eck et was born on Decem ber 2 1 , 1 1 1 8 , i n a
s e c t i o n o f London now known a s C h e a p sid e , i n a h o u se w h ich
h a s s in c e g iv e n way t o th e b u ild in g o f M ero er's C h ap el. He
was one o f fo u r c h ild r e n , h a v in g th r e e s i s t e r s — A g n es, Mary,
and R ose— and a c c o r d in g t o on e o f h i s con tem p orary b io g r a
p h e r s , W illia m P ltz S te p h e n , he le d a q u it e o r d in a r y l i f e
f o r h i s f i r s t t e n y e a r s i n London.
B e c k e t's Youth
B eck et was t e n when he w as s e n t t o s c h o o l a t th e House
o f Canons a t M erton i n S u r r e y . He p r o b a b ly s ta y e d th e r e
a b o u t th r e e o r fo u r y e a r s b e f o r e he r e tu r n e d t o London t o
e n r o l l i n s c h o o l.
I t was d u r in g th e l a t t e r p a r t o f t h i s p e r io d t h a t
25
B eck et had an o p p o r tu n ity t o wander ab o u t London v ie w in g
th e f i n e r e s id e n c e s o f b is h o p s , a b b o ts , and l a y m a g is t r a te s ,
and t h i s p r o b a b ly w h etted h i s a p p e t it e f o r th e lu x u r io u s j
l i f e he l a t e r e n jo y e d a s C h a n c e llo r o f E n glan d . j
i
G ilb e r t B eck et was a h o s p it a b le and i n f l u e n t i a l man. !
!
Many g u e s t s from th e f i n e s t f a m i l i e s o f London v i s i t e d h i s I
l
home, and ofie o f t h e s e was a noblem an by th e name o f
B ic h e r de l ' A i g l e , who ta u g h t young Thomas th e a r t s o f |
v e n e r y and f a lc o n r y , w h ich l a t e r made B eck et v e r y p o p u la r
in t h e e y e s o f H enry I I .
i
B e c k e t* s E d u c a tio n
At th e a g e o f s e v e n te e n o r e ig h t e e n , B eck et l e f t
London f o r P a r is . At t h a t tim e P a r is was th e s e a t o f c u l - i
t u r e , and s tu d e n t s from a l l o v e r th e C h r is tia n w orld w ere
a t t r a c t e d th e r e by su ch fam ous t e a c h e r s a s P e te r A b elard
and B ernard o f C la ir v a u x . W hile i n P a r is B eck et u n d ou b ted ly
came un d er th e in f lu e n c e o f b o th o f t h e s e g r e a t t e a c h e r s
and t h e d ich o to m y o f t h e i r p h ilo s o p h ie s — w h ile A b ela rd was
i
th e a d v o c a te o f r e a s o n , B ernard w as th e ep ito m y o f f a i t h . j
!
I t w as th e j u x t a p o s it io n o f t h e s e two p h ilo s o p h ie s w h ich !
o f t e n p la c e d B eck et in a dilem m a d u r in g th e lo n g s t r u g g le
w ith Henry I I d u r in g th e y e a r s o f B e c k e t* s e x i l e .
B e c k e t* s c l o s e f r ie n d , John o f S a lis b u r y , sp e n t tw e lv e
y e a r s s tu d y in g i n P a r is , but Thomas r e tu r n e d t o London
a f t e r o n ly t h r e e o r fo u r . P erh ap s h i s r e tu r n was prom pted
26
l
by th e d e a th o f h i s m oth er o r th e f i n a n c i a l r e v e r s e s o f h i s
f a t h e r , o r b o th . In an y c a s e , he was back i n London by
1140 and f o r a p e r io d o f tim e d e v o te d h im s e lf t o s o l i t a r y
|
s tu d y . At th e end o f h i s tw e n ty -se c o n d y e a r he l e f t home j
i
and a c c e p te d em ploym ent from a k in sm an , O sbern H u itd e n ie r s . !
!
T h ere i s r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t O sbern was S h e r i f f o f L on- j
1
don a t th e tim e and t h a t Thomas worked a s h i s s c r i b e . |
S in c e th e S h e r i f f o f London was an im p o rta n t p o l i t i c a l j
o f f i c e i n Medieval E n g la n d , h i s work a s a s c r ib e c o n tr ib u te d
en o rm o u sly t o h i s p o l i t i c a l e d u c a tio n .
T hree y e a r s a f t e r h i s r e tu r n t o London, a m ajor tu r n in g
p o in t i n B e c k e t* s c a r e e r came w ith h i s a p p o in tm en t t o a
p o s i t i o n i n th e h o u se h o ld o f A rch b ish o p T h eo b o ld . A lth o u g h
he met o p p o s it io n from some members o f T h eo b o ld * s c o u r t , he
I
e v e n t u a lly won th e c o n fid e n c e o f th e A r ch b ish o p , and around I
i
1145 was s e n t t o B ologn a and t o A uxerre t o a t te n d t h e i r j
t
fam ous s c h o o ls o f canon la w . Thomas was s e n t a t T h eo b o ld * s
e x p e n se b e c a u se he was b e in g groom ed f o r th e p o s i t i o n o f
i
A rchdeacon o f C an terb u ry , th e k e y l e g a l and a d m in is t r a t iv e
p o s t i n T h e o b o ld 's h o u se h o ld . I t was t e n y e a r s , th o u g h ,
b e fo r e B eok et was t o be r a is e d t o t h a t p o s t , and th e n he
h e ld i t f o r o n ly a s h o r t p e r io d b e fo r e he w as made Chan
c e l l o r o f England, by H enry I I . L i t t l e i s known o f th e t e n
y e a r p e r io d b etw een 1 1 4 5 -1 1 5 5 » b u t o f th e f a c t s a v a i l a b l e
we can su rm ise t h a t B eok et s e r v e d T h eob old f a i t h f u l l y ,
w h ich w as t o become h i s s i n g l e m ost c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t r a i t .
27
In l a t e r l i f e he was t o s e r v e w ith e q u a l z e a l and stu b b o r n
n e s s , f i r s t th e s t a t e th e n th e Church.
C h a n c e llo r o f E ngland
As e a r l y a s Jan u ary o f 1155 B e c k e t* s name a p p ea red a s
i
w it n e s s t o r o y a l c h a r t e r s , i n d i c a t i n g he had b een a p p o in te d j
C h a n c e llo r . A lth o u g h th e o f f i c e o r i g i n a l l y had n o t b een a j
p o w er fu l p o s i t i o n , w it h in a s h o r t tim e Thomas B eck et became j
th e m ost p o w e rfu l o f f i c i a l i n th e re a lm , seco n d o n ly t o t h e j
k in g . In d e e d , d u r in g h i s c h a n c e llo r s h ip i t was s a id t h a t
he and th e K ing grew so c l o s e t h a t th e y began t o th in k and
a c t a lm o st a s one p e r so n . T h is in tim a c y w ith th e K ing was '
c e r t a i n l y bought a t a d e a r p r i c e , f o r i t a r o u se d th e j e a l
o u sy and h a tr e d o f many c o u r t i e r s and churchm en, who l a t e r
k e p t Henry and A rch b ish o p B eck et a t sw o r d 's p o in t . j
D u rin g th e n e x t s i x y e a r s B eck et s e r v e d Henry w ith an |
a rd o r seldom known by any o th e r k in g . He n o t o n ly k ep t !
E n g la n d 's f l n a n o i a l and p o l i t i c a l a f f a i r s i n o r d e r , b u t he
a l s o a c te d a s th e k i n g ' s p e r s o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t iv e t o th e
Pope on s e v e r a l o c c a s io n s , le d a n army a g a in s t H e n ry 's
en em ies on th e c o n t in e n t , and a rra n g ed su ch i n t e r n a t i o n a l
p o l i t i c a l co u p s a s th e m a rria g e o f young H enry and P r in c e s s
M a rg u erite o f F rance in o r d e r t o cem ent r e l a t i o n s b etw een
t h e s e n o r m a lly h o s t i l e n a t io n s .
| 28
! The A rch b ish op o f C an terb u ry
A fte r a le n g th y i l l n e s s , A roh b ish op T h eob old o f Can-
I te r b u r y d ie d on A p r il 1 8 , l l 6 l . T h is tu r n o f e v e n t s was
t o have th e m ost p ro fo u n d e f f e c t on t h e l i v e s o f H enry I I
; and Thomas B e c k e t. H enry, who a t th e tim e w as h a v in g
I t r o u b le w ith t h e Church, b e lie v e d t h a t h i s f r ie n d th e
C h a n c e llo r w ould do h i s b id d in g e v en a s A rch b ish o p o f
C a n terb u ry1 t h e r e f o r e , a b o u t o n e y e a r a f t e r th e d e a th o f
T h eo b o ld , he a sk ed t h a t th e b is h o p s e l e c t B eok et t o t h a t
p o s i t i o n .
When B eok et le a r n e d o f th e K in g 's i n t e n t i o n , he v i g o r
o u s ly p r o t e s t e d , t e l l i n g H enry t h a t he fe a r e d t h i s w ould be
th e end o f t h e i r f r ie n d s h ip . H is p r e d ic t io n was t o p ro v e
fiiost t r u e , f o r t h e i r f r ie n d s h ip tu r n e d t o v io le n c e and
h a tr e d d u r in g th e n in e y e a r s o f t h i s h i s t o r i c b a t t l e betw een
Church and S t a t e .
D e s p ite th e p r o t e s t o f B e c k e t, th e a d v ic e o f H e n r y 's
m o th er, h i s f r ie n d s and th e o p p o s it io n o f some o f t h e b i s
h o p s, Henry I I v i r t u a l l y f o r c e d B e c k e t* s e l e c t i o n t o th e
o f f i c e o f A rch b ish o p o f C an terb u ry . B e o k e t 's c o n s e c r a t io n
to o k p la c e on June 3» 1 1 6 2 , i n C h r i s t ' s Church a t C a n ter
b u ry. A fte r th e solem n r i t e o f consecra& i& n w as o v e r ,
Thomas m ounted th e e ig h t s to n e s t e p s t o h i s s e a t t o c e l e
b r a te Mass and d e c la r e t h a t t h i s d ay w ould h e n c e fo r th be
; known a s T r in it y Sunday. He c o u ld n o t h ave made i t more
; c l e a r t h a t he in te n d e d t o s e r v e th e H o ly T r i n i t y , and by
! so d o in g he w ould become a s f a i t h f u l t o th e S o v e r e ig n o f
Heaven a s he had b een t o t h e S o v e r e ig n o f E n glan d . Most o f
th e p e o p le t h e r e r e j o ic e d b e c a u se th e lo n g p e r io d w ith o u t a
p r e la t e i n E ngland had en d ed i b u t th e r e w ere th o s e who f e l t
a s G ilb e r t F o l i o t , B ish o p o f H erfo rd , when he s n e e r e d , "The,
k in g h a s worked a m ir a c le . Out o f a s e c u la r man and a j
s o l d i e r he h a s made an a r c h b ish o p !" * 0 I
i
No m a tte r what th e o t h e r r e a s o n s f o r t h e lo n g c o n t r o - J
I
v e r s y b etw een Henry I I and Thomas B eck e t w er e, t h e i r d i f
f e r e n c e s i n i t i a l l y grew o u t o f th e q u e s t io n o f th e J u r is - j
d i c t i o n o v e r f e l o n i o u s c l e r k s . I t w as t h i s i s s u e t h a t
prom pted Henry t o c a l l th e C o u n c ils a t W e stm in iste r (1 1 6 3 )
and C laren d en (11 6b) w here he a tte m p te d t o f o r c e B eck et to
sw ear t h a t th e Church owed f e a l t y t o th e S t a t e and t h a t
f e l o n i o u s c le r k s sh o u ld be tu r n e d o v e r t o s e c u la r c o u r t s .
F i n a l l y , under extrem e d u r e s s B eck et f e l t o b lig e d t o s ig n j
th e p rop osed C o n s t it u t io n o f C laren d on . He a lm o st imme
d i a t e l y fo r sw o re h i s o a t h , h ow ever, an a c t w h ich so a n g ered
Henry t h a t he c a l l e d th e C o u n cil o f N orthham pton (N ovem ber,
1 1 6 4 ) and lo d g e d p e r s o n a l c h a r g e s a g a in s t B e c k e t, m aking
u n r e a so n a b le demands o f lo a n r e p a r a t io n s . B ec k e t r e f u s e d
t o m eet th e Judgment o f th e K ing and e v e n t u a lly a p p e a le d
h i s c a s e t o th e Pope. M eanw hile, d r iv e n by f e a r f o r h i s
*0R ich ard W in ston , Thomas B eok et (New Yorks A lfr e d A.
K nopf, 1 9 6 7 ) , P. 12 4 .
l i f e , he s t o l e away from N orthham pton, m aking h i s way t o
Sandw ich I s la n d and from th e r e by open b o a t t o P r a n ce.
T h is was th e b e g in n in g o f B e c k e t 's se v e n y e a r s o f
e x i l e and th e lo n g , f u t i l e n e g o t ia t i o n s w h ich w ere t o end
f i n a l l y i n a s u p e r f i c i a l r e c o n c i l i a t i o n b etw een H enry I I
! ;
and B eok et on J u ly 2 2 , 1170* a t P r e t e v a l. For fo u r m onths j
a f t e r t h e P r e t e v a l M eetin g b o th s i d e s o a r r ie d on n e g o t ia - |
t io n s j f i n a l l y , on Decem ber 1 , 1 1 7 0 , B eck et s e t s a i l f o r
E n glan d . T h is was t o be h i s l a s t t r i p t o C a n terb u ry, f o r
i t ended in h i s d e a th and su b seq u en t martyrdom on Decem ber I
2 9 , 1 1 7 0 .
i
B efo r e le a v in g f o r E n g la n d , he had a p p lie d t o Pope '
j
A lex a n d er f o r th e power t o excom m unicate th e B ish o p o f
York and a l l who had h e lp e d i n th e c o r o n a tio n o f Young
Henry. The b is h o p s , upon h e a r in g o f t h i s had a p p e a le d
im m e d ia te ly t o Henry I I who had rem ain ed on th e c o n t in e n t .
When he h eard o f B e c k e t 's a c t i o n , Henry had b u r s t i n t o a
r a g e and had u t t e r e d th e fam ous s p e e c h , "What d i s l o y a l
cow ards do I have i n my c o u r t , t h a t n o t one w i l l faree me
o f t h i s low b orn p r i e s t J O n th e t w e n ty -n in th day a f t e r
j
B eck et had s e t s a i l f o r E n glan d th e fo u r b a ro n s o f K ing
H enry, h e e d in g th e w ords o f t h e a n g ry k in g , had m urdered
th e A rch b ish o p i n C h r i s t ' s Church C hapel a t C an terb u ry.
! B e o k e t's Martyrdom and L egendry
B e o k e t's d e a th , h o w ev er, was more th e b e g in n in g o f h i s
s t o r y th a n th e en d , f o r he became an e v e n more im p o rta n t
h i s t o r i c a l , l i t e r a r y and le g e n d a r y f ig u r e a f t e r h i s d e a th .
H is d e a th was one o f th e m ost sh o c k in g and im p o r ta n t e v e n t s
o f t h e M ed iev a l C h r is tia n w o r ld . In d e a th , B eok et won th e
!
m oral v i c t o r y w h ich he had fo u g h t f o r so v ig o r o u s ly i n |
l i f e , and by so d o in g he r e f l e c t e d h on or upon h i s C hurch, j
!
C a n terb u ry , and a l l o f E n glan d .
For n e a r ly fo u r c e n t u r ie s B eck et was th e m ost p o p u la r j
C h r is tia n s a in t i n E n glan d . The n a tu r e o f h i s d e a th had
sh ock ed th e e n t ir e C h r is tia n w o r ld , e s p e c i a l l y th e p e o p le
o f E n g la n d , and he a lm o st Im m ed ia tely became a p o p u la r
cham pion o f th e E n g lis h com m onfolk. The r a p i d i t y w ith
w h ich le g e n d s grew up around h i s l i f e and d e a th w as p h e
n om enal. He was p r o c la im e d a s a in t more th a n two y e a r s
i
b e fo r e he w as fo r m a lly c a n o n iz e d i n March o f 1173 "by Pope
A lex a n d er . As a m a t t e r - o f - f a c t , when th e monks o f C a n ter
bury C a th ed ra l had p lu c k e d up t h e i r co u ra g e enough t o
r e tu r n t o th e sc e n e o f h i s murder and p la c e h i s body upon
th e a l t a r , a s r e p o r te d by h i s co n tem p o ra ry , F itz S te p h e n ,
th e y d is c o v e r e d t h a t he wore a h a i r s h i r t u n d ern ea th h i s
h a b it and im m e d ia te ly f e l l a t h i s f e e t t o v e n e r a te him
i 32
a s s a in t and m a r ty r .* 2 T hroughout E ngland m ir a c le s w ere
a s c r ib e d t o th e pow ers o f " S t. Thomas"i and b e fo r e th e
y e a r had p a s s e d , common f o lk l o r e had p ro cla im e d him phy
s i c i a n , m e d ia to r , and red eem er. "Thus began th e c u l t o f
S t . Thomas, w h ich p r o fo u n d ly a f f e c t e d l i f e and th o u g h t j
down t o th e R efo rm a tio n . The name o f th e s a in t s u g g e s te d '
i
a p a r a l l e l w ith th e A p o s tle Thomas, and th e p a r a l l e l b e - !
i
tw een C h r is t and B eck et c o n s t a n t ly r e c u r s i n th e l i t e r a t u r e j
o f th e t i m e . D u r i n g th e t h ir t e e n t h c e n tu r y when h i s ,
p o p u la r ity was a t i t s h e ig h t , th e name o f C h r i s t ' s Church
a t C an terb u ry was changed t o S t . Thomas' Church, and th e
o f f e r i n g s a t th e s h r in e o f B eck et f a r oversh ad ow ed th o s e
a t th e a l t a r o f C h r i s t . ^
As a m a t t e r - o f - f a c t , c h u r ch e s and s h r in e s d e d ic a te d t o
B eck et n o t o n ly sp ran g up a l l o v e r E n g la n d , b u t soon e x
te n d e d t o o th e r C a th o lic c o u n t r ie s ! F r a n ce, S p a in and
I t a l y . S even y e a r s a f t e r B e c k e t's d e a th , f o r ex a m p le,
W illia m , Kind o f S i c i l y , p la c e d a s t a t u e o f B eck et among
* 2 P au l A lon zo Brown, The D evelopm ent o f th e Legend o f
Thomas B eok et ( P h ila d e lp h ia ! U n iv e r s it y o f P e n n s y lv a n ia
P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 ), p . 1 8 , c i t i n g J . C. R o b e r tso n , e d . , M a te r ia ls
f o r th e H is to r y o f Thomas B e c k e t. I I ( London* R o lls S e r ie s .
No. 6 7 , 1 8 7 5 -1 8 8 5 ). P. 1 4 6 .
1 3 I b l d .
*^I b l d . , c i t i n g G eorge L y t t e lt o n , H is to r y o f th e L if e
o f K ing H enry th e S eco n d . IV (London* n .p . , 1 7 6 7 )» p .
3h b . _______ ______________
33
1 * 5
th e s a i n t s and w o r th ie s i n a ch u rch n ea r P alem o. The
p ilg r im a g e s t o B e c k e t 's s h r in e a t C anterbury w ere so com
m onplace t h a t , by th e end o f th e f i f t e e n t h c e n tu r y , th e y
became th e s u b j e c t o f no l e s s a fam ous l i t e r a r y s a t i r e th a n
C h a u ce r's C anterbury T a le s . As was im p lie d by C h a u cer's
s t o r i e s , t h e s e z e a lo u s p ilg r im a g e s gave many u n sc r u p u lo u s i
I n d iv id u a ls th e o p p o r tu n ity t o tu r n a handsome p r o f i t s t h e i
s h r in e and th e su rro u n d in g tow n o f C an terb u ry became a j
!
com m ercial v e n tu r e d e a lin g n o t o n ly i n accom m od ation s f o r
th e p ilg r im s , but in a l l k in d s o f fa k e " r e lic s " and "miracvnj
lo u s " m e d ic in e s . C o n d itio n s a t C an terb u ry became so immoral
t h a t th e "B ecket C ult" w as denounced by some o f th e le a d in g :
C a th o lic c le r g y o f t h a t tim e . T h is a c t , o f c o u r s e , le d t o
a d e c l i n e In th e p o p u la r it y o f " S t. B eck et" and a lm o s t com -;
p l e t e l y e lim in a t e d h i s f o llo w in g i n G reat B r it a in .
An e v e n t w h ich h a s th e m ost c u r io u s p a r a l l e l t o th e
b i t t e r b a t t l e b etw een Henry I I and Thomas B eck et o c c u r r e d
d u r in g th e e a r ly p a r t o f th e s ix t e e n t h c e n tu r y . T h is was
Henry V I I I ' s b a t t l e w ith th e C hurch, w h ich r e s u lt e d In th e
e x e c u t io n o f h i s C h a n c e llo r , Thomas More, b e c a u se More
w ould n o t r e c o g n iz e H en ry 's d iv o r c e from h i s f i r s t w if e .
As a r e s u l t o f h i s a n g e r tow ard th e C a th o lic Church and
More, H enry V III I s s u e d a p r o c la m a tio n In 1538s
* 5 i b i d . , c i t i n g Mrs. Jam eson, L egend s o f th e M o n a stic
O rd ers, S ix t h E d it io n (Londons [n .p 7 ] , 1 8 ^ 0 ), pp . 1 0 7 -
108.
I 34
i
j (1 ) s a y in g t h a t B eok et had b een "a r e b e l and a t r a i t o r ; "
(2 ) t h a t th e s h r in e a t C an terb u ry be to r n down and th e
i
g o ld and p r e c io u s s t o n e s be p la c e d i n th e B oyal T rea su ry ;
(3 ) t h a t B eok et n e v e r a g a in be r e f e r r e d t o a s S a in t Thomas
b u t o n ly a s b ish o p ; (4 ) t h a t a l l f e s t i v a l s c e le b r a t in g
B e c k e t' s memory be sto p p ed and h i s name be e r a s e d from a l l
th e ch u rch b ook s; and (5 ) f i n a l l y , t h a t B e c k e t's b o n es be j
d i s i n t e r r e d , b u rn ed , and s c a t t e r e d in some unknown p la c e .
T h is a n g ry r e a c t io n from th e K ing o f E ngland tow ard B eck et
and th e C a th o lic Church v i r t u a l l y h a lt e d a l l op en d e v o t io n
t o th e memory o f S t . Thomas, and n e a r ly a l l b io g r a p h ic a l,
!
h i s t o r i c a l , and l i t e r a r y r e f e r e n c e s t o B eck et from t h i s
tim e t o th e end o f th e e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y became c r i t i c a l , j
Of c o u r s e , th e r e w ere th o s e i n E ngland who rem ain ed sympa-
i t h e t i c t o th e C a th o lic C hurch, and u n d o u b ted ly th e y s e
c r e t l y lo o k e d t o B eck et f o r s p i r i t u a l s tr e n g t h d u r in g tim e s
o f d is c r im in a t io n and p e r s e c u t io n .
A ls o , d e s p it e th e a n g ry a t t a c k s o f th e c le r g y o f th e
n ew ly -fo rm ed Church o f E n g la n d , B eck et was s t i l l reg a rd ed
by many a s a h ero o f th e common p e o p le . A lth o u g h th e h i s
t o r i c a l B eck et may have b een a r r o g a n t and a l o o f , he ob
t a in e d th e im age o f a le a d e r o f th e p e o p le who had fo u g h t
a g a in s t a d e s p o t ic k in g . T h is was f u r t h e r b orne o u t by
* ^A rthur Jam es Mason, What Became o f th e Bones o f S t .
Thomas? (Cam bridge* U n iv e r s it y o f Cambridge P r e s s , 1 9 2 0 ),
p . 1 2 5 .
35
i th e f a c t t h a t b o th E n g lis h commoners and lo r d s t r a v e le d to
C an terb u ry t o r e o e iv e th e s p e c i a l b l e s s i n g s o f S t . Thomas.
As A lon zo Brown s ta te d *
T here i s a p e c u lia r a p p e a l i n m artyrdom . In th e
e y e s o f th e p e o p le B e c k e t's d e a th made aton em en t f o r
e v e r y t h in g t h a t th e y m igh t have q u e s tio n e d i n h i s
l i f e , and th e y a t o n ce en th ro n ed him a s s a i n t . The
d is c o v e r y t h a t he had i n f l i c t e d m o n a stic a u s t e r i t i e s
upon h im s e lf co n firm ed th e p e o p le i n th e b e l i e f t h a t
he had b een a s a in t d u r in g h i s l i f e t i m e . The p o p u la r
im a g in a tio n was a r o u se d ; le g e n d im m e d ia te ly began t o
grow up. M ir a c le s w ere r e p o r te d a t th e tomb; im a g i
n a ry a d v e n tu r e s came t o be a s c r ib e d t o him; h i s a r r o
g a n c e , h i s im p e r io u s a c t i o n s w ere f o r g o t t e n , and th e
B eck et o f h i s t o r y became m erged i n th e B eck et o f popu
l a r b e l i e f , 1 7
W ith t h e l i b e r a l i z a t i o n o f la w s , i f n o t a t t i t u d e s ,
tow ard C a th o lic is m in th e n in e te e n t h c e n tu r y and w ith a
renew ed i n t e r e s t in a n tlq u a r ia n is m , B eck e t o n ce more became
a w ell-k n o w n a n d , i n some c a s e s , sy m p a th e tic h i s t o r i c a l and
l i t e r a r y f ig u r e . He had a lw a y s b een a c o n t r o v e r s ia l p e r
s o n a l i t y . Even h i s con tem p orary b io g r a p h e r s c o u ld n o t
a g r e e s he had b een v a r io u s ly p o r tr a y e d a s a p aragon — i n
c o r r u p t ib le , h o n e s t , k in d ly , v i o l e n t , i n t o l e r a n t , c a p r i
c io u s , and narrow -m inded— a n d , o f c o u r s e , th e span o f tim e
b etw een h i s d e a th and th e n in e te e n t h c e n tu r y o n ly in c r e a s e d
th e i n t e n s i t y o f t h i s c o n tr o v e r s y . E ven to d a y , a f t e r
s i f t i n g and r e s i f t i n g a l l th e e v id e n c e , h i s t o r i a n s , b io g r a
p h e r s , and l i t e r a r y men can f in d no agreem en t a s t o th e
^Paul A lon zo Brown, The D evelopm ent o f th e Legend o f
Thomas B eo k et ( P h ila d e lp h ia : U n iv e r s it y o f P e n n sy lv a n ia
P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 ) , p . 25 .
36
r e a l n a tu r e o f t h i s t r u l y e n ig m a tic man o f m e d ie v a l E ngland.
A H is to r y o f B e o k e t* s D ram atic C h a ra cter
The h i s t o r i c a l d a ta w h ich we have J u st exam ined c e r
t a i n l y a t t e s t s t o th e e s s e n t i a l l y "dram atic" n a tu r e o f
i
B e c k e t 's l i f e , and more p a r t i c u l a r l y , t o h i s d e a th . j
F u rth erm ore, a s A le th e a H ayter p o in te d o u t* !
j
Not o n ly w ere th e e v e n t s o f h i s l i f e — th e b a t t l e s
o f w i l l and w i t , th e e s c a p e s , th e c h e e r in g crow d s— !
n a tu r a l d ra m a tic m a t e r ia ls , but he h im s e lf w as a lw a y s
c o n s c io u s o f th e a u d ie n c e , in h i s u t t e r a n c e s , i n h i s
g e s t u r e s , ev en i n h i s d r e s s ; he a lw a y s d r e s s e d f o r
th e p a r t o f th e o c c a s io n , w h eth er i t was i n th e sw eep - j
in g em b roid ered s l e e v e s o f th e m a g n ific e n t C h a n c e llo r
o r th e h a i r - s h i r t o f th e new-made A rch b ish o p ; th e f u l l
c a n o n ic a ls i n w h ich he c o n fr o n te d h i s e n e m ie s a t N orth
hampton o r th e g r e y C is t e r c ia n cow l w h ich he donned a t ,
P o n tig n y ; h i s v e r y l a s t g e s t u r e , a s he f e l l m o r ta lly
w ounded, w as t o a rr a n g e h i s r o b e s so t h a t he w ould
make a d e c e n t and d i g n i f i e d c o r p s e . He a c t e d h i s l a s t
r o l e u n t i l he t r u l y became th e c h a r a c te r t h a t he was
a c t i n g . 18 j
When t h e s e f a c t o r s i n th e l i f e and tim e s o f B eck e t
w ere com b in ed , th e i n e v i t a b l e r e s u l t was th e d ev elo p m en t
o f a la r g e body o f m y th ic a l m a te r ia l from w h ich w ere drawn
b o th p o p u la r f o l k - t a l e s and l i t e r a t u r e . B e c k e t* s m a rty r
dom made him more p o p u la r th a n any o t h e r churchman o f th e
E n g lis h m e d ie v a l p e r io d , and a s Brown h a s s ta te d *
1 O N,
A O A le th e a H a y te r , "Thomas A, B eck et and th e D r a m a tis t,"
E s s a y s by D iv e r s Hands (London* O xford U n iv e r s it y P r e s s ,
1 9 6 6 ) , pp . 9 0 -9 1 .
In E ngland d u r in g th e M iddle A g es, th e g r e a t e s t
s u b j e c t s f o r m yth-m aking w ere K ing A rth u r, Thomas
B e c k e t, R ich ard th e L io n h e a r te d , and R obin Hood.
Of t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s , a l l o f whom became n a t io n a l
h e r o e s , B eck et was n o t th e l e a s t . . . .* 9
The h i s t o r i c a l , m y th ic a l, and l i t e r a r y m a t e r ia ls p e r
t a in i n g t o B eck et h ave d e v e lo p e d p r o l l f i c a l l y , le a v in g u s
j
w ith th e t r l p l i c i t y o f B e o k e t's c h a r a c te r * j
T here a r e th r e e B eck ets* th e B eck et o f H is t o r y , I
th e B eck et o f L egen d , and th e B ec k e t o f L it e r a t u r e . !
T hat t h e s e f ig u r e s som etim es o v e r la p d o e s n o t d e t r a c t
from th e g e n e r a l t r u t h o f th e s ta te m e n t. In some r e
s p e c t s th e le g e n d r y and th e l i t e r a r y f ig u r e s a r e more
i n t e r e s t i n g th a n th e h i s t o r i c a l o n e , f o r th e y show th e
p o p u la r and so m etim es a r t i s t i c im a g in a tio n w ork in g !
th ro u g h lo n g p e r io d s o f tim e upon a n u c le u s o f f a c t , I
and f r e q u e n t ly r e s o l v in g th e c h a r a c te r in t o an i d e a l .
A r e v ie w o f th e e x ta n t p la y s d e a lin g w ith B eck et c e r -
I
t a i n l y con firm ed B row n's s ta te m e n t. The l i t e r a r y B e c k e t's
c h a r a c te r was a s d iv e r s e a s th e number o f p la y s w r it t e n
a b ou t him , and a lth o u g h th e b a s e s f o r a l l th e p la y s w ere j
drawn from e s s e n t i a l l y th e same body o f in fo r m a tio n , ea ch
i
p la y w r ig h t m olded th e h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y m a t e r ia ls to
s u i t h i s own s p e c i f i c n e e d s .
N e v e r t h e le s s , a s th e p la y s w ere a n a ly z e d f o r th e f i r s t
t im e , i t was n o te d t h a t B e c k e t's b a s ic c h a r a c te r ap p eared
t o f o llo w s i g n i f i c a n t p a t t e r n s in i t s d e v elo p m e n t. For
I
ex a m p le, d u r in g th e f i r s t h a l f o f th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y
i$ P a u l A lon zo Brown, The D evelopm ent o f th e Legend o f
Thomas B eck et (P h ila d e lp h ia * U n iv e r s it y o f P e n n y slv a n ia
P r e s s , 1 9 3 0 ), p. 7 .
20I b ld .
I B eck et was sy m b o lic o f s e v e r a l v a r i a t io n s on th e daem onic
n a tu r e o f man o r o f th e e v i l h a l f o f th e M anichean im age.
A f te r I 863 B eck et assu m es th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f a p o s i t i v e
h e r o , w ith a l l o f th e r e q u ir e m e n ts o f th e good h a l f o f th e
M anichean f ig u r e . I t was w it h in t h i s a m b iv a le n ce o f c h a r -
I
a c t e r f i n th e l i t e r a r y a s w e ll a s th e h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y j
!
I
B e c k e t, t h a t th e cru x o f th e problem o f t h i s stu d y was d i s - |
c o v e r e d . A lth o u g h B e c k e t* s s e v e n te e n c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s
w ere com plex and u n iq u e , th e y f e l l c o m fo r ta b ly in t o two
broad c a t e g o r i e s , w h ich , i n th e m s e lv e s , b ore to o c l o s e a
I
r e l a t i o n s h i p t o be e n t i r e l y c o i n c i d e n t a l .
In o r d e r t h a t we can b e t t e r u n d ersta n d t h e s e p a t t e r n s .
o f c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n w it h in th e s e v e n te e n p la y s under co n
s id e r a t i o n , l e t u s tu r n t o an h i s t o r i c a l su r v e y o f a l l
p la y s w h ich have in some way d e a l t w ith th e B eck et s t o r y . j
j
P la y s B e fo r e 1692 j
A lth o u g h i t h a s b een p o in te d o u t t h a t a lm o st w ith o u t
e x c e p t io n th e s a i n t ' s p la y s o f th e M iddle A ges have p e r
i s h e d , 2* t h e r e i s good e v id e n c e t o su p p o rt th e id e a t h a t
some form o f drama d e p ic t in g th e l i f e and m artyrdom o f
Thomas B eck et came t o be perform ed w it h in a s h o r t tim e
a f t e r h i s d e a th . For ex a m p le, H arbage r e f e r r e d t o a l o s t
m a n u scrip t w h ich was f i r s t m en tion ed a s b e in g p erform ed a t
21Gordon H a ll G er r o u ld , S a in t s ' L egend s (New Yorki
H oughton M i f f l i n & C o ., 1 9 1 6 ), p . 2 9 4 .
I 39
'L in c o ln C a th ed ra l i n 1321 o r 1 3 2 2 .22 P resu m ab ly, th e t e x t
was in th e form o f a L a tin l i t u r g i c a l dram a. He a l s o r e
fe r r e d to a g u ild p r o c e s s io n on th e same s u b je c t w h ich was i
perform ed a t N orw ich , N o r fo lk , d u r in g th e f i f t e e n t h and
s ix t e e n t h c e n t u r i e s , 23 S im ila r ly , G errou ld r e f e r r e d t o j
|
th e fo llo w in g * j
. . .i n t e r l u d e s o f S t , Thomas B eck et w ere p la y e d i
a t K in g * s Lynn and N orw ich , i n N o r fo lk — in th e form er :
p la c e a s e a r ly a s 1 3 8 5 . At C an terb u ry , r a th e r c u r - j
i o u s l y th e o n ly m en tio n o f S t . Thomas i n c o n n e c tio n !
w ith th e drama c o n c e r n s th e p a g e a n t, p r o b a b ly a dumb-
show , w h ich was h e ld on h i s d ay from. 1504—5 u n t i l f a r
on i n th e r e ig n o f Queen E liz a b e t h . ^
The l a t t e r p a r t o f t h i s sta te m e n t can c e r t a i n l y be c a l l e d
in t o q u e s t io n s in c e i t i s g e n e r a lly a g r e e d t h a t th e open
m e m o r ia liz a tio n o f B eck et was d is c o n t in u e d a f t e r Henry V III
p u b lis h e d an e d i c t i n 1538 d e c la r in g t h a t B eck et was a j
t r a i t o r , w hose name sh o u ld b e , among o th e r t h i n g s , e r a s e d
; from th e ch u rch b o o k s. I t d o e s , h o w ev er, r e a f f ir m o u r co n
v i c t i o n t h a t dram as a b o u t B eck et w ere f a i r l y p o p u la r from
th e f o u r te e n t h t o th e e a r l y p a r t o f th e s ix t e e n t h c e n tu r y .
Even more c e r t a in th a n t h e s e p la y s was on e w h ich was
w r it t e n d u r in g th e e a r l y p a r t o f th e s ix t e e n t h c e n tu r y by
B ish o p John B a le . Som etim e d u r in g th e y e a r s b etw een 1536
and 1539 he r e p o r t e d ly p u b lis h e d a p la y e n t i t l e d Be
22A lfr e d Harbage ( r e v is e d by S. Schcenbaum ), A n n a ls o f
E n g lis h Drama 9 7 5 -1 7 0 0 (London* Metheun & Co. L t d ., 1 9 6 4 ),
’ P . 1 5 .
2 ^I b l d . ^ G e r r o u ld , o p . o l t . . p . 2 9 9 .
40
i
I m p o s tu r le s Thomea B e c k e tl o r The K n a v e r ie s o f Thomas
B e c k e t. w h ich we can be q u it e c e r t a in d e a lt w ith th e co n
f l i c t b etw een B eck et and Henry I I . I t can be su rm ised
fu r t h e r t h a t th e drama was a n t i- C a t h o l ic and a n t l- B e c k e t
b e c a u se B a le was one o f th e m ost f a n a t i c a l s u p p o r te r s o f
|
th e n ew ly e s t a b lis h e d Church o f E n glan d .
The e x a c t d a te o f p u b lic a t io n h a s n o t b een e s t a b l i s h e d j
s in c e th e p la y h a s b een l o s t , b u t th e tim e i n w h ich i t was j
I
w r it t e n can be e s t a b lis h e d by th e in fo r m a tio n w h ich we have
a b o u t B a le and from B a le c o n c e r n in g h i s d r a m a tic w r it in g s .
!
For ex a m p le, H ardin C raig p o in t s ou t*
John B a le (1 4 9 5 -1 5 6 3 )* c o n v e r te d C a r m e lite f r i a r
and a r d e n t a n t i- C a t h o l ic c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t , h a s l e f t
a l i s t o f h i s own p la y s i n h i s I llu s t r lu m M a jo rls
S orlp to ru m C a ta lo g u s (1 5 ^ 8 ). B e fo r e f l e e i n g in t o
Germany in 1540 a f t e r th e f a l l o f h i s p a tr o n Thomas
C rom w ell, B a le had f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s a t l e a s t b een
w r it in g r e l i g i o u s dram as, m ost o f them on th e t r a d i
t i o n a l s u b j e c t s o f th e m y ster y p la y s . He enum erated
tw e n ty -tw o p la y s (w ith on e r e p e t i t i o n ) . Four o f them
i n a d d it io n t o h i s c o n t r o v e r s ia l drama on K ing John J
have b een p r e s e r v e d . B a l e ' s p la y s , ev en th e l o s t
o n e s , w ere i n E n g lis h , s in c e he d e s c r ib e s them a s in
ld lo m a te m aterno co m ed la s sub v a r lo m etrorum g e n e r e . 2 5
T h is and o t h e r in fo r m a tio n w ould le a d u s t o c o n c lu d e t h a t
De I m p o s tu r ls Thomea B e o k e tl m ust have b een w r it t e n p r io r
i
t o B a le 's f l e e i n g t o Germany i n 1 5 4 0 . F u rth erm o re, s in c e
Henry V III b roke w ith Rome i n 1 5 3 4 , i t i s f a i r t o g u e s s
t h a t B a le w ro te h i s a n t i- C a t h o l ic p la y s d u r in g t h i s tim e .
2 5 n a rd in C r a ig , E n g lis h R e lig io u s Drama o f th e M iddle
A ges (London* O xford U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 19<&)» p . 3^ 9.
_ _ _ . !
41
C e r t a in ly we can d a te h i s e x t a n t a n t i - p a p i s t dram as w it h in
t h i s p a r t ic u la r p e r io d . A lso th e r e i s l i t t l e dou b t con
c e r n in g th e a t t i t u d e p o r tr a y e d i n t h i s p la y tow ard C a th o l
ic is m and in p a r t ic u l a r tow ard Thomas B e c k e t. The t i t l e
i t s e l f c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t B a le c h a r a c t e r iz e d B eck et
n o t o n ly a s a knave b u t a s an e v i l and s l y p a p is t who
op p osed th e " h ero ic" Henry I I . A d d itio n a l s t r e n g t h f o r
t h i s p o in t o f v ie w can be g o t t e n from h i s drama Kynge j
i
J o h a n , w h ich we can c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h a s h a v in g b een
w r it t e n by B a le . Kynge J o h a n , w h ich h a s b een p r e s e r v e d i n !
a C h atsw orth m a n u scr ip t found i n th e H u n tin g to n L ib r a r y , i s
a d e v a s t a t in g a t t a c k on Home. As C ra ig p o i n t s out*
In p o in t o f f a c t B a l e ' s Kynge Johan i s an in g e n io u s
a d a p ta t io n o f th e Pammachius o f N a o g eo rg u s, and t h e r e
f o r e an A n t ic h r is t p la y , and t h e r e f o r e a l i n e a l d e
sc en d a n t o f a m y ste ry p la y . The Pope i s fr a n k ly and
s h o c k in g ly i d e n t i f i e d w ith A n t ic h r is t and i s th e le a d e r
o f th e e a r t h ly pow ers o f s i n and e v i l , and th e p la y a c
c e p t s f u l l y th e a lw a y s p r e p o s te r o u s t r a d i t i o n t h a t K ing
John o f E ngland was a P r o t e s t a n t h e r o , in d e e d , an y k in d
o f h e r o .®
I
From e x i s t i n g e v id e n c e one m igh t g u e s s t h a t B a le s e t !
th e to n e f o r p la y s w h ich w ere w r it t e n a b o u t Thomas B eck et
b etw een De I m p o s tu r ls Thomea B e c k e tl and th e l a t e n in e te e n th
c e n tu r y when C a t h o lic s a g a in r e c e iv e d some c i v i l , a s w e ll
a s r e l i g i o u s r i g h t s . P r io r t o t h a t tim e th e e f f e c t s o f th e
R efo rm a tio n had k e p t th e a n t i- C a t h o l ic a t t i t u d e o f th e
E n g lis h so s t r o n g ly a l i v e t h a t i t i s Im probable t h a t any
26Ibld. . p. 371.
hz
!
|d r a m a tis t w ould have d ared show Thomas B eck et a s an h e r o ic
f ig u r e .
A nother I n t e r e s t i n g d o cu m en ta tio n o f a drama on th e
s u b j e c t o f Henry I I a p p e a r s In th e e a r ly - s e v e n t e e n t h c e n
tu r y S t a t i o n e r ' s R e g is t e r o f Humphrey M o seley . The e n tr y
I n d ic a t e s t h a t a p la y e n t i t l e d Henry I I w as w r it t e n by
W illiam S h a k esp ea re and R ob ert D avenport? h o w ev er, th e r e
I s no f u r th e r e v id e n c e to su p p o rt th e id e a t h a t th e p la y
was g e n u in e . O ther p la y s w h ich D avenport cla im e d t o have j
w r it t e n i n c o lla b o r a t io n w ith S h a k esp ea re h ave p ro v en t o b e |
f o r g e r i e s , so th e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h i s one i s h ig h ly q u e s - ;
j
t io n a b le ,
i
Dramas. 1692-177** j
D uring t h i s p e r io d B eck et d id n o t a p p ea r i n a s in g l e
drama; he in flu e n c e d th e d ev elo p m en t o f s e v e r a l p la y s w h ich
co n c er n th e m s e lv e s p r im a r ily w ith th e lo v e a f f a i r o f Henry
I I and th e le g e n d a r y Rosamond.
The f i r s t o f su ch p la y s w as w r it t e n by John B a n c r o ft
i n 1692 and was e n t i t l e d Henry I I . K ing o f E n g la n d , w ith
th e D eath o f Rosamond. I t w as p erform ed f o r th e f i r s t tim e
i n 1692 and was p u b lis h e d th e f o llo w in g y e a r i n London w ith
a P r o lo g u e by a v e r y fam ous a c t o r o f t h e tim e , W illia m
M o u n tfo rt, and an E p ilo g u e by John D ryden. W illia m Mount-
f o r t th e n p u b lis h e d a p la y o f th e same t i t l e and c o n te n t in
a c o l l e c t i o n d a ted 1 7 2 0 . H ow ever, i t i s now g e n e r a lly
!a c c e p te d t h a t M o u n tfo r t's p la y i s , i n f a c t , B a n c r o f t 's and
t h a t a l l M ountfort had w r it t e n was th e P r o lo g u e f o r i t .
I
As was p r e v io u s ly s t a t e d , B eck et d id n o t a p p ea r i n
j t h i s dram a, b u t r a t h e r i s c h a r a c t e r iz e d by The A b b ot, who
i s th e sworn enemy o f Henry I I b e c a u se o f th e K in g 's con
n e c t io n w ith th e martyrdom o f B e c k e t. The Abbot i s a k ey
f ig u r e i n th e p l o t s o f r e b e l l i o n w h ich w ere p la n n ed by
H en r y 's so n s a g a in s t him . T hus, The Abbot i s imbued w ith
!
th e s p i r i t o f B eck et o r th e C a th o lic Church i n th e s t r u g g le j
i
w ith H enry I I o r th e S t a t e . |
|
B a n c r o f t 's p la y s e t a p a t te r n w h ich w as t o l a s t u n t i l
i
th e end o f th e e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y . A c t u a lly , h i s and th e
j
o t h e r e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y p la y s w ere p r im a r ily co n cern ed |
I
w ith th e lo v e s t o r y o f Henry and Hosamond and In c lu d e d th e
s t r u g g le b etw een th e Church and S t a t e ( a s sy m b o liz ed by th e
s t r u g g le b etw een B e o k e t's r e p r e s e n t a t iv e c h a r a c te r and
Henry I I ) to f i l l o u t th e p lo t and add e x c ite m e n t t o i t .
For t h a t m a tte r , th e e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y dram as w ere
n e a r ly carb on c o p ie s o f B a n c r o f t 's p la y . For ex a m p le,
J o se p h A d d iso n , w hose C ato was c o n s id e r e d by many t o be an
e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y m a s t e r p ie c e , u sed m ost o f th e m a t e r ia ls
from B a n c r o f t 's p la y t o d e v e lo p h i s o p e r a t ic v e r s io n o f th e
s t o r y . There i s o n ly one d i s t i n c t d i f f e r e n c e b etw een them .
W hereas B a n c r o ft, i n o r d e r t o d e v e lo p th e s t o r y d ra m a ti
c a l l y and e x te n d i t t o a f u l l f i v e a c t s , had In c lu d e d th e
C h u r ch -S ta te s t r u g g l e , A d d ison c o n c e n tr a te d e x c l u s i v e l y on
r !
; M
|t h e lo v e a f f a i r b etw een Henry and Rosamond, l e a v i n g o u t
e n t i r e l y th e a n t a g o n i s t i c c h a r a c te r o f B e c k e t* s a v e n g e r .
In A d d iso n 's work Queen E le a n o r a p p e a r s a s th e a n t a g o n is t ,
made e v i l by h e r v i o l e n t j e a lo u s y o f Rosamond. I n tr u e
o p e r a t ic s t y l e , i t i s t r e a t e d a s a sim p le and m elo d r a m a tic !
; i
lo v e t r i a n g l e , e n d in g In th e s e n tim e n ta l and a lm o s t t r a g i c j
r e v e n g e o f Queen E le a n o r on Rosamond. I t r e a l l y h a s n o th in g
!
t o do w ith Thomas B eck et a s a c h a r a c te r i n l i t e r a t u r e and !
j
i s o n ly m en tion ed h e r e b e c a u se o f i t s c l o s e c o n n e c tio n w ith
th e B a n c r o ft dram a. I t was f i r s t p u b lis h e d i n 1 7 0 7 , h a v in g I
b een p erform ed p r e v io u s ly on A p r il 6 , 1 7 0 6 , I t was r e -
i
p r in te d i n 17 1 3 .
i
No f u r th e r p la y s c o n c e r n in g Henry I I o r Thomas B eck et
w ere w r it t e n u n t i l W illia m Hawkins p u b lis h e d h i s t r a g e d y , j
I
Henry and Rosamond, i n 17^ 9. H is p la y m et w it h no s u c c e s s , j
b e c a u s e , a s Hawkins s t a t e d i n h i s a d v e r t is e m e n t, th e p la y
had b een " o ffe r e d t o th e M anagers o f Drury Lane T h e a tr e ,
j
who d e c lin e d a c c e p t in g i t , f o r r e a s o n s w h ich a p p ea red t o
th e a u th o r t o be r a t h e r e v a s iv e , th a n s a t i s f a c t o r y . "2?
P erh ap s th e r e a s o n f o r th e m a n a g er's r e lu c t a n c e , a s co n
je c tu r e d by G en ea t, w as h i s f e a r t h a t many o f th e r e f e r
e n c e s i n th e p la y w ould be a p p lie d t o th e u n fo r tu n a te
in c id e n t b etw een G eorge I I and t h e P r in c e o f W ales.
W illia m H aw kins, Henry and Rosamond ( Londoni W .
Owens, 17^9)* unnumbered p age o f th e a d v e r tis e m e n t.
^5
'A f te r a h a s ty a l t e r a t i o n o f th e p i e c e , i t was f i n a l l y p ro
duced by Thomas H u ll i n 1761 a t a t h e a t r e i n Birm ingham .
A fte r H u ll had prod u ced H aw kins' p la y i n l ? 6 l , W illia m
S h e n sto n e , a c l o s e f r ie n d o f H u ll, s u g g e s te d t h a t su ch an
e f f e c t i v e s to r y c o u ld be d e v e lo p e d in t o a much more e x - j
: I
c i t i n g f i v e - a c t p la y . A p p a r e n tly , H u ll s t a r t e d work on
su ch a drama t h a t same y e a r , but a f t e r th e d e a th o f S h en - !
s to n e i n 1763 he p u t th e work a s id e and d id n o t ta k e i t up j
a g a in u n t i l 1 7 7 3 . The d e d ic a t io n t o S h e n sto n e , w h ich a p
p e a r s in th e f r o n t o f th e p la y , i s d a te d Jan u ary 19» 177^ . |
A g a in , H u ll In tro d u c ed th e c h a r a c t e r o f The A b b ot, and !
u n lik e H aw kins' dram a, i t d o e s n o t c o n c e n tr a te e n t i r e l y on
th e lo v e a f f a i r o f Henry I I and Rosamond b u t u s e s B e c k e t 's
and H en ry 's d i f f e r e n c e s in i t s p l o t . H awkins had i n t r o
duced th e j e a lo u s l o v e r o f Rosamond, L i e c e s t e r , a s th e
K in g 's a n t a g o n is t , b u t H u ll a g a in c h a r a c t e r iz e s him a s The
j
Abbot i n th e t r a d i t i o n o f B a n c r o f t 's e a r l y p la y . P erh a p s j
j
th e m ost marked d i f f e r e n c e b etw een th e e a r l i e r Abbot and
t h a t o f H u l l ' s drama i s t h a t The Abbot i n B a n c r o f t 's p la y j
i s m o tiv a te d t o a v en g e B e c k e t's martyrdom w h ile H u l l ' s
seem s m o tiv a te d sim p ly by h i s t h i r s t f o r pow er.
H u ll's drama m arks th e end o f t h i s p e r io d i n th e d e v e
lopm ent o f B eok et a s a d ra m a tic c h a r a c t e r . F or e v e n th ou gh
B eck et had n o t y e t ap p eared i n a s i n g l e p la y w h ich h a s b een
p r e s e r v e d f o r u s , th e s p i r i t o f th e c o n f l i c t w h ich w as to
become th e h e a r t o f th e n in e t e e n t h and t w e n t ie t h c e n tu r y
i 4 6
i
I
!B eo k et-H en ry I I dram as was c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d . H owever,
th e lo v e a f f a i r o f Henry and Rosamond d id n o t end w ith
H u ll’ s dram a. R a th e r, a s H e lt z e l p o in t s o u t In h i s v e r y
co m p reh en siv e s tu d y , F a ir Rosamond, th e end o f th e e i g h t - !
i
;een th c e n tu r y m e r e ly m arks th e b e g in n in g o f two d i s t i n c t j
i
t y p e s o f dram as d e a lin g w ith e s s e n t i a l l y th e same h i s -
PR
t o r i c a l- m y t h o lo g ic a l d a ta . On th e on e hand th e n in e - i
i
t e e n t h c e n tu r y i s f a i r l y te e m in g w ith p u b lis h e d and j
^ !
u n p u b lish e d dram as on th e s u b j e c t o f th e Henry-Rosamond
lo v e a f f a i r , and on th e o th e r th e v e r y n e x t drama w r it t e n ;
a b o u t t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s , W illia m I r e l a n d ' s Henry I I . i s th e
f i r s t o f a t l e a s t s e v e n te e n dram as w h ich c o n c er n th e m s e lv e s
p r im a r ily w ith th e s p ir it u a l- v s - t e m p o r a l c o n f l i c t a s c h a r
a c t e r i z e d by th e h i s t o r i c b a t t l e b etw een Thomas B eck et and ,
Henry I I .
i
P la y s 1 7 9 9 -1 8 9 5
The n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y was th e m ost p r o l i f i c p e r io d i n |
th e d ev elo p m en t o f B e c k e t's d ra m a tic c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n . !
i
A ls o , th e p la y s o f t h i s p e r io d , r a t h e r n a t u r a ll y , r e p r e s e n t |
i
h i s m ost d iv e r s e c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n . D u rin g t h i s n i n e t y - s i x !
i
y e a r p e r io d , a t l e a s t e ig h t e e n dram as w ere w r it t e n i n w hich
B e ck et a p p e a r s a s a c e n t r a l m o tiv a tin g c h a r a c t e r . F o r tu
n a t e ly , f o u r te e n o f t h e i r s c r i p t s have b een p r e s e r v e d ,
2® V irg el B. H e l t z e l , F a ir Rosamond (E v a n sto nt N orth
-w e s te r n U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 19^7)* pp. 8 2 -8 4 .
s e r v in g a s a m ajor c o n s id e r a t io n i n th e d ev elo p m en t o f t h i s
s tu d y .
A c t u a lly f a c u r s o r y e x a m in a tio n o f t h e s e m a t e r ia ls
r e v e a le d t h a t th e p la y s c o u ld be e f f e c t i v e l y p la c e d i n two
c a t e g o r ie s a c c o r d in g t o t h e i r tr e a tm e n t o f B e c k e t 's c h a r - I
a c t e r . The f i r s t group o f s i x p la y s spanned a p e r io d from !
1799 t o 1851 and d e a l t w ith B eck et a s an a n t a g o n i s t i c c h a r - j
i
a c t e r . The seco n d group p o r tr a y e d B eck et a s e i t h e r a h ero j
o f th e oommon p e o p le o r a C h r is tia n m a rty r and in c lu d e d
e i g h t p la y s w h ich w ere w r it t e n b etw een 1863 and I 8 9 2 . !
The f i r s t p e r io d (1 7 9 9 -1 8 5 1 ) began w ith a m ost u n iq u e
p la y w r ig h t, W illiam Henry I r e la n d . As i t tu rn ed o u t , he
was a f o r g e r o f S h a k e sp e a r ia n m a n u s c r ip ts , among w h ich was
th e p la y s c r ip t o f Henry I I . I r e la n d was b orn i n London i n !
1 7 7 7 . H is f a t h e r , Sam uel I r e la n d , was an e n g r a v e r and |
I
a u th o r , a s w e ll a s a d e a le r i n r a r e b ook s and m a n u s c r ip ts. !
!
I n 179^ young I r e la n d and h i s f a t h e r v i s i t e d S t r a t f o r d , j
w here he met John J o rd a n , a l o c a l p o e t who had p u b lis h e d
some g o s s ip y b io g r a p h ic a l m a t e r ia ls a b o u t S h a k esp ea re and |
had ev en fo r g e d th e w i l l o f S h a k e s p e a r e 's f a t h e r . S e e in g i
I
h i s own f a t h e r ' s c r e d u lo u s i n t e r e s t i n th e d ocu m en t, Ir e la n d
c o n c e iv e d th e id e a o f d o in g a l i t t l e fo r g e r y on h i s own
a c c o u n t. He c o p ie d , i n in k w ith a l l th e n e c e s s a r y s ig n s o f
a g in g , S h a k e s p e a r e 's s t y l e and h a n d w r itin g th u s p r o d u c in g
l e a s e s , c o n t r a c t s w ith a c t o r s , n o t e s , r e c e i p t s , a p r o f e s
s io n o f f a i t h , and e v e n a lo v e l e t t e r t o Anne Hathaway.
| 48
! He a c c o u n te d f o r th e docum ents by in v e n t in g an a n c e s t o r ,
" W illiam Henrye I r e la u n d e ," to whom th e d ocu m en ts had b een
b eq u ea th ed by S h a k esp ea re i n g r a t it u d e f o r r e s c u e from
i
d row n in g. Of c o u r s e , h i s f a t h e r was d e lig h t e d and f o r a j
tim e f u l l y b e lie v e d th e a u t h e n t i c i t y o f h i s s o n 's " d ls -
i
c o v e r y ." No doubt en co u ra g ed by h i s i n i t i a l s u c c e s s a t ,
d e c e iv in g h i s f a t h e r and some s c h o la r s , I r e la n d b rou gh t
I
I
f o r t h a co m p le te p l a y s c r i p t , V o r tlg e r n . w h ich he a t t r ib u t e d !
|
to S h a k esp ea re . S h erid a n im m e d ia te ly p u rch a sed i t and on
A p r il 2 , 1796 opened w ith i t a t th e Drury Lane T h e a tr e ,
T h is f i r s t p r o d u c tio n w as g r e e te d w ith s h o u ts and la u g h t e r .
A lth o u g h I r e la n d , who w as o n ly n in e t e e n a t th e t im e , was a
f a i r l y good p la y w r ig h t, he c o u ld n o t a d e q u a te ly im it a t e th e
g r e a t E n g lis h b ard . Soon th e S h a k e sp e a r ia n s c h o la r s , le d
by Edmond M alone, so h a r r a s se d th e young f o r g e r t h a t he
!
c o n fe s s e d what he had d o n e. H ow ever, he had a lr e a d y begun j
1
th e p r e p a r a tio n o f a s e r i e s o f c h r o n ic a l p la y s by S h a k e- j
s p e a r e , th e f i r s t o f w h ich was H enry I I . and a lth o u g h th e j
|
c o n f e s s io n o f W illiam h a ste n e d h i s f a t h e r ' s d e a th In 1800
and f i n a l l y l e f t I r e la n d p e n n i l e s s , Henry I I was s e p a r a t e ly
p u b lis h e d i n 1 7 9 9 .
A lth o u g h Henry I I t r e a t s th e c o n f l i c t b etw een Henry
and B eck et i n e s s e n t i a l l y th e same way t h a t th e p r e v io u s
dram as h ad , i t s em p h a sis o f p l o t had d e f i n i t e l y s h i f t e d
from th e lo v e a f f a i r o f Henry and Rosamond t o th e s p i r i t u a l -
v s -te m p o r a l s t r u g g le a s s y m b o lic a lly r e p r e s e n te d by th e
i 49
h i s t o r i c a l l y b a sed b a t t l e b etw een Thomas B eck et and H enry II,
Even th o u g h I r e la n d a tte m p te d t o w r it e th e p la y In a
S h a k e sp e a r ia n s t y l e , I t s c o n te n t r e v e a l s th e a t t i t u d e s o f a
l a t e - e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y E n g lis h p a t r i o t . Prom th e b e g in
n in g , I r e la n d a t t a c k s f o r e ig n e le m e n ts i n th e form o f th e
i
F ren ch . In th e o p e n in g sc e n e o f th e p la y , Henry I I o v e r -
i
w h e lm in g ly b e a t s th e " F rench” f o r c e s i n a Norman tow n .
|
C e r t a in ly t h i s w as a r e f l e c t i o n o f th e a t t i t u d e o f th e
i
l a t e - e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y E n g lis h .
B eck et had b orn e th e b ru n t o f an a n t i- C a t h o l ic E n g lis h !
a t t i t u d e s in c e th e R e fo rm a tio n , b u t now here was i t more i n j
e v id e n c e th a n i n I r e l a n d ' s dram a. I r e l a n d ' s B eck et i s a
m elo d ra m a tic v i l l a i n w hose F a u s tia n t h i r s t f o r pow er d r iv e s
him t o h i s own f i n a l d e s t r u c t io n . Nor i s B eck et e v i l o n ly [
a s th e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f th e h a ted Roman Church. He a l s o
i
s y m b o liz e s th o s e h a te d f o r e ig n e le m e n ts w h ich th e p a t r i o t i c
E n glish m an o f th e tu r n o f th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y d i s t r u s t e d
and d i s l i k e d , and th e E n g lis h e s p e c i a l l y h a te d F rance s in c e
t h a t n a t io n and E ngland had fo u g h t more o r l e s s c o n t in u - j
o u s ly s in c e th e S even Y ears War w h ich had begun i n 1 7 5 6 . j
I r e la n d , who w as w r it in g Henry I I a t th e peak o f t h e j
N a p o le o n ic Wars, e s t a b l i s h e d B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r a s th e
ep ito m e o f t h a t w h ich h i s c o n te m p o r a r ie s h a ted and K ing
Henry I I a s an h o n o ra b le and J u st h ero o f th e E n g lis h
p e o p le . T h is c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B eck et was th e p a t te r n
t h e p la y w r ig h ts w ere t o f o llo w f o r th e n e x t f i f t y - t w o y e a r s .
! 50
A lth o u g h H enry I r e l a n d ' s drama w as w r it t e n i n 1799» I t
was so c o m p le te ly i n th e s t y l e o f an e a r l y n in e t e e n t h c en
tu r y drama t h a t I t w a s, in d e e d , a c c e p te d a s o n e . T e c h n i
c a l l y , h ow ever, i t was t h i r t y y e a r s l a t e r , i n 1 8 2 9 , t h a t
th e f i r s t n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y drama a b o u t B eck et w as com-
, p l e t e d . I t was w r it t e n by one o f E n g la n d 's th e n m ost
w id e ly known l i t e r a r y f i g u r e s , D o u g la s J e r r o ld . P erh ap s i
l
h i s m ost remembered and l a s t i n g fame came n o t a s a dram a-
i
t l s t b u t from h i s c o n t r ib u t io n s t o Punch m a g a zin e. From
i
th e seco n d i s s u e o f t h i s m agazin e u n t i l t e n d a y s b e fo r e
h i s d e a th in 1857 he was a c o n s ta n t c o n t r ib u t o r . H is f i r s t
a r t i c l e s ig n e d "Q" a p p ea red Septem ber 2 , 1 8 4 l, and t h e s e
a r t i c l e s w ere In s tr u m e n ta l i n th e i n i t i a l s u c c e s s o f th e
m a g a zin e.
The n e x t drama t o be w r it t e n a b o u t th e g r e a t c o n f l i c t !
I
was G eorge D a r le y 's Thomas a B e c k e t. As a p la y i t was a i
I
d ism a l f a i l u r e , a s w as a lm o st a l l o f D a r le y 's w r i t i n g s ,
b u t h i s t o r i c a l l y i n th e scheme o f th e "B ecket" dram as i t
b r in g s f o r t h a n o th e r u n iq u e f a c e t o f th e A r c h b is h o p 's j
i
c h a r a c t e r .
D a r le y , who was born t o A n g lo - I r is h p a r e n ts som etim e
d u r in g 1795 i n D u b lin , w as l e f t a t a v e r y e a r l y a g e w ith
h i s g r a n d p a r e n ts w h ile h i s own p a r e n ts s a i l e d t o A m erica.
Even upon t h e i r r e tu r n s e v e r a l y e a r s l a t e r , th e y l e f t him
! w ith h i s g r a n d p a r e n ts u n t i l he was t e n . The la c k o f c o n -
; t a c t w it h h i s im m ed iate fa m ily d u r in g t h e s e e a r ly y e a r s
51
had a l a s t i n g e f f e c t upon h i s p e r s o n a li t y . He d e v e lo p e d a
s e v e r e stammer and w as a p h y s i c a l l y weak c h i l d , w h ich o n ly
added t o h i s a lr e a d y m e la n c h o ly n a t u r e t m o reo v er, by th e
tim e he t r a v e le d t o London a s a young man i n 1 8 2 0 , he had
d e v e lo p e d th e h a b it s o f a r e c lu s e and w as seld om found i n j
l
th e company o f o th e r men.
D a r le y had d eterm in ed t h a t he w ould become a l i t e r a r y
s u c c e s s , and he m igh t h a v e , had he n o t in s t e a d ch o sen t o j
become a p la y w r ig h t, th e k in d o f w r it in g f o r w h ich he
seem ed m ost u n f i t . A lth o u g h a s a drama c r i t i c he was
p a r t i c u l a r l y h a rsh and c e n s o r io u s , he seem ed u n a b le t o
c r i t i c i z e h i s own w ork. A sid e from h i s e a r l i e s t v e r s e
dram a, S y l v i a , h i s p la y s a r e s t r a in e d and t e d io u s .
A lth o u g h D a rley p r o f e s s e d t o want t o be an accom
p lis h e d p la y w r ig h t, C o lle s Ramsay r e p o r t s th a t* "Both j
h i s Thomas a B eck et and E t h e ls t a n , w h ich ap p ea red i n 18*H, j
a r e a s e r i e s o f ’ s c e n e s f o r th e s tu d y ? ' th e y w ere n o t
w r it t e n w ith a v iew t o t h e i r b e in g p u t on th e s t a g e . "^9
I n t h i s same p a ssa g e Ramsay p o in t s o u t D a r le y 's adm i
r a t i o n f o r t h i s p a r t ic u l a r p la y and e v en f o r th e c h a r a c te r
o f Thomas B eck et h im s e lf* |
29 C o lle s Ramsay, e d . , The C om plete P o e t i c a l Works o f
G eorge D a r le y ,(L ondon* G eorge R o u te le d g e & S o n s, L td ,
1 9 2 9 ) , P. XXIX.
52
I In 18^0 Maxon p u b lis h e d Thomas a B e o k e t. a drama
o f w h ich th e a u th o r th o u g h t so h ig h ly t h a t he p la y
f u l l y s ig n e d h i s name on more th a n one o c c a s io n
'Thomas a B eok et D a r l e y I '3 0
i
! R ecord s o f h i s p e r s o n a l c o r r esp o n d e n c e a l s o r e v e a l t h a t he
I
I s ig n e d l e t t e r s "Thomas a. B eck et" o r "George a B e c k e t," I t
1 i s r a th e r o b v io u s t h a t D a r le y b o th h a te d and adm ired th e j
B eck et he had c r e a t e d , J u st a s he f e l t h a te and a d m ir a tio n j
j ;
f o r h im s e lf .
At th e tim e he w ro te Thomas a B eok et D a r le y e x p r e s s e d
h i s in t e n t i o n o f w r it in g a s e r i e s o f p la y s c e le b r a t in g th e j
]
d ev elo p m en t o f E n glan d . H owever, a f t e r th e r e so u n d in g j
f a i l u r e o f t h i s drama and E t h e ls t e m , h i s b e l i e f i n h i s j
i
p o e t i c a l pow ers seem ed t o have g iv e n w ay, and he d id n o t j
c o n tin u e th e p r o j e c t . I t sh o u ld be n o te d t h a t t h i s was !
p r e c i s e l y what A lfr e d Lord T ennyson d id some t h i r t y y e a r s
l a t e r when he w ro te h i s t r i lo g y * H arold ( 1 8 7 5 ) t Queen
Mary (1 8 7 7 )» and B eck et ( 1 8 7 9 ). One ca n n o t h e lp b u t wonder
a s t o what I n f lu e n c e D a r le y may h ave had upon T e n n y so n 's
w o rk s, e s p e c i a l l y s in c e a copy o f D a r le y 's p la y b e a r s th e
i n s c r i p t i o n " A lfred Lord T ennyson from th e a u th o r .
J e r r o l d ' s s u c c e s s a s a p la y w r ig h t c e n t e r s around a
" n a u tic a l m elodram a," B la c k -e y e d Susan o r A ll i n th e Downs.
I t ra n o v e r th r e e -h u n d r e d n i g h t s when i t was f i r s t produced
a t th e S u rrey T h ea tre in 1 8 2 9 . D e s p ite i t s s u c c e s s , th e
3° I b l d . 3 1 I b i d . , p . XXXIII.
! 53
p la y o n ly ea rn ed J e r r o ld 60 t , , a lth o u g h I t ea rn ed s e v e r a l
f o r tu n e s f o r i t s n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y t h e a t r i c a l p r o d u c e r s .
J e r r o ld ’ s i n t e r e s t in th e t h e a t r e was g e n e r a te d a t an
e a r l y a g e . He w as th e y o u n g e st son o f a p r o v in c ia l a c t o r , j
I
Samuel J e r r o ld , who le a s e d th e t h e a t r e a t S h e e r n e s s , E ng- j
la n d , i n 1 8 0 7 , J u st fo u r y e a r s a f t e r D o u g la s' b i r t h , c o n -
l
t in u in g th e r e a s a c to r-m a n a g er u n t i l 1 8 1 6 , Samuel J e r r o ld !
o f t e n c a l l e d upon h i s son D o u g la s t o p erform a c h i l d ' s r o le I
i n p r o d u c tio n s o f su ch p la y s a s The S tr a n g e r ; h o w ev er,
D o u g la s d id n o t d e v e lo p a t a s t e f o r a c t i n g , but was i n t e r -
l
e s t e d , r a t h e r , i n E n g lis h d r a m a tic l i t e r a t u r e . He was
ta u g h t to rea d and w r it e by a member o f h i s f a t h e r ' s
a c t i n g company and w as a lw a y s an a r d e n t r e a d e r , t e a c h in g
h im s e lf t o rea d L a t in , F ren ch , and I t a l i a n b e fo r e he
rea ch ed m id d le a g e .
He se r v e d f o r two y e a r s a s a m idshipm an i n th e R oyal
i
N avy, d u r in g w h ich tim e he d e v e lo p e d a l i f e - l o n g h a tr e d o f !
f lo g g in g and a " s a i l o r - l i k e " g e n e r o s it y and im pudence w h ich
was l a t e r r e f l e c t e d i n h i s w r i t i n g s , a s w e ll a s h i s p e r
s o n a l l i f e . |
i
I r o n i c a l l y , J e r r o ld w as u n d e s ir o u s o f b e in g known a s
sim p ly a w i t t y and f a r c i c a l w r it e r . A lth o u g h h i s g r e a t e s t
i
s u c c e s s e s w ere h i s a r t i c l e s i n Punch w h ich ap p eared under
th e t i t l e o f "Mrs. C a u d le 's C u r ta in L e c tu r e s ," he v a lu e d
more h ig h ly h i s s e r io u s w o rk s, su ch a s h i s drama Thomas a
B eo k et.
; ;
: i
He w ro te Thomas a B eck et i n 1 8 2 9 , th e same y e a r in !
w h ich h i s f i r s t g r e a t d r a m a tic s u c c e s s , B la c k -e y e d S u sa n ,
w as p u b lis h e d . T h is p o st-w a r p e r io d , a f t e r two d e c a d e s o f
w ar, had b een l e f t w ith a r e s id u e o f w artim e r e s t r i c t i o n s
and a h a u n tin g f e a r o f r e v o lu t io n w h ich s u b s e q u e n tly had j
made th e c o n s e r v a tiv e Tory governm ent h o s t i l e tow ard any
k in d o f refo rm . The commoners e x p e c te d some rew ard s f o r i
th e s a c r i f i c e s th e y had made d u r in g th e lo n g s t r u g g le w ith
P ran cej i n s t e a d , th e a d ju s tm e n ts to p e a c e tim e econom y had
b ro u g h t d e p r e s s io n and unem ploym ent. The outcom e w as d i s
en ch an tm en t and r i o t i n g a g a in s t th e governm ent u n t i l refo rm s
had b een b rou gh t ab o u t i n th e 1 8 3 0 's .
These f a c t s , cou p led w ith J e r r o ld 's p e r so n a l d i s l i k e
o f c r u e lt y and d e p r iv a tio n , were un dou btedly s i g n if i c a n t
f a c t o r s in th e developm ent o f h i s p la y , Thomas a B eok et.
H is B eck et, l i k e I r e la n d 's , r e p r e s e n ts an e v i l fo r c e whose
i
a c t io n s b r in g sorrow and s u f f e r in g to many. H is d e c is io n s |
I
a r e o f t e n unbending and u n rea so n a b le. However, u n lik e j
i
I r e la n d , J e r r o ld p r e sen ted a more a b s tr a c t c h a r a c te r in i
i
I
B eck et. He d o es n o t c o n fin e him to th e r e p r e s e n ta tio n o f j
i
!
th e s p e c i f i c e v i l s o f th e C a th o lic Church and F rance.
R ath er, J e r r o ld u s e s b oth th e c h a r a c te r o f Beoket and th a t
o f Henry I I to a tta o k s u b tly th e e v i l o f u n reason ab ly
p ow erfu l men. He u s e s h i s sh arp -ton gu ed w it to la y bare
th e h y p o c r ic y o f th e h ie r a r c h y . The p la y w rig h t em ploys a
m inor c h a r a c te r , Sw art, to speak h is " p h ilo so p h ies"
i 55
jr a th e r th a n e i t h e r B eck et o r H enry I I . B oth m ajor c h a r a c
t e r s seem F a u s tia n i n t h i s v e r s io n o f th e B eck et-H en ry I I
s t o r y . H owever, b o th men seem s in c e r e n o t e v i l , and th e y
a r e o n ly drawn i n t o e v i l w ays by th o s e around them and by
I
th e e v i l c ir c u m s ta n c e s o f t h e i r w o r ld .
The t h ir d drama o f t h i s p e r io d was B e o k e t. An H ls -
i t o r l c a l T ragedy ( 1 8 3 2 ) , w r it t e n by R ich ard C a tte r m o le . I t
seem s q u it e n a t u r a l t h a t th e g e n e r a l t o n e , th ou gh n o t th e
I
!
p l o t , o f t h i s p la y sh o u ld hark back t o t h a t o f W illiam
I r e la n d ’ s drama s in c e C a tterm o le w as a v i c a r o f th e A n g li
can Church who had w r it t e n s e v e r a l s i g n i f i c a n t t r a c t s i n j
d e f e n s e o f th e Reform ed Church o f E n g la n d . j
T here i s l i t t l e in fo r m a tio n a b o u t C a tte r m o le 's l i f e
o t h e r th a n th e f a c t t h a t he was born a t D lc k le b o r o u g h , n ea r
; D i s s , N o r fo lk , t o a la r g e f a m ily . There i s some u n c e r -
I t a i n t y c o n c e r n in g th e d a te o f h i s b i r t h , b u t i t h a s b een
g iv e n i n s e v e r a l s o u r c e s a s a b o u t 1 7 9 5 . H is m oth er d ie d
when R ich ard was p ro b a b ly se v e n y e a r s o l d , and th e c a r e o f
t h e fa m ily was l e f t i n th e hands o f h i s f a t h e r , who was
f o r t u n a t e ly a man o f in d e p e n d en t m eans.
R ich ard was a p p o in te d a s s e c r e t a r y o f th e R oyal
S o c ie t y o f L it e r a t u r e a t i t s f i r s t g e n e r a l m e e tin g on
June 1 7 , 1 8 2 3 , and he h e ld t h a t o f f i c e u n t i l s i x y e a r s
b e fo r e h i s d e a th in 1 8 5 8 .
In 1825 he began h i s s e r v i c e s t o th e A n g e lic a n Church
o f S t . M atthew, B r ix to n , S u r r e y , w here he c o n tin u e d u n t i l
56
1 8 3 2 . I t was d u r in g t h a t p e r io d t h a t he d e v e lo p e d th e id e a
f o r a s e r i e s o f p la y s d e a lin g w ith th e h i s t o r y o f th e
ch u rch . He s t a t e s i n th e p r e fa c e o f h i s p la y B e c k e tt
|
The work w h ich o c c u p ie s th e g r e a t e r p a r t o f th e
f o llo w in g p a g e s , was d e s ig n e d t o form on e o f a s e r i e s .
I t o c c u r r e d t o th e a u th o r , w h ile en gaged i n s tu d y in g
th e h i s t o r y o f o u r R e lig io u s E s ta b lis h m e n ts w ith r e
fe r e n c e t o h i s more im p o rta n t p u r s u i t s , t h a t a d e g r e e
o f I n t e r e s t a d eq u a te t o h i s h o p es o f s u c c e s s i n t h i s
d ep artm en t o f l i t e r a t u r e m igh t be c a l l e d f o r t h by an
a tte m p t t o e x h i b i t , i n th e h ig h e s t form o f th e Drama,
some o f th e more p rom in en t s t a g e s o f t h a t lo n g and
vehem ent s t r u g g le b etw een th e s e c u la r and th e e c c l e
s i a s t i c a l p o w ers, p a r t ic u l a r l y d u r in g th e v ig o u r o f
th e P ap al u s u r p a tio n , w h ich , l i k e e v e r y o t h e r im por
t a n t c o n t e s t i n w h ich C hristendom h a s b een in v o lv e d ,
h a s, i n th e b e n e f ic e n t o r d e r o f P r o v id e n c e , b een
e v e n t u a lly p r o d u c tiv e o f so many a d v a n ta g e s t o th e
b e s t I n t e r e s t s o f th e human r a c e . 3^
C e r t a in ly , t h i s r e v e a l s h i s i n s p i r a t i o n f o r th e drama
and th e g e n e r a l to n e w h ich he gave t o i t . He o b v ia t e s h i s
o rth o d o x r e l i g i o u s p o in t o f v ie w , w h ich became so e v id e n t j
i n th e d i r e c t i o n w h ich i s ta k e n by th e s c r i p t i t s e l f . T h is i
j
p o in t i s f u r t h e r I llu m in a te d i n th e f o llo w in g rem arks ta k e n i
from h i s b ook , The L it e r a t u r e o f th e Church o f E n g la n d t
I t w i l l n o t e sc a p e th e r e f l e c t i v e r e a d e r 's o b s e r
v a t io n , t h a t th e p a g e s b e fo r e him su p p ly n o t a few
p o w er fu l l e s s o n s a p p lic a b le to: a l l who en g a g e i n !
th o s e tu r b u le n t d is p u t e s . He w i l l f in d th e le a r n in g I
and w isdom , th e g e n iu s and th e p i e t y o f o u r m ost |
e r u d it e and J u d ic io u s t h e o lo g ia n s , u n ifo r m ly d i r e c t
in g t h e i r s t e p s i n th e f r e e b u t d i r e c t m id d le p a th
o f th e Reformed Church o f E n glan d . He w i l l f in d
them e q u a lly sh u n n in g e i t h e r ex trem ej y i e l d i n g
n e it h e r t o p a t r i s t i c a l d ogm atism , nor t o u l t r a -
p r o t e s t a n t s u s p ic io n ? n e it h e r f a s c in a t e d by th e
33r i C hard C a tte r m o le , B e c k e t, An H i s t o r i c a l T ragedy
I (Londom [ n . p . ] _ , 1 8 3 2 ), p . v i i . ____ _________
i 57
m e r e tr ic io u s charm s o f p o p e ry , n or d r iv e n , by ab h o r
r e n c e o f i t s m ere name, beyond th e v e r g e o f g e n u in e
c a t h o l i c i t y . 33
In d e e d , t h e s e w ere tu r b u le n t tim e s in E n g la n d , and
p o l i t i c a l and r e l i g i o u s ex trem ism was more th e r u le th a n |
; i
th e e x c e p t io n . The C o n s e r v a tiv e s un d er th e g u id a n ce o f j
I
th e Duke o f W e llin g to n had t o make g r e a t c o n c e s s io n s in
th e 1 8 3 0 's , f i n a l l y e n d in g w ith t h e p a ss a g e o f th e P a r li a
m en tary Reform B i l l o f 1 8 3 2 . j
In t h i s c lim a te on e would e x p e c t a man o f C a tte r m o le 's
fram e o f mind t o ta k e th e "m iddle path" in th e g r e a t h i s
t o r i c a l s t r u g g le b etw een Thomas B eck et and H enry I I . How
e v e r , one would e x p e c t t o f in d t h a t "m iddle path" le a n in g
t o th e r ig h t o f c e n t e r , tow ard f a v o r in g H enry I I a s th e
cham pion o f th e E n g lis h s t a t e o v e r th e p o p ish p r i e s t in th e
form o f Thomas B e c k e t. That i s , in f a c t , p r e c i s e l y what
one f in d s .
One o f th e m ost u n u su a l a s p e c t s o f C a tte r m o le * s drama ;
i s i t s p l o t . U n lik e o t h e r v e r s i o n s , h i s p la y b e g in s ex
m ed la s r e s w ith th e f i r s t s c e n e ta k in g p la c e a t th e C is - !
t e r c ia n C onvent w here B eck et had ta k en r e fu g e d u r in g h i s
sev en y e a r s o f e x i l e . In o th e r w o rd s, C a tte r m o le * s p la y
d e a ls w ith th o s e e v e n t s w h ich a c t u a l l y to o k p la c e d u r in g
th e l a s t few m onths o f th e h i s t o r i c a l B e c k e t 's l i f e .
33 r i chard C a tte r m o le , L it e r a t u r e o f th e Church o f
l E ngland ( London« f n .p .] , [ n .d . j ) , p. x l .
‘ F u r th e r , he c o m p le te ly d i s t o r t s h i s t o r i c a l d a ta by i n t r o
d u c in g an e a r ly sc e n e in w h ich Queen E le a n o r , w ith th e
a s s i s t a n c e o f B e c k e t, p e r su a d e s young P r in c e H enry t h a t
he sh o u ld j o in f o r c e s w ith L o u is V II o f F rance t o to p p le
h i s f a t h e r from th e th r o n e and t o assum e h i s r i g h t f u l p la c e I
a s K ing o f E n glan d . Of c o u r s e , such a r e v o l t d id n o t ta k e !
p la c e u n t i l more th a n two y e a r s a f t e r B e c k e t 's d e a th . I t j
i s o b v io u s t h a t C a tterm o le u sed t h i s d i s t o r t i o n a s a c o n - !
v e n ie n t way t o show B eck et a s a d e s p ic a b le c h a r a c t e r .
Throughout th e p la y C a tterm o le r e s o r t s t o broad d e v ia t io n s
i
from h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s in th e i n t e r e s t o f p o r tr a y in g Henry I I
a s a m elo d ra m a tic h ero in th e s t y l e o f th e e a r ly n in e t e e n t h i
i
c e n tu r y n e o -S h a k e sp e a r ia n drama w ith B eck et a s th e F a u s t ia n :
!
v i l l a i n . ;
I
Three y e a r s l a t e r , in 18*1-3» S ir A rth u r H elp s t r i e d h i s
hand a t d r a m a tiz in g th e s t o r y o f B eck et and th e K in g. He
t i t l e d h i s drama K ing Henry th e S eco n d . ^ a n d , tr u e t o th e j
t r a d i t i o n o f th e e a r l i e r E n g lis h dram as on th e s u b j e c t , he
makes B eck et th e a n t a g o n is t . H ow ever, i t d o e s n 't seem t o
be B e c k e t, nor ev en th e C a th o lic Church, w h ich he i s sym
b o l i c a l l y a t t a c k in g . R a th e r, he a p p e a r s t o u se th e s t o r y
o f t h i s g r e a t s t r u g g le b etw een ch u rch and s t a t e t o i l l u s
t r a t e h i s p e r s o n a l a t t i t u d e tow ard l i f e j t h a t j u s t i c e and
3 * *
S ir A rthur H e lp s, K ing Henry th e Second (Londons
W illia m P ic k e r in g , 18*1-3). ____________________________
: 59
1 t r u t h w i l l a lw a y s r e ig n supreme f o r th e common man, and
i
t h a t h y p o c r lc y , e s p e c i a l l y i n p o l i t i c s and m o r a lit y , can
o n ly le a d t o d i s a s t e r . W hile D a r le y * s p la y was co n cern ed
i
w ith th e p s y c h o lo g ic a l a s p e c ts o f B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r ,
H elp s' drama d e a lt w ith B ecket and. Henry a s th e sy m b o li- i
z a tio n o f h is p e r so n a l p h ilo s o p h ie s . Of a l l o f th e s e
e a r ly p la y s H elp s' has developed, th e c h a r a c te r o f B ecket
j
th e l e a s t .
S ir A rthur H elp s was a h i s t o r i a n , n o v e l i s t and e s s a y
i s t , who was born a t S trea th a m , S u r r e y , i n 1 8 1 3 . H is
I n t e r e s t i n l i t e r a r y a f f a i r s d e v e lo p e d a t an e a r ly age
i
when he Joined w ith s e v e r a l o th e r stu d e n ts a t Eton to
i
found a s c h o o l m a g a zin e.
C e r ta in ly , he was no str a n g e r to th e p o l i t i c a l scen e ;
e it h e r . In 1 8 3 6 , s h o r tly a f t e r h is m arriage to E liz a b e th j
; I
F u lle r , he became in v o lv e d i n p o l i t i c s and s h o r t ly t h e r e
a f t e r was a p p o in ted p r iv a t e s e c r e t a r y t o Thomas S p r in g -R lc e j
C h a n c e llo r o f th e E x ch eq u er. D u rin g 18*K)-*H h e moved to
D u b lin C a s tle where he se r v e d a s p r iv a t e s e c r e t a r y to Lord
M orpeth, C h ie f S e c r e ta r y f o r I r e la n d . A f te r he l e f t th e
s e r v ic e o f Lord M orpeth, he d e v o te d h im s e lf t o w r it in g a
s e r i e s o f e s s a y s .
In t h e s e , h i s f i r s t p u b lis h e d w r i t i n g s , and i n h i s
l a t e r w orks he showed h im s e lf to be a p o l i t i c a l r e fo r m e r .
For exam p le, The C laim s o f Labour (188*0 was a stu d y o f
s o c i a l d i s t r e s s and th e need f o r r efo rm , w h ile sym pathy
t o a n t i - s l a v e r y le d him t o w r it e two v o lu m in o u s h i s t o r i e s
o f th e S p a n ish i n A m erica. He was a m od erate l i b e r a l , who,
a lth o u g h he was somewhat to o c a r e l e s s w ith h i s own a f f a i r s ,
" took an i n t e r e s t i n th e w e lfa r e o f o t h e r s , h a te d w ar, and
was e n e r g e t ic in th e c a u se o f s o c i a l r efo r m . . , .**35
I
P erh ap s th e b e s t sum m ation o f S ir A rthur H elps* a t t l - j
i
tu d e tow ard th e g r e a t s t r u g g le w it h in th e h ie r a r c h y o f j
ch u rch and s t a t e i s b e s t e x p r e s s e d in a p a ssa g e from h i s j
j
own book, Companions o f M y S o l i t u d e :
I t seem s t o me th e r e i s v a s t room f o r im provem ent
t i n many b ra n ch es o f th e govern m en t— in f in a n c e , in
c o l o n i z a t i o n , i n d e a lin g w ith th e p o o r , i n th e p r o
c e e d in g s o f th e s t a t e a s r e g a r d s r e l i g i o n . For w h at
e v e r some o f u s may th in k o r w is h , r e l i g i o u s q u e s t io n s
o f h ig h im port w i l l n o t lo n g be in th e b ack grou n d . |
At p r e s e n t , th e r e l a t i o n s b etw een p e o p le i n power
and th e g e n e r a l i n t e l l i g e n c e o f th e c o u n tr y a r e n o t
such a s th e y m igh t b e . j
I know th e d i f f i c u l t y o f any sound r e fo r m s in
govern m en tj b u t i f we n e v e r a tte m p t a n y , th e y a r e
su r e a t some tim e t o be a tte m p te d by th e c lu m s ie s t
and c o a r s e s t m echanism . . . .
As I w ent a lo n g , I th o u g h t o f th e Church o f Eng
la n d and what m ight be i t s fu tu r e f o r t u n e s . I had
j u s t b een r e a d in g th e w orks o f two b r o th e r s* l a s t
n ig h t I had f in i s h e d an e la b o r a t e a t t a c k from th e
Roman C a th o lic s id e upon th e A n g lic a n Church by one
o f th e b r o th e r s? and t h i s m orning I had rea d a v e r y
s k i l l f u l a t t a c k upon a l l p r e s e n t r e l i g i o u s sy ste m s
by a n o th e r b r o th e r . And I th o u g h t t o m y s e lf , th e
Church o f E ngland s u f f e r s from b o th a t t a c k s .
^ S t a n l e y j # K e e n itz , B r i t i s h A u th ors o f th e N in e te e n th
C entury (New York* H. W . W ilso n , 193^)» p . 2 8 9 . ’
! O n e's a c q u a in ta n c e s who m eet one i n th e s t r e e t s
sh ru g t h e i r s h o u ld e r s , and e x c la im , ’ What a s t a t e th e
Church i s in ! Oh t h a t t h e s e q u e s t io n s t h a t d iv id e i t
had n e v e r b een r a i s e d . ' I do n o t a g r e e w ith them ,
and som etim es I t e l l them s o . I f th e r e a r e t h e s e
g r e a t d i f f e r e n c e s am ongst t h o u g h t f u l men a b o u t g r e a t
s u b j e c t s , why sh o u ld th e y (th e d i f f e r e n c e s ) be s t i
f le d ? Are we a lw a y s t o be w a lk in g ab ou t a s masked
f ig u r e s ?
No doubt i t i s a sad t h in g t h a t w orks o f c h a r it y
and m ercy sh o u ld be e v e r in te r r u p t e d by i n d e f i n i t e
d is p u t e s upon p o in t s w h ich when on ce ta k e n u p , a re
w ith extrem e d i f f i c u l t y s e t t l e d w e l l , o r l a i d a s id e .
But t h e n , on th e o th e r hand, how much good i s p r e
v e n te d by th e c o n tin u a n c e o f i n s i n c e r i t y , by i n s i n
c e r e a d h eren ce on th e p a r t o f men t o t h a t w h ich th e y j
b e l i e v e n o t. B e s id e s , i t i s n o t a s i f a l l w ent on
sm o o th ly , nowt how much, f o r in s t a n c e , th e c a u se j
o f e d u c a tio n s u f f e r s from th e e x is t e n c e o f r e l i g i o u s !
d i f f e r e n c e s . 3 ° j
i
i
H is drama i s a le n g t h y , d u l l t r e a t i s e on th e same s u b -j
i
j e c t . N e ith e r H enry I I n or Thomas B eck et a r e d e v e lo p e d I
I
in t o b e lie v a b le c h a r a c t e r s . E s p e c i a l l y B eck et s u f f e r s from i
su ch n e u t r a l i t y o f c h a r a c te r a s t o be n o th in g but a " f i x
tu r e" o f th e p lo t u sed t o p r o v id e th e c o r r e c t p se u d o -
j
h i s t o r i c a l seq u en ce o f e v e n t s .
A u n iq u e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h i s drama l i e s in th e f a c t
t h a t B e c k e t 's murder o c c u r s ab ou t m id p o in t i n i t . As a
m a t t e r - o f - f a c t t h i s f i r s t h a l f o f th e p la y seem s so in c o n
s e q u e n t ia l t h a t i t c o u ld e a s i l y have b een e lim in a t e d t o
a llo w th e p la y w r ig h t t o c o n c e n tr a te upon th e more Im p ortan t
! a c t i o n o f h i s works th e d e c lin e and f a l l o f Henry I I a s
I
b rou gh t on by h i s own s o n s . H en ry 's s c e n e s tow ard th e end
3 6 g l r A rthur H e lp s, Companions o f M y S o lit u d e (London:
M acm illan & C o ., 1851)# pp. 2 3 0 -2 3 3 .
62
!o f th e p la y rem ind one o f a V ic t o r ia n " p arlor-room " King
L ea r. A ls o , i t i s r e m in is c e n t o f th e l a t e s t tr e a tm e n t o f
t h a t o ld P la n ta g e n e t fa m ily q u a r r e l, L io n in W in ter. 3?
A sid e from th e f a c t t h a t i t d o e s c o n t a in th e c h a r a c te r
o f B e c k e t, S ir A rth u r H e lp s' K ing Henry th e S econ d ^ h a r d ly
b e a r s c o n s id e r a t io n i n t h i s s tu d y .
The l a s t drama t o d e a l w ith B eck et a s a p u r e ly a n ta g - |
j
o n i s t i c c h a r a c te r was G eorge W ig h tw ick 's H enry th e S eco n d ,39j
w h ich was much more co n cern ed w ith th e t i t l e c h a r a c te r th a n j
w ith Thomas B e c k e t. T h is i s e v id e n c e d by th e f a c t t h a t
B e c k e t 's murder o c c u r s n ea r th e end o f A ct I I I o f a f i v e -
a c t p la y . As w ith S ir A rth u r H e lp s' dram a, t h i s one
d e v o t e s n e a r ly th e l a s t h a l f o f th e a c t io n t o what happens
t o H enry I I d u rin g th e y e a r s a f t e r B e c k e t 's d e a th . j
A lth o u g h th e c h a r a c te r o f B eck et i n t h i s p la y i s
se c o n d a r y , and th e drama i s o b v io u s ly fo c u s e d on th e
h e r o ic f ig u r e o f Henry I I , i t i s n e v e r t h e le s s w orth ou r j
I
c o n s id e r a t io n . T here a r e no s u b t l e t i e s h e r e . No o t h e r j
I
p la y s in c e t h a t o f W illia m I r e la n d h a s g iv e n B eck et such j
F a u s tia n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s * B eck et i s d r iv e n t o m adness and i
!
3 ? T h is r e f e r s t o Jam es G oldm an's The L io n i n W inter
(New Yorks Random H ouse, 1 9 6 6 ) .
3® This r e f e r s t o S ir A rthur H e lp s' K ing H enry th e S e
cond (Londoni W illia m P ic k e r in g , 1 8 ^ 3 ).
-^ T h is r e f e r s t o G eorge W ig h tw ick 's H enry th e Second
(London* S im k ln , M a rsh a ll & C o ., 1 8 5 1 ).
; 63
!martyrdom by h i s u n co n scio u s and unquenchable d r iv e f o r
power.
W ightwick was not p r im a r ily a l i t e r a r y man, a lth o u g h
he was a c o p io u s w r ite r . He was an o u tsta n d in g a r c h it e c t
o f h is tim e , and most o f h is w r itin g s concerned th e m se lv e s j
w ith th a t s u b je c t. For exam ple, he r e c e iv e d th e medal o f I
th e Hoyal I n s t i t u t e o f B r it is h A r c h ite c ts in 1 8 5 8 -5 9 fo r |
|
h i s e s s a y on th e famous se v e n te e n th c en tu ry a r c h it e c t , j
C h ristop h er Wren, who was th e d e s ig n e r fo r th e f i r s t D orset >
I
Garden T h ea tr e .
W ightwick*s p la y , w h ile i t was no g r e a t c o n tr ib u tio n
to d ram atic l i t e r a t u r e , had w orth to t h i s stu d y in h e lp in g
to d e fin e th e e a r ly p eriod o f th e developm ent o f Thomas
B ecket a s a d ram atic c h a r a c te r . A fte r W ightw ick's drama |
Thomas B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r underwent a r e v o lu tio n a r y change. I
i
U n lik e th e p r e v io u s s ix dram as, a l l o f which were j
!
c h a r a c te r iz e d by t h e ir developm ent o f a r a th e r n e g a tiv e |
!
I
B ecket c h a r a c te r s tr u g g lin g w ith a F a u stia n them e, th e |
i
I
n ex t two p la y s were w r itte n by Am ericans who c h a r a c te r iz e d i
}
B ecket a s a hero o f th e common p eo p le and th e P r o te sta n t
Church. These p la y w r ig h ts were A lexander H am ilton and
Hiram G ideon H o l l i s t e r , and b oth o f t h e ir p la y s were
e n t i t le d Thomas a B e ck et.
^ T h i s r e f e r s to A lexander H a m ilto n 's "Thomas a Becket"
, Dramas and Poems (New York* D ick and F itz g e r a ld , 1 8 8 ? ) and
Hiram G ideon H o l l i s t e r ' s Thomas a B ecket (Boston* W . V.
S p en cer, 1 8 6 6 ).
6^
H am ilton w ro te th e f i r s t o f t h e s e dram as i n I 8 6 3 . He
was a g ra n d so n o f th e fam ous e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y A m erican
sta te sm a n o f th e same name. He was a p r o f e s s io n a l s o l d i e r ,
and d u r in g th e C i v i l War he was r a is e d t o th e rank o f b r ig
a d ie r g e n e r a l a t th e r e q u e s t o f P r e s id e n t L in c o ln . H is
b io g r a p h e r s have n o te d t h a t h i s a d m ir a tio n f o r L in c o ln
b o rd ered on a d o r a t io n , a f a c t w h ich i s c e r t a i n l y r e f l e c t e d j
in h i s p la y . T h is u n m ista k a b le s ig n arid h i s g r e a t reverence!
f o r th e U nion a r e r e f l e c t e d in th e c h a r a c te r o f Thomas
B e c k e t. B eck et t a k e s on th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f a m e d ie v a l
E n g lis h Abraham L in c o ln , and th e c o n f l i c t b etw een H enry I I
and B eck et m ight w e ll have b een t h a t o f P r e s id e n t L in c o ln
a g a in s t th e " d e sp o tic " S o u th ern a r i s t o c r a c y .
The second drama was w r it t e n in 1866 by a C o n n e c tic u t ■
!
la w y er named Hiram G ideon H o l l i s t e r . W hile a t c o l l e g e he j
se r v e d a s th e s tu d e n t e d i t o r o f th e Y ale L it e r a r y M agazin e,
and th ro u g h o u t h i s l i f e he fo llo w e d w r it in g a s an a vocatioru j
1
He p u b lis h e d a h i s t o r y o f C o n n e c tic u t, a p o p u la r poem
t i t l e d A n d e r s o n v ille . a s u c c e s s f u l n o v e l, and th e p la y
Thomas a B e c k e t. L ik e H a m ilto n 's dram a, H o l l i s t e r ' s d e
p i c t s B eck et a s a h ero o f th e p e o p le , b u t i t s em p h a sis i s
more on B eck et a s a h ero o f th e P r o te s ta n t c a u s e , f i g h t i n g
a g a in s t th e c o r r u p tio n o f b o th th e Church and Crown.
The a c t in g r i g h t s t o th e p la y w ere s o ld t o th e fam ous
A m erican a c t o r , Edwin B o o th , and i t r e c e iv e d th r e e p rod u c
t i o n s by him . I t n e v e r h a s e n jo y e d any g r e a t p o p u la r it y ,
! 65
I
th o u g h , s in c e th e r e i s no r e c o r d o f a p r o d u c tio n o f i t
o t h e r th a n B o o th 's .
Ten y e a r s e la p s e d b e fo r e a n o th e r p la y was w r it t e n on
th e s u b j e c t o f B e c k e t. A g a in , B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r had under-
i
gon e a c o n s id e r a b le ch a n g e. In Aubrey De V e r e 's S t . Thomas ;
o f C anterbury***(1 8 7 6 ) B eck et i s p o r tr a y e d a s th e g r e a t hero-i
m a rty r o f th e C hurch, m o d e lle d a f t e r th e p r o to m a r ty r , |
C hri s t . |
Of c o u r s e , t h i s c o u ld be e x p e c te d s in c e De V ere was a
d ev o u t C a th o lic c o n v e r t and b e c a u se o f th e r a p id ly ch a n g in g :
t e n o r o f th e r e l i g i o u s and p o l i t i c a l v ie w s o f la t e - V i c t o r i a n
E n g la n d . The p e r io d was marked by p o l i t i c a l l i b e r a l i z a t i o n ,
by a breakdown o f e s t a b l i s h e d t r a d i t i o n s i n r e l i g i o n , and
by th e c h a lle n g e o f r a p id s o c i a l change b rou gh t on by
s c ie n c e .
De V ere was a r a t h e r rem ark ab le man.
H i s t o r i c a l l y , h i s l i f e (1 8 1 4 -1 9 0 2 ) spanned th e c e n -
t u r y — from th e B a t t le o f W aterloo t o th e d e a th o f
Queen V i c t o r i a . P e r s o n a lly , i t was th e l i f e o f a
g e n tle m a n o f l e i s u r e and c u l t u r e , b u t i t was l i v e d in
a p e r io d o f p o l i t i c a l and r e l i g i o u s fe r m e n t. T here
w as s c a r c e ly a movement i n E ngland o r I r e la n d i n w h ich
De V ere was n o t i n some way in v o lv e d , th o u g h he was a
l o y a l member o f th e Church o f E ngland a t th e t im e , he
c e le b r a t e d t h e p a s s in g o f D a n ie l O 'C o n n e l's C a th o lic
E m a n cip a tio n B i l l o f 1 8 2 1 .
41
T h is r e f e r s t o Aubrey De V e r e 's S t . Thomas o f Can
te r b u r y (London* H. S . K ing & C o ., 1 8 7 6 ).
66
T hroughout h i s l i f e he worked d i l i g e n t l y in "behalf
o f h i s cou n trym en , p ro m o tin g r e l i g i o u s e q u a l i t y , le n d
in g h i s su p p o rt t o th e I r i s h Land A ct o f 1 8 8 1 , t o th e
e a r ly d is e s t a b lis h m e n t o f th e I r i s h C hurch, and t o t h e
c a u se o f p o p u la r e d u c a tio n .
De V ere was a s s e n s i t i v e t o th e r e l i g i o u s t r e n d s o f
h i s tim e s a s he was t o th e p o l i t i c a l d e v e lo p m e n ts. . . .
No one c o u ld sta n d a l o o f from th e V ic t o r ia n r e a p p r a is a l
o f r e l i g i o n o r f a i l t o e x p e r ie n c e i n some way th e r e
l i g i o u s d o u b ts o f th e a g e . In De V e r e 's c a s e t h e s e
d o u b ts w ere r e s o lv e d by h i s c o n v e r s io n t o th e Roman
C a th o lic C h u r c h .
T h ese v e r y s i g n i f i c a n t rem arks from De V e r e 's b io g
rap h y a r e r e f l e c t e d c l e a r l y i n th e a c t i o n s o f h i s p la y S t .
Thomas o f C a n terb u ry , a lth o u g h he d e n ie s i n th e P r e fa c e to
h i s p la y a b ia s i n d e a lin g w ith th e c h a r a c te r o f Thomas
B eck et :
Mr. Freem an, i n h i s rem ark ab le e s s a y ' S t . Thomas
o f C an terb u ry and h i s B io g r a p h e r s ,' o b se r v e s*
' I f we w ish t o f a i r l y ju d ge o f th e r ig h t and th e
wrong b etw een Henry and Thomas, we m ust f i r s t o f a l l
sh u t ou r e y e s t o a l l modern c o n t r o v e r s ie s w h a te v e r .
W e m ust n o t c a r r y in t o t h a t r e g io n any modern t h e o
r i e s a b ou t Church and S t a t e , ab o u t C a th o lic is m and
P r o t e s t a n t is m .' The rem ark a p p l i e s no l e s s t o drama
on th e s u b j e c t o f B e c k e t, s in c e i t sh o u ld n e it h e r be
w r it t e n n or rea d in a p o le m ic a l s p i r i t . What we a r e
co n cern ed w ith i s th e c h a r a c te r o f th e man and th e
a im s o f h i s l i f e . ^3
D e sp ite h i s p r o t e s t a t io n a g a in s t a b ia s e d v iew o f
B eck et, De Vere was a s la u d ito r y o f him a s th e p la y w r ig h ts
o f th e e a r ly p erio d had been condem natory. He c h a r a c te r
i z e s th e A rchbishop a s not o n ly a m artyr and s a in t o f th e
^2 S. M . P a r a c lit a R e i l l y , C .S .J ., Aubrey De V e r e :
V ic t o r ia n O b server ( L in c o ln , N ebraska: U n iv e r s it y o f
N ebraska P r e s s , 1953)* PP. 1 1 -1 2 .
Aubrey De V ere, S t . Thomas o f C an terb u ry (London:
?• S. K ing & C o ., 1 8 7 6 ) , p . v . ____
i 67
iC hurch, but a s an E n g lis h h e r o . He d id n o t make th e h i s
t o r i c a l e r r o r w h ich h a s b een made by so many o th e r p la y
w r ig h ts i n p o r tr a y in g B eck et a s b e in g o f Saxon b i r t h , f o r
he p o in t s o u t in th e p r e f a c e t o h i s p la y t h a t he was aw are
o f B e c k e t 's Norman d e s c e n t when he q u o te s E . A. Freeman a s j
s a y in g "A p r e la t e (Thomas B e c k e t) o f E n g lis h b i r t h , but o f
t h e p u r e s t Norman d e s c e n t , w in s th e lo v e o f th e E n g lis h
p e o p le . . . .
De V e r e 's p o r t r a y a l o f B eck et a s th e m artyred h ero o f
th e Church and h ero o f th e p e o p le i s r e p e a te d i n s e v e r a l o f
th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y p la y s w h ich s u b s e q u e n tly f o llo w h i s
own. P erh ap s th e m ost rem ark ab le p a r a l l e l i s b etw een h i s
and C. W . B a r r a u d 's S t . Thomas o f C an terb u ry ( 1 8 9 2 ).
In k e e p in g w ith th e p la y s o f t h i s seco n d p e r io d ,
Aubrey De V ere p o r tr a y s B eck et a s a p o p u la r h e r o , a h ero
o f th e p e o p le , a s w e ll a s a m artyr o f th e Church.
A lth o u g h th e r e i s a r e f e r e n c e in th e L ib r a r y o f Con- j
!
g r e s s C a ta lo g t o a p la y e n t i t l e d H enry The S eco n d , w h ich j
was p u b lis h e d in 18?8 by a J . A n d erson , I n q u ir ie s t o t h a t
l i b r a r y f a i l e d t o p rod u ce any r e s u l t s . The s t a f f a t th e
L ib r a r y o f C on gress r e p o r te d th e y c o u ld n o t f in d t h e w ork,
n or co u ld th e y u n e a r th a n o th e r so u r c e f o r i t . A ll f u r t h e r
i n q u i r i e s have f a i l e d t o p rod u ce a t r a c e o f th e m a n u sc r ip t.
^ E . A. Freem an, H is t o r y o f The Norman C onquest o f
i E ngland (O xford* C laren d on P r e s s , 1 8 7 6 ) , p . 5 a s c i t e d
by Aubrey De V ere, S t . Thomas o f C an terb u ry (London*
! H. S . K ing & C o ., 1 8 ? 6 ) , p . x i v .
68
The f o llo w in g y e a r an E n glish m an w ro te a p la y sim p ly
e n t i t l e d B e c k e t. U n f o r tu n a te ly , no b io g r a p h ic a l m a t e r ia ls
w ere found c o n c e r n in g C. T. W in ter. S in c e th e f o c u s o f
I
t h i s stu d y was on th e p l a y s c r i p t (n o t i t s w r i t e r ) , and
s in c e th e o n ly a p p a ren t so u r c e o f b io g r a p h ic a l in fo r m a tio n j
on W inter p ro b a b ly o n ly e x i s t s in such p e r s o n a l c o r r e s p o n - j
d en ce a s m igh t be u n ea rth ed i f one c o u ld f in d th e E n g lis h j
to w n sh ip in w hich he l i v e d , th e c o n tin u a n c e o f r e s e a r c h in i
t h i s a r e a seemed g r o u n d le s s .
H owever, th e p r e fa c e o f th e p la y y ie ld e d some im p o r t- |
a n t in fo r m a tio n ab ou t th e p la y w r ig h t 's a t t i t u d e tow ard th e
s u b je c t o f th e f i g h t b etw een Thomas B eck et and K ing H enry
I I . W in ter, in r e f e r r i n g t o B e c k e t 's c h a r a c t e r , sa y s*
I f we do n o t s e e him a s a in t a s meek and a m artyr
a s lo n g - s u f f e r i n g a s i s d is c e r n e d by h i s to o p a r t i a l
f r i e n d s , s t i l l l e s s can we b e l i e v e him t o h ave b een a
mere h a u g h ty and i n t r i g u i n g man o f th e w o r ld , b en t on
h i s own a g g r a n d ise m e n t, and u s in g any cro o k ed means
t o prom ote h i s o b j e c t .
Had t h a t b een h i s aim he had but t o sub m it t o th e
w i l l , and f u r t h e r th e d e s ig n s o f h i s R oyal p a tr o n , and
n o th in g s h o r t o f th e k in g ly crown w ould have b een w ith
h e ld from him . I n s te a d o f t h a t he th w a rted H e n r y 's
p o l i c y im m e d ia te ly [ s ic ] t h a t p o l i c y demanded th e s a c
r i f i c e o f r i g h t s t h a t he lo o k e d upon a s s a c r e d and
d iv in e — th e r i g h t s o f C h r is t and H is Church,
In t h a t h a l f - c i v i l i z e d and la w l e s s a g e , when m igh t
was r i g h t , and when K ing and n o b le s w ere l i t t l e l e s s
th a n crowned and c o r o n e tte d . b r ig a n d s , and th e d e s p o t
ism o f th e Norman and e a r ly P la n ta g e n e t m onarchs b id
f a i r — a s i t d id , i n f a c t , from th e C onquest t o Magna
C arta— t o o v e r r id e a l l r i g h t s o f w h a tev er k in d , th e
in d ep en d en ce o f th e Church and c le r g y m igh t w e ll seem
t o a d ev o u t and g i f t e d e c c l e s i a t i c t o be th e c a u se o f
God. . . * 5
4 5 C. T. W in ter , B eck et (London* R em ington and C o .,
1 8 7 9 ), P . H 1 . ____________ _______________________________
W in te r 's B eok et i s m ost a s s u r e d ly a h e r o ic f ig u r e and
f o llo w s i n th e t r a d i t i o n o f th e p la y s w h ich w ere w r it t e n
d u r in g th e l a s t h a l f o f th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y . F u r th e r
m ore, B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r i n t h i s drama i s p r o b a b ly th e
m eek est and m ost humble o f any w r it t e n . He o f t e n sp e a k s
i n ter m s one m igh t e x p e c t from th e m ild e s t o r th o d o x p r i e s t , j
n o t from th e l i p s o f th e Thomas B e c k e t— C h a n c e llo r o f E ng-
I
la n d and A rch b ish op o f C an terb u ry. j
j
One can a lm o st s e n se from th e d ia lo g u e o f th e p la y
t h a t C. T. W inter m ust have b een a member o f th e c le r g y o r
i
a m ost d ev o u t ch u rch laym an. Of c o u r s e , i t i s im p o s s ib le
t o d is c e r n w h eth er W inter was a P r o te s ta n t o r C a t h o lic , but :
h i s drama abounds w ith th e la n g u a g e o f th e B ib le and C h r is
t i a n i t y , and B eck et a p p ea rs a s a m ost C h r i s t - l i k e f ig u r e . ;
Three y e a r s l a t e r th e t h ir d A m erican p la y w r ig h t,
A lfr e d W a ite s, had e ig h t y c o p ie s o f h i s p la y , Thomas B eketg 1
o r The M itre and th e Crown, p r i v a t e l y p r in t e d . A g a in , no
b io g r a p h ic a l in fo r m a tio n ab ou t W aites was a v a i l a b l e . The
o n ly in d i c a t i o n o f h i s a t t i t u d e tow ard Thomas B eck et com es
from th e P r e fa c e o f h i s p la y s
The f o llo w in g p a g e s c o n s t i t u t e an en d ea v o r t o i l l u s
t r a t e a g r e a t h i s t o r i c a l c h a r a c t e r , an a tte m p t t o i n t e r
p r e t w ith sym pathy and t r u t h th e w o rk in g s o f an i n t e n s e l y
d ra m a tic s p i r i t .
That Mr. Froude sh o u ld e n fo r c e p r e c i s e l y o p p o s it e
c o n c lu s io n s i s n o t t o be w ondered a t , n or e v e n r e g r e t
te d i th e e a r n e s t a p o l o g i s t f o r H enry th e E ig h t m ust
n eed f in d l i t t l e t o adm ire in th e c h a r a c te r o f B e c k e t.
70
Thomas o f London, o th e r w is e Thomas a B eck et o r
Thomas B e c k e t, p o s s e s s e d a lm o st e v e r y w o r ld ly h on or.
He was th e f a v o r i t e o f h i s k in g and th e m entor o f h i s
p r in c e ; th e m ost b r i l l i a n t swordsman o f h i s tim e ; th e
b r a v e s t s o ld i e r ; th e adm ired o f a l l a d m ir e r s; th e en
v ie d o f th e weak and f o o l i s h . He y ie ld e d t o th e e a r
n e s t s o l i c i t a t i o n s o f H enry, and w as made th e p r im a te ,
when, a s i f by m ir a c le , th e w h ole c u r r e n t o f h i s b e in g
ch a n g ed , and t o th e unbounded a s to n ish m e n t and r a g e o f
th e k in g , he became a s d e v o te d t o th e i n t e r e s t s o f th e
ch u rch a s he had p r e v io u s ly b een t o th e s e r v ic e o f th e
s t a t e ; d escen d ed from th e h e ig h t s o f a m b itio n and sto o d
f ir m ly i n what he c o n c e iv e d t o be th e p a th o f d u ty . He
i s th e o n ly one in th e lo n g l i n e o f Lord C h a n c e llo r s
who e v e r v o l u n t a r i l y r e s ig n e d h i s pow er. When he d id !
t h a t , none knew b e t t e r th e d i f f i c u l t i e s t h a t m ust b e
s e t him , how h a te w ould u su rp th e th r o n e o f lo v e and
a f f e c t i o n be r e p la c e d by c r u e l t y . He f a l t e r e d b u t
o n c e , when he c o n se n te d t o th e C o n s t it u t io n s o f C la r
endon; t h a t was o n ly th e w ea k n ess o f a moment, he
q u ic k ly w ith d rew th e r e lu c t a n t a s s e n t and resum ed h i s
s o l i t a r y way. H is e v e r y r e l a t i v e was b a n is h e d , h i s
e v e r y f r ie n d was e x i l e d ; m is fo r tu n e was heaped upon
m is f o r tu n e , and a t ea ch a c c e s s io n o f m ise r y he b r e a th e d ‘
t r o u b le w ith a s t e r n e r co u ra g e ; d e c e iv e d by th o s e whom
he t r u s t e d and f o r whom he t r a v a i l e d , b u t su p p o r te d by
h i s c o n v ic t io n s o f d u ty and d y in g w ith th e a s su r a n c e
o f a m a r ty r 's crow n.
Prom t h in k in g o f him th e mind i s i r r e s i s t i b l y |
a t t r a c t e d t o th e c o n s id e r a t io n o f t h a t o t h e r g r e a t
churchm an, th e f a v o r i t e o f a n o th e r H enry, C h a n c e llo r
t o o , who s t u l i f i e d h im s e lf i n th e v a in en d ea v o r t o
g r a t i f y a k i n g ' s c a p r ic e and who b r e a th e d o u t h i s
s o u l i n a w a il o f d e s p a ir .
T h is sta te m e n t l e a v e s l i t t l e d ou b t a s t o th e k in d o f
B eck et W a ites h a s w r it t e n in t o h i s p la y . He i s , i n f a c t ,
a n o th e r h ero o f th e common p e o p le — th e Saxon commoner
f i g h t i n g a g a in s t th e t y r a n n ic a l r u le o f th e Norman and a
c o r r u p t C a th o lic Church. He h a s , h ow ever, b een made a
P r o t e s t a n t .
^ A lfred W a ite s, Thomas B e k e t ; o r The M itre and t h e
Crown (W o r ch ester , M a ssa c h u se tts* p r in te d f o r th e a u th o r
by F r a n k lin P. R ic e , 1 8 8 2 ) , p . l i .
The f o llo w in g y e a r , 1 8 8 3 , Dr. C h a r le s F. G rindrod
w ro te King H enry I I . T h is p la y I s r e m in is c e n t o f S ir
A rth u r H e lp s' K ing H enry th e Second (1 8 ^ 3 ) In t h a t I t i s
n e u t r a l in i t s tr e a tm e n t o f th e c h a r a c t e r s o f B eck et and
H enry I I . As i n H elps* dram a, G rindrod r e f u s e s t o p o r tr a y
e i t h e r c h a r a c te r a s th e a n t a g o n is t . The r e s u l t , o f c o u r s e , j
i s a p a l l i d , u n in t e r e s t in g p arad e o f p la t it u d in o u s c h a r a c - j
t e r s a c r o s s th e s t a g e .
An i n t e r e s t i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h i s p a r t ic u l a r p la y
i s th e way i n w h ich i t r e v e r t s back t o th e tr e a tm e n t o f
Henry II-R o sa m o n d -E lea n o r l o v e - t r l a n g l e w h ich w as th e
p o p u la r theme o f a l l th e p la y s w h ich d e a lt w ith Henry I I
b e fo r e W illia m I r e la n d w ro te h i s p la y i n 1 7 9 9 .
Not o n ly d o e s th e p l o t in c lu d e th e b a s ic l o v e - t r i a n g l e
o f th e e a r l i e r p la y s , b u t th e e v i l monk i s a l s o th e r e
p l o t t i n g th e m urder o f Rosamond w ith E le a n o r th e Q ueen.
I t i s an a d m ix tu re o f b o th th e e a r l i e r and l a t e r p l o t s and j
th em es o f p la y s w h ich had d e a l t w ith th e h i s t o r i c a l and |
le g e n d a r y m a t e r ia ls su r ro u n d in g th e l i v e s o f B eck et and
Henry I I .
One c o u ld c o n j e c tu r e from th e to n e o f h i s p la y t h a t
G rindrod was r e l a t e d t o Dr. W illia m G rin d ro d , who w as a
d ev o u t C h r is tia n and z e a lo u s p r o h i b i t i o n i s t . H ow ever, no
b io g r a p h ic a l e v id e n c e w as found t o su p p o rt t h a t id e a s in
f a c t , no b io g r a p h ic a l in fo r m a tio n was found w h ich w ould
a id ou r com p reh en sion o f h i s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B e c k e t.
! 72
C e r t a in ly , one c a t c h e s th e f la v o r o f o r th o d o x r e l i g
i o s i t y i n th e d ia lo g u e o f G r in d r o d 's p la y . For ex a m p le , in
B e c k e t* s d y in g sp e e c h t o K ing H enry, we f in d him s a y in g ,
"Love God w h ile t h a t ye may, and o f y o u r s t r e n g t h y i e l d him
good s e r v it u d e j so a t you r d e a th ye s h a l l n o t c a l l in
v a i n . "^7 S ta n d in g a lo n e t h i s w ould n o t be s i g n i f i c a n t ,
but in th e c o n te x t o f G r in d r o d 's p la y and a s an exam ple o f 1
much o f h i s d ia lo g u e , i t s ta n d s a s an in d i c a t i o n o f th e j
p la y w r ig h t 's d e v o u tn e s s and co n c u r r e n c e w ith th e th e n
p o p u la r o rth o d o x P r o te s ta n t E n g lis h a t t i t u d e s .
i
The o n ly p o p u la r v e r s io n o f th e B eck et s t o r y t o be
d ra m a tized d u r in g th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y w as t h a t o f A lfr e d ;
Lord T en n yson . I t s p o p u la r it y m igh t v e r y w e ll be due a s
much t o th e c r e d it o f th e p o p u la r it y o f Henry I r v in g , who
perform ed in th e t i t l e r o l e , and E lle n T e r r y , who p erform ed
th e r o l e o f Rosamond, a s t o th e p la y and th e p o p u la r it y o f
th e p la y w r ig h t.
In a c t u a l i t y , A lfr e d Lord T ennyson f in is h e d and had
p r o o fs o f h i s p la y B eck et p r in te d in 1 8 7 9 . T h is was i n d i
c a te d by h i s son H allam Tennyson*
In 1879 my f a t h e r p r in te d th e f i r s t p r o o f s o f h i s
tr a g e d y o f B e c k e t, w h ich he had begun in Decem ber I 8 7 6 .
But he c o n s id e r e d t h a t th e tim e was n o t r ip e f o r i t s
p u b lic a t io n ; and t h i s t h e r e f o r e w as d e fe r r e d u n t i l
Decem ber 1 8 8 4 .4 8
^ D r . C h a r le s F. G rin d rod , K ing Henry I I (London*
Kegan P a u l & C o ., 1 8 8 3 ), p . 1 3 0 .
48
H allam T en n yson , e d . , B eck et and O th er P la y s by A l
fr e d Lord Tennyson (London* Mac m illa n & C o ., 1 9 0 8 ), p . 419.
As H allam T ennyson i n d i c a t e s , i t was f i v e y e a r s a f t e r
th e f i r s t p r o o fs w ere p r in te d b e fo r e h i s f a t h e r su b m itted
th e s c r i p t f o r p u b lic a t io n , and i t was n o t u n t i l 1893 b e
f o r e th e le a d in g a c t o r o f th e p e r io d c o u ld be p ersu a d ed t o
p erform th e drama. S h o r t ly a f t e r T e n n y so n 's d e a th on j
!
O ctob er 6 , 1 8 9 2 , H enry I r v in g opened w ith a c u t v e r s io n o f j
B eck et on h i s f i f t y - f i f t h b ir th d a y i n I 893 a t t h e Lyceum
t h e a t r e .
T ennyson w ro te B eck et a s th e t h ir d p la y in a t r i l o g y
d e a lin g w ith th e h i s t o r i c a l d ev elo p m en t o f e a r l y E n glan d .
I t was p l a i n l y a p a t r i o t i c , a s w e ll a s p o e t i c , g e s tu r e on
th e p a r t o f T ennyson. H is two p r e v io u s p la y s , w h ich a l s o
d e a lt w ith E n g lis h h i s t o r y w ere Queen Mary (1 8 7 5 ) and
H arold ( 1 8 7 7 ).
T ennyson f i r s t exam ined th e g r e a t t h e o l o g i c a l c o n t r o - j
v e r s y w h ich surrounded th e r e ig n o f Mary and h er m a rria g e
t o P h i l i p o f S p a in . The m ost commanding f ig u r e o f th e
p la y was th e P r o te s ta n t m a rty r, W illia m Cranmer, who
s u f f e r e d d e a th a t th e o r d e r s o f Queen Mary. T e n n y so n 's
p la y was n o t u n d u ly b ia s e d , but i t c e r t a i n l y in d ic a t e d a
sym pathy f o r t h e P r o te s ta n t c a u s e . As G. W ilso n K n igh t
p o in te d o u t 1
7^
As a w hole Queen Mary rem a in s n e c e s s a r i l y h e a v y ,
th ou gh a m a s te r ly u se o f d ia lo g u e j o in s w ith k een i n
s ig h t in t o t h e o lo g i c a l c o n tr o v e r s y and sta te sm a n sh ip
t o make t h i s r e a d in g o f a tr o u b le d r e ig n a v a lu a b le
d ra m a tic commentary on E n g la n d 's r e l a t i o n s h i p t o
C a th o lic is m and th e c o n t in e n t o f E u r o p e .^9
Tennyson n e x t tu rn ed t o th e e a r ly p e r io d o f th e co n
q u e s t o f E ngland and w ro te h i s p la y H arold in s e a r c h o f th e j
s e e d s o f E n g la n d 's g r e a t n e s s . A g a in , t h i s n a t io n o f A n g lo -;
|
S a x o n s, e p ito m iz e d in th e m anly and h o n e st H a ro ld , w ere
I
p i t t e d a g a in s t th e f o r c e s o f t h e f o r e ig n in t r u d e r , W illia m :
o f Normandy, and h i s g r e a t a l l y (th e Church o f Rome).
S u b tly but c l e a r l y , Tennyson a g a in em p h asized t h a t th e
c o n f l i c t b etw een E n g lis h C h r i s t i a n i t y and C o n tin e n ta l
C h r i s t i a n i t y , b etw een th e S axon s and t h e i r f o r e ig n o v e r
l o r d s , w h ich had begun a t t h i s tim e and c o n tin u e d ev en in t o :
th e s ix t e e n t h c e n tu r y . Tennyson d id n o t o v e r e m p h a siz e , |
|
h ow ever, h i s p r o p e n s ity tow ard h i s n a t iv e countrym en and j
n a t iv e ch u rch . R a th er , he a tte m p te d t o show how th e g r e a t
n e s s o f E n glan d , w h ich had re a ch e d i t s peak d u r in g th e
V ic t o r ia n p e r io d , had em erged l i k e a p h o e n ix from th e a s h e s
o f th e p r e v io u s c u l t u r e s , th o s e b o th o f th e d e f e a te d S axon s
and o f th e co n q u erin g Normans.
In B e c k e t. T e n n y so n 's avowed I n t e n t io n was t o show how
E ngland broke w ith th e p o w er fu l in f lu e n c e o f th e f o r e ig n
power o f Rome and how i t became a more d e m o c r a tic n a t io n .
W ilson K night, The Golden L ab yrin th (London:
P h o en ix H ouse L t d ., 1 9 6 2 ) , p . 2 6 4 .
! 75
i
jH ow ever, a s was th e c a s e In Queen Mary and H a r o ld . Tennyson
d id n o t s t r o n g ly fa v o r e i t h e r B eck et o r Henry in t h e i r lo n g
b a t t l e j r a t h e r , he a tte m p te d t o g iv e b o th s id e s a f a i r
h e a r in g . I t was B e c k e t, h o w ev er, who to o k c o n t r o l o f th e
p la y , and o n e 's sym pathy a lig n e d i t s e l f more w ith him th a n j
j
w ith H enry. Of c o u r s e , we w ould be o v e r lo o k in g an im p o r t- j
i
a n t i n f lu e n c in g f a c t i f we d id n o t r e c o g n iz e t h a t T enny- |
s o n 's B eck et was no o r d in a r y e c c l e s i a s t i c who was t r a d i
t i o n a l l y and ir r e v o c a b ly t i e d t o Home.
He i s more th a n a t y p i c a l e c c l e s i a s t i c , s in c e he
h a s th e q u a l i t i e s o f b o th s o l d i e r and s a in t s he i s ;
a man o f a c t io n d e d ic a te d t o a p u r i f i e d C h r i s t i a n i t y .
When he r e f u s e s t o be c o n te n t w ith th e t r a d i t i o n a l !
r i g h t s o f th e Church, em p h a sizin g t h a t th e r e must be
a f u r th e r a d v a n c e, a f u r th e r p u r i f i c a t i o n ( I I . 1 1 ) ,
we r e c o g n iz e a f o r e c a s t o f P r o te s ta n t is m , th e more
so s in c e B e c k e t's i s a v e r y E n g lis h C h r i s t i a n i t y ,
c e n te r e d a s much in 'th e m other ch u rch o f E n g la n d ,
my C an terb u ry' ( v . i i ) a s in R o m e .50
In t h i s w ay, p erh a p s T ennyson c o u ld j u s t i f y h i s n eu
t r a l i t y , o r p erh a p s ev en f a v o r it is m o f B e c k e t, and s t i l l
m a in ta in an e s s e n t i a l l y p a t r i o t i c s t a n c e , w h ich was so much
a p a r t o f th e V ic t o r ia n E n g lis h a t t i t u d e and c e r t a i n l y t h a t
o f t h i s g r e a t p o e t la u r e a t e o f E n glan d .
The s t o r y o f T e n n y so n 's B eck et d id n o t end t h e r e ,
h ow ever. A fte r i t s c o m p le tio n i n 1879* he had t r i e d t o g e t
th e g r e a t a c to r -m a n a g e r , Henry I r v in g , t o p erform th e p la y .
I r v in g r e fu s e d by s a y in g th a t th e p u b lic w ould n o t a c c e p t
i t . A g a in , in 1891 he s t a t e d th a t a lth o u g h he l i k e d
5Qlb ld . . p. 267.
! 76
T e n n y so n 's p la y im m en sely , he f e l t i t w ould n o t be s u c c e s s
f u l a s a s ta g e p r o d u c tio n . H ow ever, s h o r t ly a f t e r t h a t he
; began w ork in g w ith T ennyson r e v i s in g B eck et t o make i t more
a c t a b le . I t f i n a l l y opened in 1893 a t th e Lyceum. B eck et
became one o f I r v i n g ' s m ost s u c c e s s f u l r o l e s . He p erform ed
i t l i t e r a l l y hundreds o f tim e s and had J u st co m p leted a
p erform an ce o f i t s h o r t ly b e fo r e he d ie d on th e n ig h t o f j
i
O ctob er 13» 1 9 0 5 . j
I r v in g a lw a y s p erform ed th o s e r o l e s w hich b e s t d i s
p la y e d h i s h i s t r i o n i c s a s a h e r o ic c h a r a c t e r . H is p e r f o r - j
mance o f B eck et was no e x c e p t io n . A r e a d in g o f I r v i n g ' s
r e v is e d s c r i p t (th e o r i g i n a l copy o f w hich i s now lo c a t e d ;
a t th e H u n tin g to n L ib r a r y ) r e v e a le d a f a r more h e r o ic
B eck et th a n T ennyson had o r i g i n a l l y in te n d e d .
The l a s t d r a m a tiz a tio n o f th e B eck et-H en ry s t r u g g le
was p u b lis h e d th e y e a r T ennyson d ie d , 1 8 9 2 . I t a p p ea red in
a volum e o f two p la y s , S t . Thomas o f C an terb u ry and S t .
E liz a b e t h o f Hungary* H i s t o r i c a l Dram as, w r it t e n by
Clem ent W illia m B arraud. The o n ly c lu e t o B a rr a u d 's b a ck -
i
ground was a s h o r t sta te m e n t f o llo w in g th e t i t l e page o f
h i s p la y s i
T h ese two p l a y s , founded on th e sta n d a rd w orks o f
F. J . M o rr is, S . J . , and th e Comte De M on talem b ert,
w ere w r it t e n tw e n ty y e a r s a g o . They a r e now pub
lis h e d . on b e h a lf o f a sm a ll s c h o o l in th e c o l o n i e s
w ith w h ich th e w r it e r i s c o n n e c t e d .51
i
Barraud s ig n e d h i s name a s C. W . B arraud, S . J . , w h ich i n
d ic a t e d t h a t h e , t o o , was a member o f th e S o c ie t y o f J e s u s
(a s o c i e t y o f C a th o lic l a y t e a c h e r s ) . T h e r e fo r e , we can
i
presum e t h a t S t . Thomas o f C anterbury was w r it t e n around
1872 by a man who was g r e a t l y in flu e n c e d by th e Church. !
In d e e d , th e p la y was an e x p r e s s io n o f B arraud*s r e v e r
en ce o f S t . Thomas B eck et a s a m artyr o f th e Church. In
f a c t , th e p la y w r ig h t w ent t o c o n s id e r a b le le n g t h s t o c r e a t e
B eck et in th e im age o f th e p ro to m a r ty r— J e s u s C h r is t.
B eck et Dramas. 1 9 0 0 -1 9 6 5
I t was 1935 b e fo r e a n o th e r p la y was w r it t e n upon th e
j
B eck et s t o r y . T. S . E l i o t f in is h e d Murder in th e C a th e- |
ri-rfti 52 j L n 1935# when i t was p r e s e n te d a t th e C an terb u ry j
i
F e s t i v a l un d er th e d i r e c t i o n o f E. M artin Browne. S in c e
i t was w r it t e n f o r t h i s s p e c ia l o c c a s io n , i t was l i t t l e
wonder t h a t i t d e a lt so s p e c i f i c a l l y w ith th e s u b j e c t o f
one o f th e e a r ly m a rty rs o f th e Church. H owever, i t d id
n o t d e a l w ith th e h i s t o r i c a l B e c k e t, o r a t l e a s t , i t s
51 C lem ent W . B arraud, S t . Thomas o f C an terb u ry and
E liz a b e t h o f Hungary* H i s t o r i c a l Dramas ( London1 Longmans,
G reen, and C o ., 1 8 9 2 ), page f o llo w in g th e t i t l e - p a g e .
^2T h is r e f e r s to T. S . E l i o t ' s Murder i n th e C a th ed ra l
(New York* H a rco u rt, B race & C o ., I n c . , 1 9 3 5 ).
j - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - — - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
| 78
i
|them e was in no way co n cern ed w ith him . R a th e r , E l i o t was
co n cern ed w ith w r it in g a modern m o r a lit y p la y , and th e
s t o r y o f B e c k e t* s martyrdom fu r n is h e d him w ith a m ost con
v e n ie n t v e h i c l e . A c t u a lly , E l i o t ' s p la y was a r i t u a l in
i form and c o n t e n t , and w as co n cern ed w ith i l l u s t r a t i n g th e
im p o rta n ce o f s p i r i t u a l i t y in th e m odern, m a t e r i a l i s t i c
w o r ld .
T h is k in d o f tr e a tm e n t o f th e B eck et s t o r y c o u ld be
e x p e c te d from a man l i k e E l i o t . When one r e a l i z e d h i s
i background and th e m o tiv a tio n f o r w r it in g Murder in th e
C a th e d r a l, i t was e a s y t o com prehend why E l i o t u sed th e
s t y l e and c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B eck et w h ich he d id .
E l i o t was born in 1888 a t S t . L o u is , M is s o u r i, a f a c t
w h ich we a r e prone t o f o r g e t s in c e , “A cco rd in g t o h i s
A d vocate a s s o c i a t e s , E l i o t *was E n g lis h in e v e r y th in g b u t
a c c e n t and c i t i z e n s h i p . *"53 o f c o u r s e , h i s fa m ily b a ck -
| ground m ust have l e n t t o h i s f e e l i n g f o r th e r e l i g i o u s l i f e
and a k in s h ip t o th e B r i t i s h . In f a c t , th e f i r s t o f th e
E l i o t fa m ily t o come t o A m erica was a co rd w a in er from
S o m e r set, E n g la n d , who s e t t l e d in B o sto n i n m id d le l i f e
! and who s a t in Judgment a t t h e Salem W itch T r i a l s . A ls o ,
th e r e w ere two p rom in en t churchm en in th e E l i o t fa m ily o f
^ B o sto n . The f i r s t was th e R ev. Andrew E l i o t , D. D.
( 1 7 1 8 - 7 8 ) . He was e l e c t e d t o th e p r e s id e n c y o f H arvard
-^ S . j . K untz & Howard H a y c r a ft. T w e n tie th C entury
I A u th ors (New Yorks H, W . W ilson C o ., 1 9 ^ 2 ), p . b 'd i .
but did. n o t ta k e th e p o s t b e c a u se he r e fu s e d t o le a v e h i s
C o n g r e g a tio n a l p u l p i t . T. S . E l i o t ' s g r a n d fa th e r . Rev.
W illia m G r e e n le a f E l i o t , D. D. ( 1 8 1 1 - 8 ? ) , gra d u a ted from
th e Harvard D i v i n i t y S c h o o l In 183^ and moved t o S t . L o u is ,
where he e s t a b lis h e d th e f i r s t U n ita r ia n Church and l a t e r
W ashington U n iv e r s it y . So one c o u ld s e e t h a t T. S . E l i o t
was ste e p e d in th e t r a d i t i o n o f b o th New England and C h r is -i
t i a n i t y . P erh ap s ev en more s i g n i f i c a n t t o th e w r it in g o f j
Murder in th e C a th ed ra l was E l i o t ' s p rofou n d c o n v e r s io n to
A n g lo -C a th o lic ism d u r in g th e l a t e 1 9 2 0 ' s . T h is , o f c o u r s e , j
le d d i r e c t l y t o th e i n v i t a t i o n t o w r it e a p a g ea n t f o r th e
a n n u a l f e s t i v a l w hich was t r a d i t i o n a l l y h e ld a t C an terb u ry
t o c e le b r a t e Thomas B e c k e t's memory. I n c i d e n t a l l y , i t i s
o f p a s s in g i n t e r e s t t o n o te h ere t h a t th e y e a r ( 1 9 7 0 ) , th e
o c to c e n te n n lu m o f Thomas B e c k e t's m artyrdom , a C a th o lic j
m ass was s a id in th e C an terb u ry C a th ed ra l on th e t r a d i - |
t i o n a l f e s t i v a l day f o r th e f i r s t tim e s in c e H enry V III j
ou tla w ed th e c e le b r a t io n i n 1 5 3 8 . j
I t was a n o th e r B r i t i s h p la y w r ig h t, C h r isto p h e r F ry ,
who w ro te a seco n d t w e n t ie t h c e n tu r y drama d e a lin g w ith th e
c o n f l i c t b etw een Thomas B eck et and H enry I I . W hereas E l i o t
o n ly became a B r i t i s h c i t i z e n when he was t h i r t y - n i n e y e a r s
o l d , C h r isto p h e r Fry was b orn i n B r i s t o l , E n glan d in 1 9 0 7 .
By th e tim e he was tw e n ty he was a m a ste r and t u t o r a t a
F r o e b e l s c h o o l and an a c t o r a t C it iz e n H ou se, B a th , E n glan d .
From t h a t tim e he g e n e r a lly d iv id e d h i s tim e b etw een
d i r e c t i n g and w r it in g p la y s . He had a lo n g l i s t o f p la y s
t o h i s c r e d i t w h ich he began p u b lis h in g a s e a r ly a s 193^*
a s w e ll a s s e v e r a l f ilm s c r i p t s , t r a n s l a t i o n s o f F rench
I
p la y s , and c r i t i c a l w ork s. j
; j
A lth o u g h C h r isto p h e r F r y 's C u rtm an tle was p r im a r ily I
I
co n cern ed w ith th e f a t e o f th e P la n t a g e n e t s , e s p e c i a l l y th e j
law m aker, H enry I I , Thomas B eck et was a c e n t r a l c h a r a c te r .
He fu r n is h e d th e p r o p e r b a la n c e t o th e p la y ’ s a c t i o n . As j
Fry s t a t e d in th e F orew ord, th e p la y had two them es* (1 )
"a p r o g r e s s io n tow ard a p o r t r a i t o f H enry, a s e a r c h f o r h i s '
r e a l i t y " ; ( 2 ) "the i n t e r p la y o f d i f f e r e n t law s* c i v i l ,
ca n o n , m o r a l, a e s t h e t i c , and th e la w s o f God; and how th e y
b e lo n g and do n o t b e lo n g t o e a ch o t h e r . B e c k e t was
n e c e s s a r y t o th e seco n d s t a t e d th em e, f o r he fu r n is h e d a
d r a m a tic f o i l f o r Henry by r e p r e s e n t in g th o s e la w s w h ich
op p osed H en ry 's p a s s io n a t e ly p r e s c r ib e d c i v i l la w s . j
C u rtm an tle was p u b lis h e d in 1 9 6 1 , th e y e a r f o llo w in g j
A n o u ilh 's c o m p le tio n o f h i s B e c k e t. P erh ap s t h i s a c c o u n ts j
in some way f o r th e g e n e r a l la c k o f p o p u la r ity o f th e p la y ,
s in c e i t was p r o b a b ly oversh ad ow ed by J ea n A n o u ilh 's p la y .
I n i 9 6 0 , J ea n A n o u ilh co m p leted B e c k e t. 55 w h ich became
one o f th e th r e e m ost fam ous o f th e "B ecket" dram as. A long
^ C h r is t o p h e r F ry , C u rtm an tle (London & New York*
O xford U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 6 1 ) , pp . v i i i and i x .
^ T h i s r e f e r s t o J ea n A n o u ilh 's B eck et o r The Honor
o f God (New Yorks Sam uel F ren ch , 1961)
!w ith E l i o t ' s Murder In th e C a th ed ra l and T e n n y so n 's B e c k e t,
A n o u ilh 's p la y had e n jo y e d an enorm ous c r i t i c a l and f in a n -
1 c i a l s u c c e s s . In 1961 i t was t r a n s la t e d in t o E n g lis h by
iL u c ie n n e H i l l and had e n jo y e d a s much s u c c e s s in E n g lis h
p r o d u c tio n s a s in F ren ch . As a m a t t e r - o f - f a c t i t had
p ro v en so p o p u la r t h a t a m otion p ic t u r e was made in 1965»
! s t a r r in g R ichard B urton and P e te r O 'T oole in th e r e s p e c t iv e
i
r o l e s o f B eck et and Henry I I . B ecau se o f i t s g r e a t p op u - !
!
l a r i t y in E n g lis h p r o d u c tio n s , i t was d e c id e d t h a t i t should,
be in c lu d e d in t h i s s tu d y . !
A n o u ilh t e l l s u s in th e program n o t e s w h ich he w ro te
|
f o r th e f i r s t p r o d u c tio n in i 960 th a t he had p u rch a sed a ,
seco n d -h a n d copy o f A u g u stin T h ie r r y 's h i s t o r y b ook , La. j
C onquete de L *A n g le te r r e par l e s Normands. b eca u se he was
a t t r a c t e d by i t s b e a u t if u l g r ee n b in d in g . H aving p u t th e
book a s id e f o r some t im e , he f i n a l l y p ic k e d i t up and read
t h e a c c o u n t o f B e c k e t* s and H e n ry 's c o n f l i c t . He was so
f a s c in a t e d by th e s it u a t i o n t h a t he rea d no more a b o u t th e
s u b j e c t , b u t s a t down t o w r it e th e p la y . He c la im e d to
h ave had no them e in mind when he began th e p la y , b u t w rote
i t o u t o f h i s e m o tio n a l r e a c t io n s t o B e c k e t 's and H e n r y 's
s i t u a t i o n . W hatever th e c a s e may have b e e n , t h i s drama
i l l u s t r a t e d a m oral co n c ep t w hich was p a r t ic u l a r l y im p o rt
a n t . I t s a c t i o n , l i k e E l i o t ' s Murder in th e C a th e d r a l, was
l e s s con cern ed w ith th e h i s t o r i c a l e v e n t upon w h ich i t was
b ased th a n w ith i l l u s t r a t i n g a m oral l e s s o n . A lth o u g h he
! cla im e d n o t t o b e in g an e x i s t e n t i a l w r i t e r , A n o u ilh con
s t a n t l y w ro te a b o u t m an 's e x i s t e n t i a l c o n d it io n , and one
was in c l i n e d t o co n cu r w ith A le th e a H a y ter when sh e s a id :
M . A n o u ilh was o b v io u s ly t r a i l i n g h i s c o a t , and he
h a s c e r t a i n l y g o t th e a n g ry r e a c t io n s he was t r y in g
f o r . He h a s a n t ic i p a t e d , a lm o st c o u r te d , th e c r i t i
cism o f h i s p la y a s a f a c i l e t h e a t r i c a l gim m ick. But
he was up t o so m eth in g e l s e a s w e ll when he w ro te
B e c k e t. He was e x p lo r in g , h u n tin g th ro u g h n o t q u it e
ru n n in g down, a t r u th : th e c o n c e p t w h ich he c h o se t o
s u b - t i t l e , B e c k e t's own p h r a se a b o u t th e 'h on ou r o f
God' . He seem s t o have b een t e a s e d and f a s c in a t e d by
th e p h r a se — what d id i t mean f o r B eck et? How d id i t
r e l a t e t o th e con tem p orary c o n c e p t o f h on ou r, to
B e c k e t* s p e r s o n a l h on ou r, o r la c k o f it ? 5 6
But t h e n , t h a t was n o th in g new f o r A n o u ilh . He was
c o n s t a n t ly " t r a i l i n g h i s c o a t ," a s M iss H ayter had p u t i t
Even i n d e a lin g w ith h i s own b io g r a p h y he was o b v io u s ly
p l a y f u l and e v a s iv e . When H ubert G ignoux a sk ed him f o r
some b io g r a p h ic a l in fo r m a tio n , A n o u ilh r e p lie d :
I have no b io g r a p h y , and I am g la d o f i t . I was
born in Bordeaux on th e 23rd o f June 1 9 1 0 . I came to
P a r is when I was young and a tte n d e d th e C o lb e r t P r i
mary S c h o o l and l a t e r C h ap tal C o lle g e . A y e a r and a
h a l f a t th e Law F a c u lty in P a r is , th e n two y e a r s i n an
a d v e r t is in g fir m , where I le a r n e d t o be in g e n io u s and
e x a c t , l e s s o n s t h a t f o r me to o k th e p la c e o f th e s tu d
i e s o f l i t e r a t u r e . A fte r my p la y L'H erm lne w as p ro
duced I d e c id e d t o l i v e o n ly by w r it in g f o r th e t h e a
t r e , and a l i t t l e f o r f il m s . I t was f o l l y , b u t I d id
r ig h t t o make t h a t d e c i s i o n . I have managed n e v e r to
to u c h J o u r n a lism , and in f ilm s a l l I have on my co n
s c ie n c e a r e one o r two cheap f a r c e s and a few u n sig n ed
S ^ A leth ea H a y te r , "Thomas A B eck et and th e D r a m a tis ts
E s sa y s by D iv e r s Hands (London: O xford U n iv e r s it y P r e s s ,
1 9 6 6 ), Volume XXXIV, p . 9 3 -9 ^ .
i 83
j and now f o r g o t t e n ro m a n tic m elodram as. The r e s t o f
my l i f e , and f o r a s lo n g a s i t p l e a s e s H eaven f o r i t
t o be my p r iv a t e b u s in e s s , I s h a l l k eep th e d e t a i l s
t o m y s e l f .57
N e v e r t h e le s s , A n o u ilh t o ld u s so m eth in g v e r y Im p ortan t
a b o u t h i s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B e c k e t. H is a p p a ren t la c k o f
i n t e r e s t in th e h i s t o r i c a l a c c u r a c y o f th e in fo r m a tio n j
' I
w h ich he read a b o u t B eck et b e fo r e w r it in g h i s p la y and th e j
i
f a c t t h a t he d id n o t c o r r e c t any o f t h e s e in a c c u r a c ie s ;
; i
!
a f t e r he d is c o v e r e d them (when added t o th e in fo r m a tio n
w h ich we have a lr e a d y c o n s id e r e d ) would le a d one t o b e l i e v e j
i
t h a t , l i k e E l i o t and F ry , A n o u ilh had no i n t e r e s t i n th e S
c o n f l i c t o f B eck et and Henry I I , beyond i t s s e r v in g a s an
i n s p i r a t i o n f o r th e d ra m a tic s i t u a t i o n w h ich was th e b a s i s
f o r h i s p la y .
“ ^ L eon ard C, P ronko, The World o f J ea n A n o u ilh (B erk e
le y * U n iv e r s it y o f C a lif o r n ia P r e s s , 1 9 6 1 ), p . x i v .
CHAPTER I I I
BECKET CADENS (1 7 9 9 -1 8 5 1 )
I n t r o d u c t io n
The i n i t i a l a n a ly s e s o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r in th e
fo u r te e n p la y s w h ich w ere w r it t e n d u r in g th e n in e t e e n t h
c e n tu r y r e v e a le d t h a t th e y c o u ld m ost l o g i c a l l y be p la c e d
in t o two g ro u p s. The f i r s t group In c lu d e d th e s i x p la y s
w h ich w ere p u b lis h e d b etw een 1799 and 1 8 5 1 . and th e s e
cond group c o n s is t e d o f e ig h t p la y s w h ich w ere p u b lis h e d
b etw een 1863 and 1 8 9 2 .
As th e t i t l e o f t h i s C hapter im p lie s , t h i s p a r t o f
th e stu d y d e a lt w ith B e c k e t's f a l l o r d e s c e n t , and. i t co n
cern ed I t s e l f w ith th e daem onic n a tu r e o f h i s c h a r a c te r a s
i t a p p ea rs in th e f i r s t group o f p la y s .
I t was somewhat more th a n c o in c id e n t a l t h a t B eck et was
c a s t in th e r o le o f an e v i l c h a r a c te r in th e f i r s t s i x
dramas in w hich he a p p ea red . Of c o u r s e , h i s daem onic n a
tu r e had b een f ir m ly e s ta b lis h e d , h i s t o r i c a l l y by Henry V III,
whose h a tr e d o f th e C a th o lic Church prom pted him t o have
B e c k e t* s s h r in e a t C an terb u ry to r n down and h i s name e r a s e d
from th e Doomsday Book in an a tte m p t t o e r a d ic a t e th e mem
o r y o f h i s m artyrdom . When K ing Henry V III denounced th e
C a th o lic Church and s e t up th e Church o f E n g la n d , he
84
I 8 5
I p r o cla im e d Thomas B eck et a t r a i t o r , n e v e r t o be r e f e r r e d t o
a g a in a s th e A rch b ish op o f C an terb u ry,
I t i s q u it e n a t u r a l, t h e n , t h a t Thomas B eck et h a s r e -
j
mained a c e n t r a l f ig u r e in a r e l i g i o u s c o n tr o v e r s y w h ich
h a s raged, in E ngland e v e r s in c e . Nor i s i t any w onder t h a t j
he became one o f th e f a v o r i t e "w hipping boys" f o r z e a lo u s j
i
E n g lis h P r o t e s t a n t s , who found an a t t a c k on B eck et a co n
v e n ie n t way t o a t ta c k th e hated, pow ers o f Rome, j
As was p oin ted , o u t in th e l a s t c h a p te r , th e o n ly
B ucket drama w h ich h a s b een r e c o r d e d a s h a v in g b een w r i t t e n ;
b e fo r e th e s e v e n te e n th c e n tu r y was u n d o u b te d ly a v ig o r o u s
a t t a c k upon h i s c h a r a c te r and th e C a th o lic Church, B ish o p ;
I
B a le 's De I m p o s tu r is Thomea B e c k e tt s u r e ly m ust have shown
Thomas t o be th e w o rst k in d o f f ie n d i s h d e v i l , n o r d id
B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r fa r e an y b e t t e r in th e E n g lis h dram as
o f th e J a co b ea n , R e s to r a tio n o r A u g u stia n p e r io d s . So i t
i
was t h a t Thomas' daem onic c h a r a c te r was f ir m ly e s t a b l i s h e d i
i
in B r i t i s h p la y w r ig h tin g lo n g b e fo r e h i s a c t u a l a p p ea ra n ce
in a drama.
i
The a n a ly s e s o f th e f i r s t s i x dram as in w h ich he d id j
a p p ea r r e v e a le d t h a t t h i s t r a d i t i o n c a r r ie d o v e r in t o th e j
t
n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y . T here w ere, h ow ever, c e r t a in im p o r t
a n t c h a n g e s. W hereas he had p r e v io u s ly b een p ic tu r e d a s
th e sym bol o f what th e E n g lis h th o u g h t o f a s th e dark and
d a n g ero u s pow ers o f Rome, he now em erged a s a much more
com plex f i g u r e , who had a q u a l i t y o f n e g a t iv e h ero ism
86
w h ich seem ed a k in t o su ch c h a r a c t e r s a s M ilt o n 's S a ta n and
M arlow e's Dr. F a u stu s. Of c o u r s e , t h i s sh o u ld n o t be t o
t a l l y u n e x p e c te d , s in c e , a s Barnard H ew itt h a s s a id a b ou t
th e e a r ly Rom antic movement in drama*
T hese two t y p e s , th e h e r o ic r e b e l a g a in s t i n j u s t i c e
and ty ra n n y and th e e q u a lly h e r o ic v i l l a i n who i s b en t
on s a t i s f y i n g h i s w i l l t o p ow er, ap p ea red o v e r and o v e r
a g a in on th e n in e te e n t h - c e n tu r y s t a g e . The h e r o ic v i l
l a i n had an even g r e a t e r a p p e a l th a n th e h e r o ic r e b e l
a g a in s t i n j u s t i c e . R ich ard I I I , th e v i o l a t e r o f m oral
la w , th e supreme r e b e l o f th e o r d e r o f L u c if e r , was one
o f th e m ost p o p u la r r o l e s in th e n in e t e e n t h - c e n t u r y
t h e a t r e . 1
B e c k e t's daem onic n a tu r e
I n th e s i x e a r l i e s t p la y s B eck et was p o r tr a y e d , w ith
more o r l e s s i n t e n s i t y , a s a man d r iv e n by th e same e v i l
f o r c e s w h ich had b een a t t r ib u t e d to him d u r in g th e p a s t
th r e e c e n t u r ie s . For ex a m p le, in th e f i r s t dram a, w h ich
was w r it t e n by W illia m I r e la n d in 1799» th e A rch b ish op
co n tin u e d t o sy m b o liz e th e h a te d and fe a r e d Roman C a th o lic
Church.
P erhaps c o n t r ib u t in g a s much o r more t o th e n e g a t iv e
s id e o f h i s c h a r a c te r was th e f a c t t h a t K ing L o u is o f
France had b e fr ie n d e d B eck et d u r in g h i s e x i l e from E n glan d .
To l a t e - e i g h t e e n t h c e n tu r y E n g lish m en , In whom th e F rench
R e v o lu tio n had g e n e r a te d a g r e a t f e a r and h a tr e d o f a n y
t h in g f o r e ig n , t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p w ould have branded B eck et
*Barnard H e w itt, H is to r y o f th e T h ea tre from 1800 t o
th e P r e se n t (New York* Random H ouse, 1 9 7 0 ), p . 7 .
| 8?
! d o u b ly e v i l . The F rench R e v o lu tio n had prod u ced su ch a
r e v u ls io n f o r any p r o g r e s s iv e p o l i t i c s by th e end o f th e
c e n tu r y t h a t a s e r i e s o f l i b e r t y d e p r iv in g b i l l s w ere
p a sse d d u r in g th e 1 7 9 0 's c u lm in a tin g in th e C o rresp o n d in g
S o c i e t i e s B i l l o f 1 8 0 0 , w h ich v i r t u a l l y su sp en d ed th e popu
l a r c o n s t i t u t i o n o f E n glan d .
Add t o t h i s th e f a c t t h a t A u gu stan s had n e v e r f e l t
c o m fo r ta b le w ith a n y th in g w h ich s u g g e ste d ch a n g in g th e
s t a t u s q u o, and i t i s sm a ll wonder t h a t B eck et was p o r
tr a y e d a s a daem onic c h a r a c te r .
The C h a ra cter A n a ly se s
!
F a u s tia n v i l l a i n
T here can be l i t t l e doubt o f I r e la n d 's i n t e n t i o n s . He '
c l e a r l y s ta t e d them in th e e p ilo g u e o f h i s s c r ip t * j
i
Yet a f t e r a l l ,
Shou 'd any p r e s e n t s t i l l rem ain u n k in d ,
And c a r r y w ith him t o h i s n i g h t l y co u ch .
The frow n o f d is c o n t e n t ! 0 , sh o u 'd t h i s b e i
Then th in k how much th e w r it e r h ere h as t o i l ' d
To p l e a s e , and shew in t h i s ou r H a r r y 's r e ig n ,
The p r id e and g lo r y o f ou r E n g lis h la n d .
The u n sta in e d th u n d er o f ou r r e g a l l i o n j
No brow so ro u g h , b u t su r e w i l l sm ooth a t t h i s ,
No frow n so b la c k , but w i l l t o s w e e tn e s s t u r n ,
And b r ig h t a s sun when b u r s t in g from th e e a s t ,
D riv e n ig h t a w a y .2
He o b v io u s ly w ro te t h i s drama w ith th e p o p u la r v ie w i n mind
and had e v e r y i n t e n t i o n o f m aking Henry I I a m ost p a t r i o t i c
" p r o te s ta n t" h ero and B eck et th e b la c k e s t " fo r e ig n " v i l l a i n
1 j
W illia m Henry I r e la n d , Henry th e Second (Londons
p r in te d f o r J . B ak er, 1 7 9 9 )» i n th e e p ilo g u e .
I 881
! he c o u ld p rod u ce in t h i s m elo d ra m a tic f o r g e r y o f a Shake
sp e a r ea n dram a. H ow ever, he o n ly p a r t i a l l y su c c e e d e d .
B eck et had a h a b it o f e s c a p in g h i s p la y w r ig h ts , d e v e lo p in g ,
in s t e a d , in t o a c h a r a c te r n o t e n t i r e l y w it h in th e in t e n
t i o n s o f th e w r it e r .
I r e la n d e x t o l l e d th e v i r t u e s o f Henry from th e v e r y j
b e g in n in g o f th e p la y . I n th e f i r s t sc e n e he d is p la y e d h i s i
h ero ism an d , a t th e same t im e , th e c o w a rd ice o f th e F ren ch , j
by p ic t u r in g Henry h o ld in g a "French" g a r r is o n un d er s ie g e
a g a in s t s u p e r io r o d d s. In r e p ly t o a c h a lle n g e from th e 1
i
g a r r is o n , he sh ou ted *
U n fu rl my b an n er! L et i t wave on h ig h , j
That i t r e f l e c t th e b lo o d y c o lo u r 'd c o a t
Of E n g la n d ' s l i o n s ram p an t, _
Upon y on d er m eagre lo o k in g Frenchm an.-'
T h is and accom p an yin g s p e e c h e s w ere o b v io u s ly a sop t o th e
l a t e e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y a u d ie n c e . They w ere d e s ig n e d t o
show th e w a r r io r - lik e co u ra g e and p a t r i o t i c d e v o t io n o f j
t h i s p a s t K ing o f E n g la n d , ev e n b e fo r e he becam e K in g . j
That th e h i s t o r i c a l Henry I I was b o th C a th o lic and Norman
was c o m p le te ly o v e r lo o k e d by th e p la y w r ig h t i n o r d e r t o
o b t a in th e e f f e c t o f Henry a s a sy m p a th e tic f ig u r e .
A few l i n e s l a t e r i n th e p la y , I r e la n d p o r tr a y e d Henry
a s b e in g m ost humble and r ig h t e o u s . I n a r e p ly t o th e
m essage t h a t h i s u n c le , S te p h e n , had d ie d , th u s le a v in g
3I b l d . . p. 2 ( I . i ) .
; 89
;th e way c l e a r f o r him t o become K ing o f E n g la n d , Henry said*
T h a n k s!— and y e t i t b o o ts n o t t h a t I sh o u ld th a n k .
0! S te p h e n , l i v i n g th o u d i d ' s t wrong me much,
U su rp in g b o th my crown and d ig n ity *
And in th e f a c e o f God, d i d ' s t b reak th e o a th ,
Which t r u ly t o my m other th o u d i d ' s t swear*
Y et f o r a l l t h i s , do I now p i t y t h e e , .
For th o u s t a n d 's t 'f o r e a g r e a t , a l l - p i e r c i n g ju d g e H
i
One could, co m p ile c o u n t le s s o th e r ex a m p les o f th e ways |
in w h ich I r e la n d c h a r a c t e r iz e d Henry a s a p o p u la r h e r o , but |
s in c e th e m ain fo c u s o f a t t e n t i o n o f t h i s stu d y was on |
B e c k e t, l e t u s s to p h e r e , and sim p ly s u g g e s t t h a t Henry I I
was p ic tu r e d a s one o f th o s e f a u l t l e s s , m elo d ra m a tic h e r o e s 1
who w ere v e r y p o p u la r d u r in g t h i s p e r io d . One can a lm o st j
e q u a te t h i s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f him w ith t h a t o f a c l a s s i -
I
c a l p o r t r a y a l o f Z eus o r th e Jeh ovah o f th e Old T esta m en t. |
He i s l i k e th o s e g o d s o f r ig h t e o u s w rath .
I f th e r e w ere a fla w in h i s c h a r a c te r i t w ould be t h a t
he lo v e d to o w e l l . Not o n ly d id he lo v e h i s c o u n tr y , h i s
I
f a m ily and h i s sup p osed f r ie n d s to o w e l l , but he a l s o f e l l
d e s p e r a t e ly in lo v e w ith one o f h i s t r u s t e d b a r o n 's daugh
t e r s , Rosamond C lif f o r d . H owever, ev en t h i s d a l l i a n c e was
p r e s e n te d w ith such p e r f e c t io n o f p o e t ic p a s s a g e s and p a s
t o r a l s e t t i n g s t h a t th e r e seem ed t o be an in n o c e n c e and
n a t u r a ln e s s in th e lo v e o f Henry and Rosamond w h ich d e n ie d
i t s b e in g i l l i c i t . T hen, t o o , th e t r a d i t i o n a l e v i l n e s s o f
Queen E le a n o r gave f u r th e r j u s t i f i c a t i o n t o th e K in g 's
^ Ibid., p. 3 (I. 1).
I 90
! lo v e f o r Rosamond,
T here was l i t t l e wonder t h a t B eck et a p p ea red e v i l when
com pared t o t h i s p aragon o f v i r t u e . H ow ever, a s we s h a l l
:p o in t o u t l a t e r i n t h i s c h a p te r , th e r e rem ain ed w it h in
B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r e le m e n ts o f an h e r o ic f ig u r e d e s p it e th e
I
b a s i c a l l y e v i l n a tu r e w ith w h ich I r e la n d and th e o th e r play-j
| w r lg h ts d evelop ed , him . j
j
B e c k e t's e v i l s w ere m a n ifo ld . He s t o l e money from h i s !
t r u s t i n g f r ie n d , th e K in g, w h ile he was E n g la n d 's C h an cel
l o r , money w ith w h ich he a tte m p te d t o buy th e Popedom a f t e r
he had. b een a p p o in te d A rch b ish op o f C an terb u ry . To f u r th e r
a s s u r e h i s a sc e n d a n c y t o th e C h u rch 's th r o n e , he le a g u e d
w ith Queen E lea n o r and. h er so n s in h ig h t r e a s o n a g a in s t
K ing H enry. As i f t h e s e w ere n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y e v i l d e e d s ,
i
he was f i n a l l y d r iv e n t o t e l l E le a n o r th e s e c r e t o f H e n r y 'sj
1
I
lo v e f o r Rosamond, w h ich r e s u lt e d i n th e j e a lo u s Queen 1
j
h a v in g Rosamond m urdered. To make th e a c t ev en more d e s
p i c a b l e , B eck et had le a r n e d th e s e c r e t o f R osam ond's h id d en
bower w h ile he was s t i l l th e K in g 's c o n f e s s o r .
i
H owever, h i s w o rst e v i l by f a r , h i s c u r s e and th e
ca u se o f h i s f a l l from g r a c e , w ere h i s t e r r i b l e p r id e and
d r iv in g a m b itio n . One c o u ld s e n se from h i s f i r s t sp e e c h
t h a t he was d e s t in e d f o r a h o rren d o u s f a l l , when he s a id i
Now B e c k e t, sa y t o t h y s e l f , w o u 'd 's t be poor?
W o u 'd 'st shun a m b itio n , w o u 'd 's t spurn a t g r e a t n e s s ,
No! No! t h o u 'r t an [ s i c ] h u n gred , and I ' l e f e e d t h e e .
91
I And he co n clu d ed h i s sp e e ch w ith t h i s p ro cla m a tio n *
And on th y c o r o n e t g ra v e th o u t h e s e words*
I f B eck et l i v e s , th e n l i v e s he in g r e a t n e s s ;
I f n o t , why th e n c o n t e n t , w i l l B eck et d i e ,
L i f e , sa n s renow n, a t h in g so lo w ly i s
That dusky o b liv io n w ere s w e e te r f a r . 5
The d ie i s c a s t . B eck et w i l l n ev er be a b le t o . tu r n back
from t h a t p a th w hich w i l l le a d him tow ard p a r a d is a l sp h eres,!
o n ly t o d ash him down a g a in in t o an e v e r l a s t i n g o b l i v i o n . j
I t i s a lm o st a s i f he w ere r e e c h o in g th e w ords o f M ilto n 's j
i
S a ta n , who, h a v in g b een c a s t o u t o f H eaven, i s s ta n d in g in
th e f i e r y la k e o f H e ll where he s a y s :
The mind, i s i t s own p la c e , and in i t s e l f
Can make a H eaven o f H e ll, a H e ll o f H eaven.
What m a tte r w h ere, i f I s t i l l be th e sam e.
And what shou ld b e , a l l but l e s s th a n h e , i
W hom th u n d er h a th made g r e a te r ? Here a t l e a s t
W e s h a l l be f r e e ; th e A lm igh ty h a th n o t b u i l t
Here f o r h i s en v y , w i l l n o t d r iv e u s hence*
H ere we may r e ig n s e c u r e ; a n d , in my c h o ic e ,
To r e ig n i s w orth a m b itio n , th o u g h in H e ll* ,
B e t t e r t o r e ig n in H e ll th a n s e r v e in H eaven.
Even B e c k e t's c l o s e s t fr ie n d and a d v is o r , John De
, |
S a lis b u r y , r e c o g n iz e d t h i s fla w o f c h a r a c te r a s he r e v e a le d
in t h i s s o lilo q u y *
. . .B e c k e t, my good lo r d and m a ste r ,
For th e e I f e a r , f o r th e e in s i l e n c e weep;
T h o u 'r t b u t a man, a r t f r a i l , h a s t many f a u l t s ;
Cou'd I but l u l l th e b u sy th o u g h ts w it h in ,
Or s to p t h e s e w ords th a t p la y upon my to n g u e ,
S t i l l c r y in g o u t —
Thy fo r tu n e s B eck et w i l l p rove th y r u in .
5 I b l d . . p. 8 ( I . 1 6 0 -1 9 1 ).
^John M ilto n , P a r a d ise L o st (New York* H e r ita g e
P r e s s , 1 9 ^ 0 ), p. 12.
Y es! ' t l s c u rsed p r id e , t h a t w i l l undo th e e !
I know th e e b u t to o w e ll; th o u h a s t a mind
Wou*d lo r d th e w o r ld , and th in k t h a t w orld to o
s m a ll. , .
Thomas co n firm ed h i s f r i e n d ’ s w o rst f e a r s in th e n e x t
sc e n e o f th e p la y , a s he mused t o h im s e lf:
C h a n c e llo r ! A r c h b ish o p !— but one s te p m o r e ,—
Rom e's h o ly crow n! and th e n I am c o n t e n t. j
That i s my aim — T h a t 's th e th r o n e I ' d f i l l ! '
More I ca n n o t! l e s s I w ould n o t sto o p t o . ° j
What i s w o r se, B eck et c o n tin u e d th e same sp e e ch by rev ea lin g !
h i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o u se b r ib e s t o a c c o m p lish h i s g o a l. I t
i s a s i f th e p la y w r ig h t s e iz e d t h i s o p p o r tu n ity to c r i t i
c i z e n o t o n ly B eck et a s a sym bol o f a c o r r u p t c o n t in e n t a l
Church, b u t th e c o r r u p tio n o f Rome, by I n tim a tin g t h a t th e i
j
ch u rch o f f i c i a l s w ould be w i l l i n g to be b r ib e d . T h is was
shown in t h i s fragm en t o f B e c k e t's sp e e c h :
Now f o r th e m eans— W ill g o ld do t h is ? why a y e ;
And what w i l l g o ld n o t do?
. . .th e n i t s h a l l s e r v e me,
As i t h a th done o t h e r s , and make me so o n ,
That w h ich on e a r th I s e e k — No l e s s th a n Pope.
T h ese l e t t e r s t o my s e c r e t f r ie n d s in Rome
S h a ll be d is p a t c h 'd and w ith them a s c o in ,
B e s id e s good ite m s o f what more w i l l f o llo w ,
As s h a l l make them m ost e x c e l l e n t m in e r s .9
The g o ld t o w hich he r e fe r r e d in t h i s p a ssa g e i s u n d ou b ted ly
t h a t w h ich he h a s s t o l e n from th e t r e a s u r y w h ile he was in
th e o f f i c e o f C h a n c e llo r . A lth o u g h in e v e r y n in e t e e n t h
^ I r e la n d , op . c l t . . p . 33 ( I . 7 ^ 8 -7 6 0 ).
8 I b l d . . p . 3^ ( I . 7 6 5 -7 6 9 ).
9 I b l d . . pp. 3 ^ -3 5 ( I . 7 7 0 - 7 8 2 ).
93
! cen tu ry p la y he was a ccu sed by th e King o f s t e a lin g money
from th e tr e a s u r y , I r e la n d 's was th e o n ly one w hich a c tu
a l l y had him do I t . In th e o th e r s he was e it h e r w ro n g fu lly
accused by th e K ing, or th e p la y o n ly h in te d th a t he had
ta k en th e money. T h is , th e n , made B ecket a t r u ly e v i l man,
a c co r d in g to Ir e la n d .
.. One cannot h elp but wonder w hether th e young p la y - j
i
w righ t had C h ristop h er M arlow e's Dr. F au stu s In mind when |
i
he w rote t h i s p la y s in c e I r e la n d 's B ecket so c l o s e l y p a r a l-
j
l e l e d M arlow's p r o ta g o n is t. Not o n ly was he w illin g to
i
" s e l l h im se lf" fo r th e Popedom, but h is p r id e and a m b itio n i
were fed by two M ephistophelean a g e n ts who, in tu r n , kept
him d ir e c te d downward toward h is own p e r so n a l h e l l . Like
P a u stu s, he rep en ted h is e v i l a c t io n s . However, upon th r e e ;
d if f e r e n t o c c a s io n s th o se a g e n ts o f e v i l , Queen E lean or and
th e Church, were a b le to p la y upon h is a m b itio n u n t i l he
once a g a in turned away from r ig h te o u s n e s s . F in a lly , ju s t
b e fo r e h is martyrdom he r e p e n te d , and th e p la y w rig h t appar
e n t ly wanted h is a u d ien ce to b e lie v e th a t th e r e was redemp
t io n and s a lv a tio n even fo r him. T h is was u n u su a l, but th e
e v id en ce was th e r e .
For exam ple, one cou ld c e r t a in ly compare th e fo llo w in g
scen e w ith th e one from M arlow's p la y when Dr. F au stu s made
h i s p act w ith th e D evil*
94
Beck. H old, madam! you can s t i l l do much!
E le . "T is th en w ith th e e to a sk , and I s h a ll
g r a n t!
Speak! say what i s ' t !
Beck. Say! wou'd your h ig h n e ss condescend to
w r ite —
E le . I w i l l do a n y th in g .
Beck. Thus th en i t i s ; — I wou'd make fr ie n d s
a t Rome,
And i f your G race, by l e t t e r s from your hand,
Wou'd d e ig n speak w e ll o f me, i t m ight do much,
In c le a r in g o f th e way fo r my s u c c e s s io n .
E le . I understand th e e w e l l ! — I t s h a ll be done.
Beck. Then I am t h in e , and bound in honour to you!
E le . Richard and John my so n s, a re b oth w ith u s!
The I r is h to our a id w i l l be p rep a r'd ;
France t o o , I warrant me, s h a ll n ot be s t i l l ;
Upon th e w eakness o f our sex th e King r e l i e s .
But I s h a ll te a c h him what a woman i s ,
When s lig h t e d in her lo v e ! B eck et, fa r e w e ll!
W e s h a ll meet a g a in e re l o n g .—
(g o e s o u t . )
Beck. What have I s a id ! s ta y madam! nay, s h e 's
g o n e !—
A m I not le a g u 'd to s t i r r e b e llio n ?
M onstrous! to what h ath my a m b itio n le d me?10
He con tin u ed by showing th a t he was t r u ly so rry fo r th e
e v i l p a ct w hich he had made w ith th e J e a lo u s Queen. In th e
sh o rt scen e which fo llo w e d he attem p ted t o c o n fe s s to John
o f S a lis b u r y , but cou ld not r e v e a l th e e v i l th in g he had
don e, and he f i n a l l y ended th e scen e by w eep ing. T h is
would in d ic a te th a t th e p la y w rig h t was n o t c o n te n t to
sim p ly make B ecket v illa in o u s ; Ir e la n d had g iv e n him a
10I b ld . . pp. 36-37 ( I . 819-846).
: 95
! c o n sc ie n c e and. u n d erstan d in g o f what he was d o in g . He w as,
l i k e M arlow e's P a u stu s, a man p o s s e s s e d . H is am b ition
drove him on, d e s p ite h is d e s ir e to tu rn back toward
i
r ig h te o u s n e s s .
Each tim e B ecket attem p ted to r e p e n t, he was stopped
sh o rt by one or th e o th e r o f th e M ep histoph elean a g e n ts j
|
w hich were m entioned e a r l i e r . For exam ple, h is troubled. j
i
so u l f i n a l l y led him to rep en t h is tr e a so n o u s p act w ith j
i
Queen E lea n o r, and he t r ie d to t e l l her th a t he would
w ithdraw from i t . She stopped him by sayin g* j
Hold! I wou'd a word in p r iv a te w ith you.
(ta k e s him a s i d e . ) j
When I to Rome d id l e t t e r s w r ite , I th en
Did on th y p ie t y and g o o d ly d eed s e n la r g e
And gave th e e v ir t u e s sc a r c e to men b e lo n g 'd .
Most p a tie n t th y c o n sc ie n c e bore a l l t h i s j
Now in so o th th ou h a st r e c e iv 'd th in e e a r n e s t,
And l i k e a cunning c le r k w o u ld 'st p r a te o f
c o n s c ie n c e ,
But I w i l l a l l c o n fe s s unto th e King!
That he may know th e e fo r an h y p o c r ite ,
T h is w i l l I d o, i f thou rem ain n o t f ir m .11
j
T h is was to o much fo r him. He was In ca p a b le o f b reak in g 1
i
th e Q ueen's h old ov er him, so once a g a in he d escen ded in to
th e d ep th s o f h is own e v il n e s s .
B e c k e t's am b ition was th en f ir e d w ith reven ge when th e
King c a lle d him in to C ou n cil and a ccu sed him o f s t e a lin g
money from th e tr e a s u r y . Of c o u r se , he had tak en i t , but
he was so enraged a t b e in g tr e a te d t h i s way by th e King
th a t he w i l l i n g l y used th e s e c r e t s o f H en ry's c o n fe s s io n s
11I b ld . . p. 48 ( I . 1065-1074).
96
■to spur E lean or on to r e b e llio n a g a in s t her husband*
W er't not th a t now th e King d id th r e a te n me,
C a ll'd me l i a r , and 'f o r e mine en em ies,
S ta in 'd my honour, and used v i l e words w it h a l,
I n e 'e r my vow o f se c r e c y had b roke,
But to be tr e a te d th u s , I w i l l not bear;
As h o ly c o n fe s s o r unto th e King!
I can th e cau se o f t h i s n e g le c t make known,
The Lord de C lif f o r d 's d a u g h ter, Rosamond;
rT ls she th a t f i l l s th e s e a t in H arry's h eart* j
And rob s f a i r E lle n o f h er h u sb an d 's l o v e .* 2 j
j
A fte r he had in s tr u c te d L e ic e s t e r to ta k e t h i s i n f o r - j
m ation to th e Queen, he com m itted a fu r th e r e v i l by t e l l i n g ;
th e s e c r e t o f Rosamond's bower. T h is in fo r m a tio n e v e n tu a lly
le d to th e murder o f Rosamond by th e J e a lo u s E lea n o r, and I
B ecket added th e g u i l t o f murder to h is a lr e a d y overb u r
dened s o u l. '
B ecket d id n o t, how ever, commit th e s e s in s w ith o u t
rem orse. As soon a s L e ic e s t e r was on h is way to th e Queen
w ith B e c k e t's tr e a c h e r o u s m essage, B ecket f e l t a deep an
g u is h a t what he had done; he sen sed th a t th e end was near j
i
and th a t th e r e was need to s e t t l e h i s own accou n t w ith God* j
i
Cou'd I mine e y e s tu rn inward to my s o u l,
They'd fin d i t care-w orn , s i c k , n ay, v ery s ic k !
M y g lo r y fa d e s , my triu m p h 's a t an end.
I w is h ’d f o r more, y e t g r e a te r s h a l l not be*
A summons here b id s me prepare fo r d ea th !
0! ' t i s a d r e a d fu l c a l l , when our acoount
In H ea v 'n 's g r e a t r e g i s t e r , sta n d s b lo t t e d .
A punishm ent, but fo r a tim e to bear
Were n o th in g , but to be fo r e v er c u r st
To a l l e t e r n i t y , ' t i s h o r r ib le !
No end, no d is t a n t tim e , th a t one may sa y ,
Thus much, and * t l s o ' e r , th e n am I happy!
12Ib id ., p. 55 (I. 1215-1224).
97
But n o! we must t o n e v e r -e n d in g f i r e s i
Or ch a n ce , be p la c 'd b e n e a th th e th r o n e s o f th o s e
That b le s s e d a r e , and sa y w it h in t h y s e l f ,
Thus m igh t I have b een ! ' t i s a m addening th o u g h t!
'T is on t h i s e a r th t o me a l i v i n g h e l l ! —
I ' l l i n , t o H eaven b r e a th e a f e r v e n t p r a y e r !
Seek p ea ce and c o m fo r t, f o r ' t i s o n ly t h e r e J1 -'
T h is was th e b e g in n in g o f B e c k e t's d e m ise . Prom t h i s p o in t
on in th e p la y he p rep a red f o r th e i n e v i t a b l e d e a th w h ich J
!
a w a ite d him . I t was u n u su a l t o h i s c h a r a c te r t h a t I r e la n d j
!
had him n o t o n ly r e p e n t b u t ev en r e c e iv e red em p tio n b e fo r e |
th e K n ig h ts m urdered him in C an terb u ry C a th e d r a l.
In a sc e n e w h ich to o k p la c e in th e C a th e d ra l j u s t
i
i
p r io r t o h i s d e a th , B eck et h o n e s t ly c o n f e s s e d a l l t o h i s
f r ie n d John o f S a lis b u r y , w h ich I n d ic a t e d a ch an ce f o r r e - j
d em p tion . Than, a s a monk ru sh ed in and t o l d B eck et t h a t
fo u r K n ig h ts had com e, B eck et s a id : j
'T is done! my tim e i s com e, and I m ust d ie j
I f e e l , I know i t , and am p r e p a r 'd .1^
And i n h i s n e x t s p e e c h , when John t r i e d t o le a d him away
from th e C hapel and th e t h r e a t o f th e m urderous K n ig h ts ,
he co m p leted t h i s a s p e c t o f h i s red em p tio n by s a y in g :
O ff w ith your h an d s! I lo v e th e e S a lis b u r y —
And w ou'd n o t q u it th e e w ith an a n g ry th o u g h t.
For th y z e a l , my th a n k s! but a l l i s v a in ,
M y lamp i s o u t ! — Weep n o t! we so o n s h a l l m eet.
Our s o u ls w i l l j o in a g a in , in h e a v 'n f o r e v e r . 15
1 3 l b i d . . p . 56 ( I . 1 2 3 6 -1 2 5 * 0 .
^ I b i d . , P. 62 ( I . 1 3 8 3 -1 3 8 * 0 .
15I b i d . , p . 62 ( I . 1 3 8 6 -1 3 9 0 ).
| 98
F i n a l l y , a s he was s tr u c k down by th e sw ords o f th e K n ig h ts,
he s a id i
A gain a blow !
And now a n o t h e r ! — 0 S a lis b u r y !
Take me t o t h in e arm s, I d ie a m a rty r—
0 Lord! a l l m e r c if u l! f o r g iv e my s in s !
'T is d on e! my God f o r g i v e s , he p ard on s me. , \
And t h u s , t h u s , my s o u l f l i e s up t o h e a v e n !* ° I
The way in w h ich I r e la n d had w r it t e n t h e s e l a s t s c e n e s ;
i
w ould le a d one t o b e l i e v e t h a t th e y w ere s e r i o u s , n o t j
j
i r o n i c o r m ocking in t o n e . T h is was m ost c o n fu s in g s in c e
th e p la y w r ig h t had o b v io u s ly d egrad ed th e c h a r a c te r o f
B eck et a lm o st t o th e end o f th e p la y . T here was one p o s
s i b l e e x p la n a tio n f o r i t , h ow ever. I f , i n f a c t , i t w ere
th e Church and o th e r f o r e ig n e le m e n ts a s p e r s o n if ie d by
B eck et w h ich I r e la n d had w ish ed t o a t t a c k , i t w ould have
been l e g i t i m a t e f o r him t o a llo w B eck et t o r e p e n t and r e
c e iv e th e b l e s s i n g o f a m e r c ifu l God w ith o u t th e p la y
w r ig h t w eak en in g h i s con d em n ation o f a c o r r u p t and e v i l
Church. !
I r e la n d 's p o r tr a y a l o f a v i l l a i n o u s B eck et s e t th e !
to n e f o r th e p la y s o f th e f i r s t h a l f o f th e n in e te e n t h
c e n tu r y . Of c o u r s e , th e r e w ere d e g r e e s o f v i l l a i n y , a s
th e r e w ere o f th e h e r o ic w it h in th e n e x t f i v e c h a r a c t e r i
z a t io n s o f B e c k e t, b u t th e r e w as a s i m i l a r i t y w it h in them
w h ich d e n ie d th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f mere c o in c id e n c e . I r e la n d 's
p a t t e r n o f c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n f o r b o th Henry and B eck et
l 6 I b i d . , p. 6k ( I . 1 ^ 3 8 -l¥ f3 ).
! c o n tin u e d , w ith v a r i a t i o n s , th ro u g h o u t th e s u c c e e d in g f i v e
dram as.
One l a s t word n e e d s be s a id ab o u t I r e l a n d ' s B eck et
b e fo r e p r o c e e d in g on t o th e n e x t d ra m a tic c h a r a c t e r . A l
th ou gh Thomas ap p eared a s th e a n t a g o n is t , he was n o t en
t i r e l y v i l l a i n o u s . As h a s b een n o te d , I r e l a n d ' s c h a r a c
t e r i z a t i o n p o s s e s s e d c e r t a i n h e r o ic q u a l i t i e s . He had th e
s tr e n g t h to adm it what he was and what he had d o n e. He
c o n fe s s e d h i s s in s and a sk e d f o r r e p e n ta n c e . P e rh a p s,
under some c ir c u m s ta n c e s , t h i s c o u ld be lo o k e d upon a s a
w e a k n e ss, but in th e c o n te x t o f I r e l a n d ' s drama i t was
s u r e ly a mark o f h er o ism . He r e se m b le d , t h e n , what Barnard
H e w itt h a s d e s c r ib e d a s an h e r o i c - v i l l a l n .
R e lig io u s B ig o t
R ichard C a tte r m o le , i n h i s p la y e n t i t l e d B eck et (1 8 3 2 ),
a l s o c h a r a c t e r iz e d Henry a s a p e r f e c t h ero and B eck et a s a
daem onic f ig u r e . H is v a r i a t io n o c c u r r e d i n th e ty p e o f
v i l l a i n y w ith w h ich he p o r tr a y e d B e c k e t. In some r e s p e c t s
i t i s a w orse e v i l th a n was found in I r e l a n d ' s B e c k e t. No
lo n g e r was E le a n o r p ic tu r e d a s th e M ep h isto p h elea n a g e n t
who sed u ced B eck et in t o t r e a s o n a g a in s t th e K in g. I t was
B eck et who found th e Q u een 's a n g e r a c o n v e n ie n t weapon t o
u se in h i s f i g h t f o r suprem acy o f th e Church o v e r th e
S t a t e . Not o n ly was he w i l l i n g to make u se o f E le a n o r 's
i r e , but he a l s o schem ed w ith Henry I I ' s so n , Young H enry,
100
t o la u n c h a r e b e l l i o n a g a in s t h i s f a t h e r i n an a tte m p t t o
u su rp th e th r o n e . He w hipped th e young P r in c e in t o a war
l i k e mood by t e l l i n g him t h a t Henry I I had made him K ing o f
E ngland i n name o n ly , and t h a t a c t u a l l y he was but*
A shadow , a p o o r u n regard ed ech o j
Of t h a t a l l - p o t e n t s y l l a b l e , THE KING, j
W hereat men bow and tr e m b le . What i s t i t l e
W ithout th e a u t h o r it y t h a t stam ps i t a w fu l, i
But th e f o o l ' s i d o l , v a n i t y , p la c e d h ig h |
To sta n d th e c le a r e r mark f o r common sc o r n ? 17 j
I
When th e Young Henry o b j e c te d t o e n t e r in g in t o a tr e a s o n o u s I
a c t a g a in s t h i s f a t h e r , B eck et f u r t h e r u rged h i s s u i t by
i
sa y in g *
1
W e honour th y pure s c r u p le s — b u t le a r n t h is *
High s t a t i o n s have h ig h p r i v i l e g e s ; K in g s and j
G reat Ones
Must n o t to o n i c e l y sca n th o s e n e e d f u l e v i l s
That a r e th e c o n s ta n t shadow o f g r e a t d e e d s , . . .
With t h e s e w ords B eck et n o t o n ly condemned h im s e lf a s a man
who b e lie v e d t h a t th e end J u s t i f i e s an y m eans, but he had
condemned Young Henry t o a c o u r se o f a c t i o n w h ich w ould soon
le a d t o h i s tem p o ra l and s p i r i t u a l d e f e a t . In a sc e n e
w h ich f o llo w e d th e v i c t o r y o f Henry I I and h i s magnanimous
f o r g iv e n e s s o f a l l th o s e who had r e b e lle d a g a in s t him , h i s
son was so overcom e by h i s u n la w fu l and im m oral r e b e l l i o n
a g a in s t h i s f a t h e r t h a t he d ie d . How much more e v i l t h i s
d e p ic te d B eck et th a n when he ap p eared i n I r e l a n d ' s dramaf
l? R ic h a r d C a tte r m o le , B eck et (London* [n .p .] , 1 8 3 2 ),
p . 39 ( I I . i ) .
l 8Ibld. , p. M (II. i).
i 101
I
i I t a l s o in d ic a t e d a n o th e r e v i l w h ich was n o t in tr o d u c e d a s
a f a c e t o f h i s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n i n I r e l a n d ' s p la y . T here
was no r e p e n ta n c e in C a tte r m o le 's B e c k e t. He f u l l y b e -
i
l i e v e d t h a t h i s m is s io n was t o r e g a in th e a b s o lu t e power o f
th e Church o f E n g la n d , and what was w o r se , he was convinced.
i
t h a t any means o f d o in g so was j u s t i f i e d . Even h i s f a i t h - !
i
f u l and d e v o te d s i s t e r , Id o n e a , was sh ock ed by h i s a c t i o n s j
when sh e rem arked* j
S t r i f e now in v a d e s
The h o l i e s t p la c e s ? and o u r h o l i e s t men,
Drawn by th e g e n e r a l m ad n ess, o r e l s e d r iv e n
By s ta r k n e c e s s i t y , p u rsu e good en d s
In m ost u n h o llo w ed and m ost f a t a l w a y s .1 '
T h is p o r t r a it o f h y p o c r is y was f u r t h e r s tr e n g th e n e d when
B eck et and Henry c o n fr o n te d ea ch o t h e r in an argum ent o v e r
th e term s o f p ea ce b etw een Church and S t a t e . A gain th e
K ing a sk ed t h a t B eck et a c c e p t th e c o n d it io n s o f th e C la r
endon C o n s t it u t io n b e fo r e h i s f u l l r i g h t s a s A rch b ish o p o f
C an terb u ry w ere r e s t o r e d . Even th o u g h th e K ing had won a
co m p le te m il i t a r y v i c t o r y o v e r th e f o r c e s w h ich had b een in
su p p o rt o f th e r e b e l l i o u s A rch b ish o p , B eck et d e f ie d h i s
o f f e r , and Henry c a l l e d h i s a s i d e , a s k in g t h i s q u e s tio n s
K ing H enry.
What i s th e r e a s o n t h a t you b eard me t h u s ,
W ho have b een e v e r f u l l o f lo v e t o you?
B e c k e t.
Ind eed i t seem ed s o , w h ile I s e r v e d y o u r e n d s.
19I b l d . . p . 56 (II. i i i ) .
102
King Henry.
Stu d yin g th e Chureh*s w ith th e g e n e r a l w e a l,
I sought o 'e r a l l d e g r e e s o f my good p eo p le
To r u le w ith eq u al la w s.
B eck et.
What to th e p eo p le
Was honourable J u s t ic e , to th e C h u r c h -
Exempt by her d iv in e p r e r o g a tiv e s |
From tem poral sway—was ty r a n n y .20 j
T h is kind o f double standard w hich B ecket e s t a b lis h e d fo r I
i
i
th e Church a s opposed to th e p eo p le branded him a s a hypo- j
c r i t e and c le a r ly d e fin e d th e p o s it io n o f C atterm ole in th e |
|
s tr u g g le betw een Church and S ta te . Not o n ly in t h i s passage:
but through out th e p la y , th e p la y w rig h t a s s a ile d th e e v i l
n e s s and h y p o c tisy o f Roman C ath olicism * B ecket was much
more sym b olic o f th a t p a r tic u la r daem onic fo r c e than he had j
been in I r e la n d 's Henry th e Second.
F in a lly , h is s e lf - r ig h t e o u s n e s s and r e l i g i o u s b ig o tr y
were c le a r ly s e t fo r th by Young H en ry's l a s t sp eech . As he
la y d y in g w ith h is fa th e r a t h is s id e , he d e sc r ib e d B ecket
thus*
Young Henry.
For B eck et, I b e lie v e him dangerous s t i l l .
S lig h t h is e x o rted o a th s , lo o k w e ll upon him!
— Hear me a l i t t l e , fa th e r — d yin g w ords,
Though from th e young and e v i l , cla im reg a rd .
Too much I lo v e d th a t man— a s th ou d id s t on cej
Too much rev ered him. L ib e r a lly endowed
By n atu re w ith most r a r e ly - la v is h e d g i f t s ,
Had he been d e s tin e d to a crown, he had
A chieved a r e ig n i l l u s t r i o u s to a l l tim e.
20I b ld . . pp. 68-69 ( I I I . i ) .
103
King Henry.
So d id we r a te him e v erj fo r which cause
W e p la c ed him second o n ly to th e crown.
Young Henry.
A p la c e to o h ig h , or low , fo r such a mind.
F ixed to th a t second Sphere in s e c u la r power,
H is checked a m b itio n found an o th er p ath j
S eek in g to r u le th e in n er w orld o f men— |
T h eir h op es, t h e ir w i l l , t h e i r ig n o r a n c e , |
t h e ir f a i t h . 21 i
I
A few sp ee ch es l a t e r in th e same sc e n e , Young Henry fin ish e d
]
th e s e th o u g h ts on B e c k e t's n atu re in a sp eech which c le a r ly ;
marked th e p la y w r ig h t's condem nation o f th e C a th o lic ChurchiJ
I
Young Henry.
1
To embody such a s p ir in g s th e f i t means
I s Rome's S o u l-ty r a n n y . Such w as, th e n , th e shape |
To w hich o c c a s io n moulded h is huge p a s s io n s .
The b o u n d less grasp o f th a t untem poral sway, j
Which c a l l s i t s e l f th e m aster— n ot o f a p r o v in c e , j
A kingdom, th e whole e a r th — but b ea rs a s c e p tr e , j
Such i s i t s b o a s t, th a t r ea c h e s up to heaven |
And down to h e l l — he found so m ee tly matched
With h i s a s p ir in g f a c u l t i e s , th a t a t le n g th
'T is grown in to m adness, he m ista k e s
The d a rin g w ish e s o f h is f i e r y so u l
For th e o r d in a n ce s and o r a c le s d iv in e j
And hence r e b e llio n , p e r fid y , and b lo o d ,
Are seem ly in h i s e y e s , and s a n c t i f i e d ,
So th e y but work h is e n d .— 22
C e r ta in ly th e K in g 's d y in g son spoke p r o p h e t ic a lly ,
f o r , upon h i s r e tu r n to E ngland, B ecket used h is "Saxon
b ir th " to g a in th e l o y a lt y o f th e common p eo p le and to
s t i r them in to a r e v o lt a g a in s t t h e ir Norman K ing. In an
em o tio n a l sermon w hich he d e liv e r e d to th e commoners, one
21I b i d . . pp. 113-U 5 (IV. i i i ). 22Ib id .
| 104
o f h i s monks d e s c r ib e d B eck et a s h a v in g th e a u d a c ity t o
com pare h im s e lf t o J e s u s , u s in g t h e s e words*
F i r s t Monk.
And a l l a g a in was s i l e n t a s b e f o r e ,
W hile th e b old p r e a c h e r t o ld how e v i l men
A f f l i c t e d h o ly D a v id , and th e Son
Of Mary, th e g r e a t A n t ity p e — a©r l e s s
H im s e lf, he s a id , had in h i s p e r so n borne
The so rro w s o f th e L ord , r e v iv e d i n h im .22 j
i
T h is , lin k e d w ith th e p a s s a g e s w h ich we have p r e v i - j
o u s ly q u o ted from th e p la y , showed t h a t B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r !
fo llo w e d th e p a t te r n o f a F a u st o r S a ta n , p a r t i c u l a r l y in
h i s t e r r i b l e p r id e and d r iv in g a m b itio n . As th e Young
Henry e x p la in e d , B eck et c o u ld n o t t o l e r a t e b e in g "secon d
o n ly t o th e crow n." He was w i l l i n g to s e l l h i s s o u l t o an ;
" u n la w fu l and co rru p t" Church i n o r d e r to t r y t o g a in th e
j
h ig h e s t p o s s i b l e power in t h i s w o r ld . How ig n o b le t h i s
d e p ic te d a man whose m oral p o t e n t i a l was a s g r e a t a s
B e c k e t 's ; t h i s i s b e s t summed up in th e f i n a l l i n e s o f
i th e c u r t a in sp e ec h o f K ing H enry:
He was o f th e prim e
And tr u e n o b i l i t y w h ich n a tu r e c h a r t e r s —
The l a s t g r e a t s c io n o f th e Saxon r o o t — !
A mind t o con q u er re a lm s and r u le them , th o u g h
Of w i l l p r e v e r s e , f i e r c e , and in d o m it a b le .2 3
F u r th e r , Queen E le a n o r no lo n g e r sy m b o liz e d a M ephis
to p h e le a n a g e n t , who u rged B eck et on in h i s e v i l p u r s u it s .
She was c o m p le te ly overshadow ed by th e C a th o lic Church in
22 I b i d . , pp. 1 3 9 -1 4 0 (V. i i ) .
23I b i d . , p. 159 (V. v ) .
_ . . . _ - .
105
C a tte r m o le 's drama. Thomas' r e l i g i o u s b ig o t r y a c te d a s a
c a t a l y s t f o r h i s b u rn in g a m b itio n , a c c e l e r a t i n g i t tow ard
m adness.
The G randeur o f E v il
Thomas A B eck et (1 8 ^ 0 ) by G eorge D a r le y was an i n d i
v id u a liz e d c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n . The A rch b ish op was c o n s id e r -
j
a b ly more com plex and d im e n s io n a l th a n in th e two p r e v io u s ly
t
i
d is c u s s e d p la y s . N e v e r t h e le s s , he fo llo w e d th e p a t te r n o f !
i
a h e r o l c - v l l l a i n a s e s t a b lis h e d by them . He was s t i l l le d ;
by h i s p r id e and a r ro g a n c e t o h i s own d am n ation .
An i n t e r e s t i n g v a r i a t io n in t h i s p o r t r a y a l o f B eck et
i
was i n h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o th e lo v e a f f a i r o f Henry I I and '
Rosamond. A lth ou gh he d id n o t a c t a s a p r o c u r e r f o r th e
K in g, he was e n t i r e l y sy m p a th e tic t o t h i s a f f a i r and h e lp e d j
h id e th e K in g 's d a llia n c e from th e Q ueen, presu m ab ly f o r j
i
h i s own g a in . He p la n n ed a g r e a t b a l l a t w h ich th e K ing |
was a b le t o m eet th e f a i r m aiden; when th e u n in v ite d E le a - j
n or a r r iv e d , he d e la y e d h er u n t i l th e l o v e r s c o u ld be
warned and Rosamond s a f e l y f e r r e t t e d aw ay. T hese s c e n e s i
j
l a i d th e groundwork f o r B e c k e t's c r a f t i n e s s . The f a c t t h a t
he e x p e c te d a c o n s id e r a b le g a in from t h i s a c t was shown in
th e f o llo w in g s o lilo q u y w h ich he d e liv e r e d d u r in g th e
c o u r se o f th e c e le b r a t io n i
Good k in g , t h o u ' I t th an k me t e t t e r f o r t h i s d e e d ,
And f a s t e r b in d me f r ie n d , th a n had I sa v ed
Rouen o r Caen! Our p r iv a t e s e r v i c e s seem .
Love t o th e k in g , p u b lic b u t t o th e kingdom . ^
T h is s e t th e to n e f o r D a r le y 's B e c k e t. One can s e n s e t h a t
D a r le y was e x p r e s s in g h i s own a d m ir a tio n f o r c r a f t i n e s s
j
th ro u g h th e c h a r a c te r o f Thomas. T hroughout th e p la y th e r e i
t
I was a v a c i l l a t i o n b etw een th e a d m ir a b le and Ig n o b le c h a r a c - !
; t e r i s t i c s i n B e c k e t. Of c o u r s e , t h i s i s t o be e x p e c te d ,
j
s i n c e , a s we p o in te d o u t in th e p r e v io u s c h a p te r , D a r le y
e x p r e s s e d h i s a d m ir a tio n f o r th e a n c ie n t A rch b ish o p b y , a t
i
t im e s , c a l l i n g h im s e lf "Thomas A B eck et D a r le y ," e t c . , and
y e t o b v io u s ly h e ld in d is d a in some o f th e p r i n c i p l e s f o r
w h ich Thomas B eck et s to o d i n th e s o c i o - p o l i t i c a l m ilie u o f
e a r ly n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y E n g la n d .
A nother im p o rta n t f a c t o r o f t h i s drama was i t s f u r th e r i
I
u se o f th e h i s t o r i c a l in a c c u r a c y c o n c e r n in g B e c k e t 's Saxon I
j
b i r t h . The p la y opened w ith a sc e n e in w h ich two Norman |
I
lo r d s w ere m ocking one o f t h e i r Saxon c o lle a g u e s a b o u t h i s
a n c e s t r y . In d e fe n c e o f h im s e lf , th e S axon , B r it o , i n t r o
duced th e name o f Thomas B eck et and i n s i s t e d t h a t he was
one o f th e g r e a t e s t men in E n g la n d . The Norman lo r d s
g r u d g in g ly a d m itte d t h a t B r ito was r i g h t . D uring t h e i r
s p e e c h e s , h o w ev er, th e y e x p r e s s e d t h e i r d i s t r u s t o f th e
i
Saxon B e c k e t»
n
G eorge D a r le y , "Thomas A B e c k e t," The C om plete
P o e t i c a l Works o f G eorge P a r le y (Londoni R o u tled g e &
S o n s, Ltd., 184-6), p . 220 ( i . i i ) .
j 107
I De M o r v ille . B eck et* s a cunning c le r k ,
Or he would sc a r c e be an A rchdeacon» w ise
As G u isa r d 's s e l f , o r what had made him
C h an cellor?
For b o ld n e s s , he e x c e e d s a l l p r i e s t s ; and
d a r e s
Take even th e v ery D e v il by th e h orn s
Did he f a l l ou t w ith him.
De T r a c i. W ell, i f he be
F alcon in f i g h t , h e 's v u ltu r e a f t e r it J
De M o r v ille . H e 'll have h i s p ic k in g s !
Know you
n ot our ad age—
The C hurch's crook
When r i g h t l y shod,
I s a r e a p in g hook
On a f is h in g - r o d ! 2 *
And somewhat l a t e r in t h i s same scen e De M o rv ille d e sc r ib e d
him fu r th e r , making r e fe r e n c e t o h is h e r ita g e th u si
T h is son o f a Saxon tr u c k s t e r , G ilb e r t B ecket
And. a bought Moor-woman!-*- t h ia Jack O' th e
B e a n sta lk ,
That clim b s up to th e c lo u d s , l a r k - s w i f t , and
th e r e ,
Mocks th e maze w orld b en eath h im !26
E lsew here in th e p la y he was r e fe r r e d to a s a "w olf in
s h e e p 's c lo th in g ." I n c id e n t a lly , th e s e d e s c r ip t io n s o f
B ecket occu rred p r io r to th e g r e a t b a t t l e betw een B ecket
and th e K ing.
Of c o u r se , th e s e were th e words o f men who were
enem ies o f Thomas; t h e r e f o r e , one would have to d isc o u n t
t h e ir accu ra cy in e s t a b lis h in g th e to n e o f th e p la y w r ig h t's
a t t it u d e toward Thomas B eck et. The A rchbishop was an
25I b ld . . pp. 209-2H ( I . i ) . 26Ib ld .
108
e x trem ely a m b itio u s man who was w i l l i n g to u se c r a f t to
g a in th e p o s it io n he wanted In l i f e . The p a tte r n was
e s s e n t i a l l y th e same a s was found In th e two p r e v io u s
: i
p la y s , e x ce p t D a rley * s c h a r a c te r i s more s u b tle and c r a f t y , j
The e x te n t o f B eck et* s a m b itio n was r e v e a le d by him
s h o r tly a f t e r he was a p p o in ted to th e o f f i c e o f A rchbishop
o f Canterbury in th e f i r s t p a rt o f A ct I I . T h is , t o o , i
f o llo w s th e t r a d it io n a l p a tte r n o f c h a r a c te r iz a tio n which j
was e s t a b lis h e d in th e two p r e v io u s dram as. Im m ediately
a f t e r he had been inform ed o f h i s appointm ent t o th e h ig h
c l e r i c a l p o s it io n , he s o lilo q u iz e d a s fo llo w s*
B eck et. The second man o f th e kingdom J— M y
a m b itio n
Mounts th en i t s h o p ed -fo r tow ery th ro n e; and th e r e
S i t s crown*d w ith th e proud m itr e , sc a r c e o * e rto p p 'd
By one s ta r o f th e r e g a l d ia d e m !-- ,
A m I in d eed th e son o f G ilb e r t B e c k e t? ~
How my so u l s w e lls ? — l i k e h is who, p in n a c le d
on some h ig h -p itc h * d , r e a lm -s k ir te d prom ontory,
Takes in th e im m e n sitie s around, b en ea th , j
S k ie s , s e a s , and c o n t in e n ts , w ith ra p tu ro u s g a z e! i
How mine eye k in d le s ! How my s p i r i t burns
L ike yon g r e a t su n, b r ig h te r a s i t moves h ig h e r !—
M y v e r y frame seem s grown g ig a n t ic a l!
I f e e l a s I cou ld o v e r s tr id e th e e a r th —
Yea, grasp h ea v en ’ s r u lin g o rb s in my two h a n d s!2?
And a t th e end o f t h i s same sp eech B ecket sp eak s o f h im s e lf j
in p r id e fu l term s w hich we p r e v io u s ly compared w ith th e
words o f M ilto n ’ s Satan*
The Second Man o f th e kingdom !— T h is i s much,
And y e t I m ight be m ore!— Not j u s t th e f i r s t .
That were sc a r c e p o s s ib le ; b u t— b u t— c o -e q u a l!
27I b l d . , pp. 23^-235 ( I . H i ) .
! 109
i
1 What a b rave c o u r se t o ru n ! l u s t r o u s , o e l e s t i a l ,
As th y b r ig h t b i r t h - s t a r * s , when he w ould a s c e n t
To th e w o r ld 's z e n it h ! C lou d s and sto rm s w i l l g a th e r
Round him — n a y , b l o t him o ' e r i b u t th ro u g h them he
B u r s ts soon a s I s h a l l ! — I f a t l e a s t he f a l l s . „
He f a l l s i n s p le n d o u r ,— and a l l men m ust d i e ! 28
D riv en by h i s u n r e a so n in g a m b itio n , B ec k e t w as drawn
!
in t o th e lo n g c o n f l i c t w ith K ing H enry w h ich e v e n t u a lly j
i
ended in h i s m artyrdom , a m artyrdom w h ich B ec k et had a n t i
c ip a te d lo n g b e fo r e i t had o c c u r r e d . As a m a t t e r - o f - f a c t ,
: I
i
th e p la y w r ig h t p la n te d th e id e a o f h i s m artyrdom by i n t r o
d u c in g a p o p u la r le g e n d a b o u t th e s t r u g g le b etw een B e c k e t,
th e n C h a n c e llo r , and Henry I I o v e r B e c k e t 's r o b e , w h ich th e j
K ing w anted t o g iv e t o a b e g g a r . The e n t ir e ge$Hfe&oe w as
a jo k e , b u t th e l i n e s r e v e a le d th a t B ec k e t was d i s p l e a s e d ,
w h ile th e o ld b eg g a r who r e c e iv e d th e rob e p r o p h e t ic a lly
s a id , " , . .may l i v e / A g lo r y t o th e Church, and a t h i s j
d e a th /B e w o r s h ip t 'm on gst th e b le s s e d s a i n t s and m a r ty r s ." 29
A g a in , d u r in g th e g r e a t s t r u g g le b etw een K ing and A rch
b ish o p w h ich to o k p la c e a t C la ren d o n , th e s c h o la r , P e te r j
o f B l o l s , and th e c h a p la in t o th e K in g , W a lter M apes,
i
i
d e s c r ib e d th e t e r r i b l e b a t t l e w h ich w as ta k in g p la c e j
l
o f f - s t a g e « |
John o f 0 . But t e l l u s , w i l l th e A rch b ish o p
b ra v e i t o u t ,
So o b s t in a t e ?
28I b i d . , p . 235 ( I . H D .
29I b l d . . p. 261 (II I. v).
I 110
P e te r . He s ta n d s l i k e tw ic e h i s s i z e .
The s o l e im m ovable th in g i n t h a t com m otion!
M apes. I th in k he h a th a c lo v e n h o o f , t o sta n d
So fir m , on b u t two l e g s !
P e t e r . I f e a r h e ' l l h ave
W hat's w o r s e ,- - a c lo v e n h e a d . 30
And t h i s p r e sa g e o f B e c k e t 's martyrdom was c u lm in a te d i n j
i
th e f o llo w in g s c e n e , when s e v e r a l o f f i c e r s o f th e C hurch,
i
a s w e ll a s th e K in g 's u n c le ( t h e E a r l o f C o r n w a ll), a t - j
tem pted t o r e a s o n w ith th e A rch b ish o p . A l l , i n t h e i r tu r n , i
t r i e d t o p ersu a d e B eck et to s ig n th e C laren d on C o n s titu tio n ,!
; i
th u s b r in g in g p ea ce t o th e la n d . A ll o f them f a i l e d to
I
shake h i s p r id e f u l and a r r o g a n t p o s i t i o n u n t i l R ich ard ©e
H a s tin g s , Grand P r io r o f th e T em plars (a n o r d e r o f m il i t a r y
m on k s), a p p e a le d t o him . T h is o ld man, w hose fa m ily was
among th e g r e a t e s t o f th e Norman h o u se s and w hose h o a ry
head was now bowed i n o b e d ie n c e t o d e a t h 's c a l l , p le a d e d
w ith B ec k et t o sa v e th e Church and h im s e lf from h e r g r e a t
e s t f o e . B ec k e t r e p lie d *
B e c k e t. Why t h a t ' s th e K ing!
Grand P r io r . T h y s e lf ! — t h o u 'r t h e r c h i e f f o e ,
And t h in e own l i k e w i s e ! — S u ic id e p r e p e n s e ,
P a t r ic id e o f th y H oly M other th e C hurch!—
C o rn w a ll, ( t o N o rw ich ). T ruth com es from H eaven,
m ost s u r e ! How i t i n s p i r e s
That weak o ld man w ith v ig o u r s t r a n g e , and s e n s e
So s u p e r -n a tu r a l t o h i s own!
N orw ich. He p a u ses*
He draw s hard b r e a th — he sw oons—
30I b i d . , p. 261 ( I I I . v ) .
! I l l
Grand P r io r . B oth — b o th s h a l l p e r is h
Hark! how th e K ing r a v e s ! — See t h o s e g l i s t e n i n g
sw o r d s!—
The P rim ate g r a s p s th e a l t a r ! — b lo o d ! b lo o d ! b lo o d !
Save h im !— H is b r a in s a r e on th e f l o o r ! —
O' B ec k e t!
H ad*st th o u b u t l i s t e n e d when th e o ld man p ra y ed ,
T h is s a c r i l e g e had n o t b een !
( sw oons aw ay) .3 1
The o ld man d ie d and was s im u lta n e o u s ly b orn e aw ay, b u t n o t j
b e fo r e B eck et had sworn t h a t h e w ould s ig n th e C o n s titu tio n .!
!Of c o u r s e , t h i s w as an e x c e l l e n t exam ple o f th e i n f lu e n c e s
o f melodrama and G o th ic drama upon e a r ly n in e te e n t h c e n tu r y
p la y s , b u t i t was much more th a n t h a t . D a r le y h ad , i n th e
th r e e exam p les w h ich have b een shown and a t s e v e r a l o t h e r
p o in t s in th e p la y i n s t i l l e d th e id e a o f th e A rch b ish o p * s
m artyrdom . T h is em p h a sis on th e martyrdom o f B eck et was
an Im p ortan t change from th e p r e v io u s p la y s .
N e ith e r o f th e o th e r two p la y s w h ich have b een d i s
c u sse d p la c e d an y p a r t ic u l a r em p h a sis on B e c k e t* s m a r ty r -
p r e o c c u p a tio n a s a p a r t o f h i s e v i l a m b itio n . D a rley
d e f i n i t e l y made i t h i s h u b r is . A c t u a lly , i t was n o t f u l l y
r e v e a le d u n t i l A ct V, b u t i t had b een an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f
th e a c t io n o f th e p la y a lm o s t from i t s i n c e p t io n . I t was
bound up in B e c k e t* s u n r e a so n a b le p r id e , a p r id e t h a t had
b een sw o o len upon h i s r e tu r n to E ngland by th e c h e e r s o f
th e common p e o p le , who c a l l e d him , "*fe n d e r o f th e Church,
a s a in t and a m a r ty r ." To t h i s B ec k et r e p lie d *
31Ibid. . p. 26? (III. v i) .
1 1 2
B e c k e t. So I have b e e n , my f r i e n d s , a v e r y m artyr!
Mobs. Long l i v e h i s g r a c e th e m artyr!
B e c k e t. Martyrdom w h ich I jo y ed i n f o r you r s a k e s .
Mobs. H eaven g ra n t you r G race th e jo y o f a n o th e r ! j
And soon ! ~ L a r g e s s e ! 1
B e c k e t. Thanks f o r y o u r k in d ly w is h e s , th ou gh n o t
w o r d s |
i
Of c o u r s e , t h i s was no a b s o lu t e i n d i c a t i o n t h a t e i t h e r th e ‘
Mob o r Thomas B eck et was t h in k in g o f an a c t u a l martyrdom !
i
in t h i s s c e n e , b u t o b v io u s ly , th e p la y w r ig h t was a g a in
s u g g e s t in g th e id e a by i t s u se i n t h i s sc e n e o f th e p la y . j
T oo, i t r e v e a le d B e c k e t* s e a g e r n e s s f o r th e g lo r y o f j
m artyrdom and th e a d u la t io n o f th e crow d, e s p e c i a l l y h i s
i
Saxon b r e th r e n .
A g a in , we a re p rep a red f o r B e c k e t* s m artyrdom by a
!
sp e e c h w h ich he d e liv e r e d t o John o f S a lis b u r y . The sc e n e |
to o k p la c e j u s t o u t s id e C an terb u ry soon a f t e r th e A rch - j
b is h o p 's r e tu r n t o E n g la n d . B eck et was b u sy in th e f o r e s t
ch o p p in g down a t r e e when John ap p roach ed him and spoke o f
how much b e t t e r i t was t o en g a g e i n a war a g a in s t th e t r e e s
r a t h e r th a n in one w ith k in g s and b a r o n s. B eck et r e f e r r e d
t o h i s f i g h t w ith Henry I I , a s he r e p lie d *
B e c k e t. J oh n , I t e l l y o u ,
H u r tle s s a s t h i s c o o l war t o you may seem ,
'T w ill end in b lo o d !
John o f S. B lo o d ? — I ' v e rea d so m eth in g
L ik e i t i n V i r g i l .
32I b i d . , p. 303 (V. i l l ) .
B e c k e t. You a r e a d ream er, John!
You know n o t what we speak o f . I do t e l l ye
T h is q u a r r e l ca n n o t end e x c e p t in b l o o d . 33
And in t h i s same s c e n e , B eck et s e t h im s e lf a p a r t from
e v e ry o n e e l s e . He p ic tu r e d h im s e lf in th e r o le o f th e
i s o l a t e d h ero when he s a id t o Joh n i
B e c k e t. F o r g iv e me, John* b u t I f e e l ev en
th e g lo b e
H ollow b e n e a th me; t r e a s o n hems me roundi
D e s tr u c t io n h a tc h e s under m ine own e a v e s ,
B roods in th e g ro v e b e s id e u s . Even th e
Church,
F a ls e t o h e r s e l f , ca n n o t be tr u e t o me*
D oes sh e n o t a d u lt e r a t e w ith th e K in g,
H is H o lin e s s b e in g pandar? b r ib e d t h e r e t o
By h i s r ic h -w o r d e d p r o m ise s t o s to p
F ie r c e B a r b a r o s s a 's r a g e ,— a g u ild e d b a i t
Which o n ly gu d geon s c a tc h a t ! E very N u n cio ,
Yea th e w hole c o n c la v e , f i l l t h e i r p u rse w ith
gems
Torn from th e E n g lis h M itre . L o u is o f F ra n ce,
M y s t e a d i e s t prop t i l l now, b e g in s to wax
R o tte n a t th e c o r e , and f a l l s me a t m ost n e e d . 3^
But John i n s i s t e d t h a t h i s m a ster was n o t a lo n e , t h a t he
John would f o llo w him t o th e l a s t . In th e f i n a l two
s p e e c h e s o f th e sc e n e th e u n d e r ly in g m eaning o f t h i s d ia
lo g u e was r e v e a le d *
B e c k e t. Come on th e n ! Thou s h a lt s e e my
power com pel
T h is proud k in g on h i s k n e e s t o me, a l b e i t th e
s t r u g g le la y
M e t o o , b r e a t h le s s , on e a r th !
John o f S. Would t h a t th e r e w ere l e s s o f
p a s s io n and o f p r id e
In ou r s e l f - s a c r i f i c e ! O ft made f o r s e l f ,
For ou r own g l o r i f i c a t i o n , when we seem
3 3 i b i d . , p. 310 (V. v i i ) .
3* * I b l d . . p. 311 (V. v i i ) .
114
D evoted a l l t o o t h e r s I Yet he t h in k s
I t i s th e Church he s e r v e s , and I f s o , Heaven
Pardon him I f he h u r ts h e r In h i m s e l f ! 35
T h is , o f c o u r s e , r e v e a le d t h a t B e c k e t* s c l o s e f r i e n d , Joh n ,
i
b e lie v e d B e c k e t* s w ish f o r martyrdom was p e r v e r s e . He more j
j
c l e a r l y s t a t e d th e c a s e when, n e a r th e f i n a l sc e n e o f th e
p la y , he was h e lp in g B eck et p rep a re t o m eet h i s m u rd erers. !
B eck et c a l l e d f o r h i s r o b e s and f i n e s t j e w e ls . He ap p eared j
g la d t h a t th e end was n ea r and t h a t soon he w ould e x i t from j
a l i f e w h ich had b een n o th in g b u t a f r u s t r a t i o n t o him .
The a c t io n o f t h i s sc e n e th o r o u g h ly c o n v in c e d one t h a t
I
B eck et w anted th e g lo r y th ro u g h m artyrdom , w h ich he c o u ld j
n o t fin d on e a r t h . In h i s a s i d e , John sa id *
I know n o t w h ich t o name i t ,
G randeur o f s o u l o r p e t t i n e s s , p r id e o f s t a t e , j
Contempt o f p e r i l , calm from s e n s e o f r i g h t ,
Or c o n t r a d ic t iv e n e s s i n s a n e {3 °
M oreover, i f th e r e w ere any doubt l e f t ab o u t B e c k e t* s
I
o p in io n o f h i s g r e a t n e s s , i t was c o m p le te ly subdued in th e
i
sp e e ch w h ich fo llo w e d J o h n 's , in w h ich th e A rch b ish op sa id * |
( p u t t in g on th e r in g ) I'm r e a d y .
Nay my p r ec e d e n c e i s t o be p r e c e d e d ,
The g r e a t e s t com es th e l a s t . Go ye b e fo r e m e.37
I t i s s t r i k i n g , t o o , to n o te t h a t u n lik e th e p r e v io u s
two B eck et dram as, D a r le y had B eck et d i e , f i g h t i n g t o th e
en d . He n o t o n ly v e r b a lly d e f ie d h i s a t t a c k e r s , but he
a s s a u lt e d them p h y s i c a l l y a s w e l l . As De T r a c i t r i e d t o
35i b i d . . p. 312 (V. v i i ) . 36I b ld t . p# 319 (V> xl)#
37I b ld . . p. 319 (V. x i ) .
; ta k e B ecket p r is o n e r , B ecket turned, on him and said *
Take o f f th a t im pious hand, w hich d a r e s p rofan e
M y s t o l e im m aculatej or I w i l l shake t h e e ,
V ile r e p t i l e , o f f , and tram ple th e e in th e d u st! j
Bosham l e t b e !— I have an arm a s s to u t J
As any s t a lk in g Norman o f them a l l ! — j
Away! (He c a s t s De T raci from him , who d r a w s).™ j
i
Thus B ecket d ie d , a th o ro u g h ly p r id e f u l and a rro g a n t man,
i
d e fen d in g a th o ro u g h ly e v i l and corru p t i n s t i t u t i o n , y e t h ei
: i
d ie d a man o f h e r o ic p r o p o r tio n s. H is d ea th was brought on
1 i
i
by h is i n a b i l i t y to com prom ise, w hich c e r t a in ly was an
h e r o ic sta n c e . Because o f h is e v i l m oral d e c is io n s he was
v i l l a i n o u s , y e t we cannot deny th e grandeur o f h i s a c t io n s I
and t h e ir p o t e n t ia l g o o d n ess.
D a r le y 's p o r tr a y a l o f B ecket had n ot been ju s t a r e p e - -
t i t i o n o f th e p a tte r n o f th e two e a r l i e r dramas but a sub
t l e v a r ia tio n on i t . N e v e r th e le s s , th e e s s e n t i a l q u a l i t i e s
were th e r e , ren d e rin g t h i s v e r s io n o f th e B ecket c h a r a c te r
un m istak ab ly r e la t e d to th e two p r e v io u s d r a m a tiz a tio n s .
i
i
Another F a u stia n F igu re |
In 1851 George W ightwick w rote a melodrama w hich was
s t r ik in g ly r e m in isc e n t o f b oth W illiam I r e la n d 's Henry I I
(1 7 9 9 ) and S ir Arthur H elp s' Henry th e Second (1 8 ^ 3 ).
For exam ple, W igh tw ick 's p lo t - p a t t e r n resem bled th e
one w hich S ir Arthur H elps had used e ig h t y e a r s e a r l i e r .
Both p la y s were more concerned w ith th e t i t l e c h a r a c te r
38I b ld . . p. 320 (V. x i i ).
116
th a n w ith B e c k e t, and In b o th th e A rch b ish o p w as m urdered
a f t e r l i t t l e more th a n h a l f o f th e p la y had b een c o m p le te d .
The r e s t o f t h e s e p la y s w ere d e v o te d t o w o rk in g o u t th e co n
f l i c t s o f K ing Henry and h i s f a m ily . N e v e r t h e le s s , th e
c h a r a c te r o f B eck et was e tc h e d w ith c l a r i t y and v iv id n e s s
by t h e s e p la y w r ig h ts . I
The tr e a tm e n t o f B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r i n W ig h tw ic k 's j
drama i s p a r a lle le d w ith th e one w h ich I r e la n d had e s t a b - j
l i s h e d . Once a g a in he was p o r tr a y e d a s th e t o o l o f an e v i l
and co rr u p t f o r e ig n pow er, w h ich was w ork in g th ro u g h him in i
an a tte m p t t o overcom e th e b e n e v o le n t and j u s t p ow ers o f
j
E n g la n d , a s sy m b o lized in Henry I I . For ex a m p le, W ightw ick j
e s t a b lis h e d B e c k e t's e v i l c h a r a c te r a lm o st im m e d ia te ly
a f t e r th e p la y o p en ed . Thomas had a lr e a d y b een a p p o in te d I
t o th e s t a t i o n o f A rch b ish op o f C a n terb u ry , and th ro u g h th e
e x p o s it l o n a l d ia lo g u e o f two o f th e n o b le s a tta c h e d t o
j
H en ry 's c o u r t , we d is c o v e r t h a t th e r e was d isa g r e e m e n t a s
to w h eth er B eck et would s e r v e th e K ing w e l l . L o v e l to o k
th e p o s i t i o n t h a t s in c e Thomas was su ch an e x c e l l e n t Chan
c e l l o r and c l o s e f r ie n d o f th e K ing and was o f ". . .a
tem p er n a t u r a lly g iv e n t o s o c i a l g a i e t y and m u n if ic e n c e ,"39
w ould s u r e ly , th e n , su p p o rt h i s M a jesty in r id d in g th e
Church o f i t s c rim in o u s p r i e s t s , by s t r i k i n g a t th e h o ld
o f s u p e r s t i t i o n w h ich th e y h e ld o v e r th e common p e o p le
■ ^ G e o r g e W ightw ick, Henry th e Second ( L ondon i S im p k in ,
M a r sh a ll, and C o ., 1 8 5 1 ), p . 3 ( I . 1 ) .
! 117
I
o f E n g la n d . He s a id i
W e n eed n o t f e a r th e e f f e c t s o f s u l l e n p r id e
Or s e l f i s h lo v e o f g a lm a n d , l e a s t o f a l l |
May we s u s p e c t , t h a t B eck et w i l l e ' e r p rove
A s u b t le p r a c t l s e r o f p r i e s t l y w i l e s j
Im p osin g on th e c r e d u lo u s .^ 0 I
j
However, B r ito d o e s n o t a g r e e w ith him . He was a much j
I
o ld e r and w o r ld ly -w is e man, who r e c o g n iz e d what a m b itio n j
i
c o u ld do t o a man. He r e p lie d : j
M y f r ie n d !
T hou*rt young in p ro p h ecy . I w i l l n o t sa y
The C h a n c e llo r 's g a y v a n i t i e s w i l l l i v e
U ncheck'd by th e A r c h b is h o p 's h o l i e r "show s:"
But t h i s I f e a r i — a m b itio n w i l l b u t change
I t s form ; an d , in th e g u is e o f l o w l i n e s s j
And p io u s z e a l , be b u t a m b itio n s t i l l .
'T is power man l o v e s . For t h i s , he w i l l fo r e g o
A ll jo y s p a r t i c i p a t i v e } a l l , t h a t s e n se
D e lig h t s in : d o f f th e e m b r o id e r'd ro b e o f s t a t e ,
And w ear th e s a c k - c lo t h o f h u m ilit y ,^ 1
i
In t h i s way W ightw ick s u g g e s te d B e c k e t 's daem onic c h a r a c t e r i
w it h in th r e e p a g e s o f th e o p e n in g o f th e p la y .
One sh o u ld n o t i c e , t o o , how B r i t o ' s sp e e c h ech o ed th e j
I
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h a t h e r o i c - v i l l i a n f ig u r e o f M ilto n ,
th e S a ta n o f P a r a d ise L o s t . The p h r a s e s , " 'T is power man j
lo v e s " and "A m bition w i l l but change i t s f o r m ," ^ r e e c h o e d
th e c h a lle n g e o f th e m ig h ty L u c if e r i n M ilt o n 's work. Be
f o r e th e end o f A ct I , S cen e 1 , W ightw ick had more r e s o
l u t e l y e s t a b lis h e d th e daem onic n a tu r e o f B eck et by th e
r e p o r t o f th r e e o f th e k n ig h t s who w ere t o become B e c k e t's
m u rd erers: F lt z u r s e , T ra c ey , and M o r e v llle . They reco u n ted
^°Ibld. ^ I b l d . ^2Ibld.
118
how th e h au gh ty A rch b ish op had e x p r o p r ia te d t h e i r la n d s and
was h o ld in g In p r o t e c t iv e c u sto d y c e r t a in c r im in o u s c l e r i c s ,
one o f whom had rap ed M o r e v ille 's d a u g h te r and k i l l e d th e
!
b r o th e r who had t r i e d t o p r o t e c t h e r .
Even E le a n o r , who u s u a lly ap p eared more v i l l a i n o u s
i
th a n B eck et i n th e e a r l i e r p la y s , warned h er husband t h a t j
he would ". . .la m e n t th e day w h e r e in / You made, o f a m ost j
f i t t i n g C h a n c e llo r ,/ A m ost u n f i t t i n g B is h o p !"^3 sh e j
I
u rged Henry t o ta k e fir m a c t io n b e fo r e i t was to o l a t e , o r
", . . e l s e s h a l l th e M itre s o o n / O 'er to p th e Crown, and ;
Henry be t o B e c k e t/ As B eck et to th e P o p e .”^
T hroughout th e p la y B eck et was b ran d ed , by h im s e lf a s j
w e ll a s o t h e r s , a s b e in g a r r o g a n t and p r l d e f u l . He r e
v e a le d t h a t he a c t u a ll y b e lie v e d h im s e lf t o have b een
a p p o in te d A rch b ish op by an a c t o f Heaven i n th e f o llo w in g
r e p ly t o H en ry 's sta te m e n t t h a t he had e n tr u s te d th e church
i
t o B e c k e t's c a r e t
Your 'p o l i c y ? ' Your ' t r u s t ? ' 0 , good my l i e g e ,
'Twas n o t l e f t you to c h o o s e . O ft men b e l i e v e
They d o , o f t h e i r f r e e w i l l , what Heaven d e te r m in e s .
To w hich Henry r e p lie d *
As o f t do men b e l i e v e t h e i r s e l f i s h w i l l s
Have H ea v en 's a u t h o r it y . ^ 5
T h in k in g h im s e lf G od 's a g e n t in th e C h u rch 's f i g h t
a g a in s t s e c u la r I n t e r f e r e n c e by E n g la n d 's K in g , B e c k e t's
p r id e and a rr o g a n c e exp an d ed , u n t i l he had th e a u d a c ity to
^ I b ld . . p. 8. ^ I b ld . ^ I b i d . , pp. 9-10 (I. i).
119
compare h im s e lf t o C h r is t , th e “f i r s t m a rty r." Y et, in th e
p a s s io n o f h i s s e lf - r i g h t e o u s n e s s he th r e a te n e d th e K ing in
w ords w h ich ech oed th o s e o f an an gry Zeus when he r e v e a le d
t o th e K ing th a t he had r e c e iv e d b u l l s from th e Pope excom
m u n ic a tin g th e Queen and m in is t e r s who had h e lp ed i n j
i
draw in g up th e h a ted C larendon C o n s t it u t io n , o r a s he j
i
m e ta p h o r ic a lly d e s c r ib e d i t , ", . .T hunder w h ic h / P r o c la im sj
th e f i r e o f an gry H e a v 'n !" ^ He ev en th r e a te n e d t o s t r i k e |
Henry down w ith t h i s " lig h t e n in g b o lt" i f th e K ing d id n o t
r e p e n t and a c c e p t th e term s o f th e Pope. |
J u s t b e fo r e d e a th ap p roach ed th e A rch b ish op in A ct I II ,i
S cen e I I , o f th e p la y , W ightw ick s y m b o lic a lly p o rten d ed th e ;
martyrdom o f B eck et in p e r f e c t G o th ic s t y l e . In th e f i n a l
sp e e ch o f A ct I I I , S cen e I , Henry r e f e r r e d t o th e "thunder"
and " d ark en ing a ir " j "Dread sh a p es seem c r o s s in g t o and
f r o , a s i f / Some f le d i n t e r r o r from a d i r e f u l d e e d ,/ Which
o t h e r s f lo c k ' d to g a z e o n I A s Scene I I opened B eck et
was in h i s stu d y , t a lk in g a b ou t th e same storm . He, t o o ,
drew a v iv id p ic t u r e o f th e im pending sto r m s, a c t u a l and
a n a lo g o u s. The manner in w hich th e p la y w r ig h t ca u sed
B eck et t o d e s c r ib e t h e s e sto rm s rem inded one o f th e g r e a t
su p e r n a tu r a l b a t t l e s w h ich to o k p la c e f o r th e p o s s e s s io n
o f Heaven and Mount 01y p u s.
W ith in t h i s e m o tio n a lly ch arged and m y stic s e t t i n g
^ I b ld . . p. k? ( I I I . I ) . ^7I b ld .
120
B eck et sto o d a lo n e , p rep a red t o d ie y e t r e s o l u t e in h i s
a r r o g a n t s e l f - r i g h t e o u s n e s s . In th e c l o s i n g moments o f h i s
l i f e , he o n ce a g a in d e f ie d th e o r d e r s o f h i s K in g, s a y in g j j
What? k n e e l b e fo r e th e crown whose d u ty t 'w a s
To h o ld my s t ir r u p when I b a ck ’ d my h o r s e ! |
Take la w s from him f o r g o v e r n in g a Church I
Which g i v e s him la w t o g o v ern ! Bend t h a t Church j
To h i s c o r r e c t io n ! No! I ' l l b are my back ;
Unto th e la s h o f lo w ly L a za ru s: ^0
But n o t my head t o proud P la n ta g e n e t. j
And a s th e fo u r m urderous K n ig h ts surrou nd ed him , a c c u s in g
him o f b e in g t r a i t o r o u s t o th e K in g, B eck et r e p e a te d th e
p a t te r n o f h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s by co m m ittin g th e m ost a r r o g a n t 1
and a m b itio u s a c t o f a l l :
. . . I f t h i s arm,
But w eapon'd w ith i t s e a r t h ly sw ord, c o u ld s t r i k e
The p r a c t i s ' d w a r r io r frsm h i s c h a r g e r 's b a ck :—
I f w ith th e pay o f g o ld , I h e ld i n r u le
The z e a l o f armed s o l d i e r s ; — i f t h u s , s
With sin e w , d r o s s and t o y s , I 'v e f o i l ' d th e b r a v e , |
Amaz'd th e p ro u d ,— s h a l l I b e th in k y e , l a c k , !
When, w ith th e sword o f H ea v 'n , w ith h e a v 'n ly pomp, j
And m ig h ty p h a la n x o f th e m a rty r'd S a i n t s , j
I r i s e t o th e b a t t l e o f th e Church, ^
And w in th e homage o f a l l C h risten d om ! °
For a sh o r t tim e a f t e r t h i s o u tb u r s t th e a c t i o n o f th e
p la y was a lm o st suspended by B e c k e t's r e q u e s t t h a t th e fo u r
K n ig h ts r e t i r e t o an anteroom w h ile he r e v ie w e d th e demands
w h ich th e y had. borne him . The K n ig h ts , t h in k in g t h a t he
was b e in g c o n c i l i a t o r y , l e f t . A c t u a lly , B eck et was m erely
f i g h t i n g f o r tim e t o p rep a re f o r h i s m artyrdom , w h ich he
p r l d e f u l l y d e s ir e d more th a n l i f e I t s e l f . T h is was
^8Ibid.. . p. ^9 ( I I I . 11). ^9I b i d . , p. 52 ( I I I . 11).
| 121
r e v e a le d i n h i s f i n a l sp e e c h o f t h a t s c e n e :
Amid th e y e t in c r e a s in g b la c k n e s s ro u n d ,
M y s t a r s t i l l la r g e r and more b r i l l i a n t s h in e s
Than e v e r . More, th a n in my day o f proud
And l u s t y y o u th , a v ig o u r f i l l s my v e in s }
And a s tr a n g e m in g led s e n s e , o f w a lk in g f o r t h
To d e a th and triu m p h , s w e l ls my c o n s ta n t h e a r t!
At o n c e , a V ic tim and a Conqueror!-*0 j
The A rch b ish op found th e f i n a l c h a lle n g e o f h i s a m b itio n , j
d e a th , w h ich o f f e r e d him a posthum ous pow er f a r g r e a t e r !
th a n a n y th in g he had e n jo y e d i n l i f e . A g a in , tr u e t o th e J
p r e c e d e n t o f th e e a r l i e r B eck et c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s , he com-
I
I
m ltte d th e u ltim a te h u b r is in h i s m artyrdom w ro n g ly w ish ed 1
I
f o r . As th e fo u r K n ig h ts c lo s e d in t o k i l l him , B e c k e t* s
l a s t sp e e c h ech oed h i s f e r v e n t d e s ir e f o r im m o r ta lity :
Nay v i l l a i n ; I ' l l d ie h e r e ! — Then s t r i k e !
S t r i k e ! t r a i t o r s t o you r God! L et f a l l your
b lo w s , i
As f u t i l e a s t h e y 'r e im p io u s. . . .
I f k i l l ' d , — why t h e n , i n s p i t e o f d e a th , I l i v e
For e v e r you r a c c u s e r ! B e c k e t's c o r p se
S h a ll p rove more f e a r f u l p o t e n t — f a r more d rea d —
Than e r e m igh t B e c k e t's b r e a th in g fo r m !51
A lth o u g h t h i s was an in d i c a t i o n o f B e c k e t's h u b r is o r
h a m a r tia , i t was so e n t i r e l y human t h a t we ca n n o t h e lp
sy m p a th iz in g w ith i t . The way in w h ich he met d e a th d e a lt
o u t by th e o n r u sh in g m u rd erers had a h e r o ic f l a v o r , w h ich
becom es v i t a l t o a d is c u s s io n o f th e o v e r a l l d ev elo p m en t
o f B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r .
5° I b ld . . p. 55 ( I I I . i i ) .
51I b id . . p. 57 ( I I I . i v ) .
I 122
I
!The E v lln e s s o f Too Much Power
i
W hile th e o th e r fo u r c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s o f B eck et d e a lt
w ith him a s an in d iv id u a l a s w e ll a s a s y m b o liz a tio n , th o s e
o f J e r r o ld and H elp s w ere more a b s t r a c t , w h ich i s th e r e a
son why th e y w ere n o t d is c u s s e d in t h e i r p ro p er c h r o n o lo g -
! i c a l se q u e n c e . W hereas a l l o f th e p r e v io u s ly d is c u s s e d
; p la y s c h a r a c t e r iz e d th e s t r u g g le o f B eck et a g a in s t Henry I I
a s wrong a g a in s t r i g h t , t h e s e two p la y w r ig h ts to o k a more
n e u t r a l p o s i t i o n , p o r tr a y in g th e c o n f l i c t a s th e e v i l o f a j
s t r u g g le o f r i g h t a g a in s t r i g h t . They w ere n o t e s p e c i a l l y
i n t e r e s t e d in condem ning e i t h e r in d iv id u a l f o r h a v in g u sed
e v i l pow ers u n j u s t ly ; b o th w ere more c o n c e r n e d , th o u g h ,
w ith th e e v i l w h ich had a r is e n o u t o f th e c o n f l i c t b etw een
, I
two g r e a t pow ers a s c h a r a c t e r iz e d by B eck et and H enry.
I They found th e e v i l o f t h a t h i s t o r i c a l s t r u g g le t o be th e
; u n w ise and u n ju s t u se o f pow er. T h e ir p la y s made i n t e r
e s t i n g s t u d i e s o f B e c k e t's c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n d e s p it e th e
f a c t t h a t th e y w ere more co n cern ed w ith w ork in g o u t th e
p la y w r ig h ts ' p h ilo s o p h ic a l p rob lem s th a n w ith p l o t and
! c h a r a c te r .
The seco n d p la y In w h ich Thomas B eck et ap p eared was
: D o u g la s J e r r o l d ' s Thomas 1 B eck et ( 1 8 2 9 ). A lth o u g h h i s
! work was c o n s id e r a b ly l e s s c r i t i c a l o f B eck et th a n th e
fo u r p la y s w h ich have a lr e a d y b een d is c u s s e d , i t c o n tin u e d
i
I t o m a in ta in Thomas' daem onic Im age. As e a r ly a s th e secon d
I s c e n e o f th e p la y , B eck et was c h a r a c t e r iz e d by De T ra cy i
123
The k in g hath r a is e d up a g l is t e n in g a c t iv e s p r i t e ,
endowed i t w ith venom, c lo th e d i t w ith m a ll, and now
i t h o v ers round th e th r o n e , and makes th e crown r a t t l e
on tre m b lin g head th a t w ears i t . The la u r e l s Henry
won in France are h id i B ecket g a r la n d s th e g r e a t k in g
w ith a s p e n s .5 Z
Somewhat l a t e r in th e same scen e De Tracy co n tin u ed h is
I
d e s c r ip t io n o f B e c k e t's a m b itio u s nature* j
i
In th e s e d a y s, when sa in th o o d wars w ith r o y a lt y , th e 1
cowl e x tin g u is h e s th e diadem; th e rood makes th e str o n g j
sword l e s s than s h in in g w ater; th e w arproof m a il, sh rin k i
and break in to a web, through w hich i s seen th e p a ls ie d j
h ea rt in a l l i t s w h ite n e s s . Emperors s i t and p a n t,
t h e ir deep e a g le lo o k b lin d ed by a weed p lu ck ed in th e
Holy Land.
j
A few sp ee ch es l a t e r he m ain tain ed th a t* j
In good t r u t h , B ecket i s a mushroom s a in t . The
s p i r i t u a l dew had s c a r c e ly f a l l e n on him , e re he
sp rou ted in to a m ealy m eakness; on th e i n s t a n t , r e
turned th e C h a n c ello rsh ip ; and l i k e your tr u e s a i n t ,
p o s s e s s in g a l l he sought on e a r th , began h e n c e fo r th
to l i v e fo r h e a v e n .5^ j
A lthough th e s e were sta te m e n ts made by B e c k e t's
e n e m ie s, and e v e n tu a l m urderers, t h e i r d e s c r ip t io n s were
borne o u t by sta te m e n ts from th e A rch b ish o p 's fr ie n d s and
b y h i s own a c tio n s in th e p la y . A good exam ple o f th e
condem nation o f h is a m b itio n by a c lo s e fr ie n d was found
in th e fo llo w in g sp eech by h is o ld and f a i t h f u l se r v a n t,
Swart *
-^D ouglas J e r r o ld , Thomas A B ecket (London* J .
Cumberland, 1 8 2 9 ), p. 12 ( i . i i ) .
5 3 r b ld ., pp. 12-13 (I. i i ) . ^ I b ld .
! 124
The arch b ish o p f i g h t s a w ily game; he h ath a s p i r i t
formed f o r dom inion— a s p i r i t burning w ith a haughty
f ie r c e n e s s — He h a th , th e y sa y , fo r some tim e liv e d a
h e r m it's l i f e — sp en t d ays and n ig h t s in p ou rin g over
volum es w r it w ith th e w ond'rous l i v e s o f m artyrs and o f
s a in t s ; a most dan gerous employment f o r minds stubborn
and Im petuous a s h i s 155
j
T h is i s a s a c o u r a te a d e s c r ip t io n o f th e A rch b ish o p 's
n atu re a s can be foun d, and l i k e h i s p r e v io u s c h a r a c te r i- j
z a tio n s he appeared "haughty, stubborn and im p etu ou s." j
However, he d id n o t have th e same burning p e r so n a l a m b itio n j
which was b a s ic to th e fo u r B eck ets w hich have a lr e a d y been
d is c u s s e d . J e r r o ld had n ot endowed h is B ecket w ith a
str o n g d e s ir e f o r tem poral power; r a th e r , h i s h u b r is was
an u n r e le n tin g a m b itio n to a t t a i n im m o rta lity through
martyrdom. T h is p a r tic u la r f a c e t o f h i s c h a r a c te r could
o n ly be found in th e p r e v io u s ly d is c u s s e d p la y s , a f t e r h i s
b id f o r w o r ld ly power had f a i le d him.
In J e r r o ld 's p la y , B e c k e t's d e s ir e fo r martyrdom was
e x p r essed f a i r l y e a r ly ; a t th e Clarendon C ou n cil th e
K nights th r ea te n e d to k i l l th e b ish o p s i f th e C o n s titu tio n
was n o t sig n e d . The B ishop o f Windsor p r o te s te d B e c k e t's
stubborn r e s is t a n c e , saying*
M y lo r d , r e l e n t — l e s t a sudden d e a th —
To w hich B ecket r e p lie d *
55ib ld . . p. 42 (IV. i ) .
125
1 Thou m ean *st a g lo r io u s l i f e . L et d e a th p u t f o r t h i t s
a s h y h and, and th u s I ' d c i r c l e i t . T hese men may k i l l
me, b u t my d y in g e y e w i l l s e e r e f l e c t e d in my s l a y e r ' s
s h i e l d an u n a b a sh ed , u n sh r in k in g c o u n t e n a n c e ,
There w as a more h e r o ic to n e t o t h i s s ta te m e n t th a n
had b een p r e v io u s ly n o te d , y e t i t c o n ta in e d th e b a s ic e l e
ment o f h i s s e l f i s h a m b itio n t o r e a c h im m o r ta lity th ro u g h
jm artyrdom. In f a c t , b o th B ec k et and H enry w ere re p r e h e n
s i b l e c h a r a c t e r s , who w ere more co n cern ed w ith t h e i r p e r
s o n a l a m b itio n s th a n w ith th e w e lf a r e o f th e p e o p le ,
B e c k e t 's o ld s e r v a n t , S w art, s a id :
Henry and B e c k e t, l i k e two g r e a t men who w ould b e
s t r i d e th e same s t e e d , a r e n o t a t o d d s; th e c o n t e s t ,
who k e e p s th e back o f t h e kingdom , w h i l s t i t s d eep
sp u rred s i d e s run b l o o d , "
As spokesm an f o r th e p la y w r ig h t, Sw art s y m b o lic a lly
c r i t i c i z e d t h e s e two g r e a t m en 's la c k o f c o n s id e r a t io n f o r
th e p e o p le o f E n g la n d , I t i s th e p e o p le , n o t th e g r e a t ,
who s u f f e r when " g re a t is s u e s " a r e b e in g fo u g h t o v e r . One
i s rem inded o f t h a t fam ous sp e e c h o f C a s s iu s i n w h ich he
d e s c r ib e d J u l i u s C aesar t o B ru tu s th u s*
Why, man he d o th b e s t r id e th e narrow w orld
L ik e a C o llo s s u s , and we p e t t y men
Walk u n d er h i s huge l e g s and p eep a b o u t
To f in d o u r s e lv e s d is h o n o u r a b le g r a v e s . 5°
56I b l d . . p . 32 ( I I I . i ) .
5?I b l d . . p . 16 ( I . i l l ) ,
^®W illiam S h a k e sp e a r e , e d . by G. L. K it t r e d g e , J u l i u s
C aesar (W altham , M a ssa c h u se tts* B l a i s d e l l Pub, C o ., 1 9 6 6 ),
P . 9 ( I . 1 ) .
- . I
126 |
! J e r r o ld * s B eck et was an a n t a g o n is t who m a in ta in e d a
h a u g h ty and a r r o g a n t a t t i t u d e tow ard e s t a b lis h e d a u t h o r it y »
t h e k in g and th e la w s o f E n g la n d . He d id n o t do t h i s f o r
th e u s u a l r e a s o n s , h ow ever. He a p p ea r ed , r a t h e r , t o be
t o t a l l y b lin d e d t o h i s own a m b itio n s y e t c o n v in c e d t h a t
|
what he was d o in g was a b s o l u t e l y r i g h t . He had an a b id in g i
r ig h t e o u s n e s s w h ich had b een b orne o u t o f h i s f a i t h in th e j
L I
Church and i n i t s r i g h t t o su p er ced e s e c u la r la w s . H is I
f a i t h d ro v e him z e a lo u s ly in t o th e lo n g b a t t l e w ith Henry
and t o h i s e v e n t u a l m artyrdom a t C an terb u ry. '
H is was th e s i n o f p r id e , w h ich c e n te r e d a b o u t h i s
d e s ir e f o r m artyrdom . Over and o v e r a g a in he v o ic e d t h i s
d e s ir e f o r r e l e a s e from l i f e i n o r d e r t h a t he m igh t t a s t e
th e e v e r l a s t i n g jo y o f H eaven. For ex a m p le, in t h e f i n a l
j
sc e n e o f th e p la y a s h i s m u rd erers w ere rea d y t o k i l l him j
j
and De T racy sto o d b e fo r e him s h o u tin g , "V aunting P r i e s t ! — j
!
D eath — ," B eck et r e p l i e d : !
M y s p i r i t s e e s i t n o t . (T hey move to w a rd s h im .)
A pproach: T here i s my hand; f e e l i f my b lo o d th r o b
a t th y f o o t s t e p . Oh d u l l , w o r ld ly , m is e r a b le men! —
m ine e y e d o th s e e a s t a r r y crow n— m ine e a r s a r e f i l l e d
w ith h e a v e n ly v o i c e s ! The m artyr s m ile s w ith tw e n ty
w h e tte d d a g g e r s a t h i s t h r o a t !59
T h is was th e same p roblem w h ich T. S, E l i o t p o sed f o r
B eck et i n Murder in th e C a th e d r a l. The fo u r th and w o rst
te m p ta tio n w h ich E l i o t ' s h ero had t o overcom e was "to do
th e r ig h t d eed f o r th e wrong r e a s o n ." He q u e s tio n e d h im s e lf
5 9jerrold, op. c i t . . pp. 58-59 (V. v).
127
w hether h i s w illin g n e s s to d ie was a s a c r i f i c e fo r h i s
r e l i g i o n and th e community o f man, o r w hether i t was fo r
h i s own s e l f i s h d e s ir e fo r th e g lo r y o f martyrdom. J e r -
r o ld 's c h a r a c te r , th ou gh , was n ot th a t in t r o s p e c t iv e , and
h i s a c tio n s were th o se o f a man who a c t i v e ly sought mar
tyrdom fo r th e g lo r io u s im m o rta lity w hich i t cou ld b rin g
him.
S ir Arthur H elp s' Henry th e Second was th e f i n a l p la y
t o be c o n sid er ed in t h i s c h a p te r . H elps was fa r l e s s con
cerned w ith th e developm ent o f c h a r a c te r than he was w ith
them e. H is e n t ir e p la y was w r itte n around a p h ilo s o p h ic a l
v iew p o in t w hich was summed up in a sp eech d e liv e r e d by
B ecket j u s t moments b e fo r e h is death*
Oh, what a th in g i s tr u th ! w e're ap t to th in k
That ' t l s an e a sy m atter to speak t r u ly ,
And w e ll enough fo r sim p le f o lk to do i t .
j But th e f i r s t i n t e l l i g e n c e , th e n o b le s t s o u l,
I That d w e lls in f l e s h , a cco m p lish es th e f i r s t
i O ffen d sj i f , w h ile f u l f i l l i n g some mean drudgery
In l i f e , i t h o ld s i t s c o u r se , d e c e iv in g no one.
I see fo r men th e r e i s but one a m b itio n —
One slm ple^end— to sp eak , to a c t , to th in k ,
The t r u t h .00
T h is statem en t in d ic a te d t h a t , u n lik e th e f iv e p r e v io u s ly
d is c u s s e d c h a r a c te r iz a tio n s o f B eck et, H elps in ten d ed th a t
; t h is show th e A rchbishop f u l l y r ep en ta n t b e fo r e he d ie d .
!In f a c t , through out th e p la y H elps c le a r ly r e v e a le d h is
I
i
-adm iration fo r b oth B ecket and Henry I I . For exam ple, when
; ^ S i r A rth u r H e lp s, K ing Henry th e Second (Londons
|W illia m P ic k e r in g , 1 8 ^ 3 ) ,pp. 8 4 -8 5 ( i l l . v i ) .
128
isome o f th e b ish o p s and H enry’ s c o u r tie r s a ccu sed B ecket o f
h y p o c r isy b ecau se o f h is change o f manner su bseq uent to h is
change o f o f f i c e from C h a n cello r to A rch bish op, th e E a rl o f
Arundel (o b v io u s ly spokesman f o r th e p la y w r ig h t) defen d ed
him*
A ll th a t you say o f B eck et,
I f i t be t r u e , i s no s u r p r is e to me, j
The m an's th e same— th e same th ro u g h o u t, I t e l l you, j
And alw ays g r e a t —how g r e a tn e s s sp r in g s p erh a p s,
from few er e le m en ts than we im agin e. j
Take en erg y — t h a t ' s o n e, and most o f th o se j
W ho have i t , seem to have i t from th e f i r s t ,
As i f i t were an im pu lse g iv e n them ,
As th e y were formed* and t h i s prim aeval fo r c e '
W ill l a s t through out t h e ir l i v e s . Then t h e r e ' s j
th e power
Much to be p r iz e d , o f c o n c e n tr a tin g thought*
W ithout i t , e n e r g y 's a f i r e th a t burns
Beneath an empty p o t. Then th e r e i s co u ra g e, !
And n o th in g makes one man su p e r io r
To a n oth er more than t h a t . Now a l l o f th e s e
Are found in B eck et, and w i l l have t h e i r p la y , j
L et him be p r in c e , or p r e la te * c h a n c e llo r , j
Or m an-at arms. D 'ye th in k , ny f r ie n d , th a t men, j
R eal men, are fo r one mode o f a c tio n form ed,
As th o se carved f ig u r e s in th a t e a s te r n game,
Where k n ig h ts , and k in g s , and b ish o p s n ev er change
T h eir f u n c t io n s , and a re moved in one way o n ly .
I t was o b v io u s th a t A run del, ergo H elp s, adm ired B e c k e t's
g r e a tn e s s . There i s n o th in g e v i l or s e l f i s h in h i s d e
s c r ip t io n o f th e A rch bish op. R ath er, th e p la y w rig h t
argued th a t e v il n e s s and s e l f is h n e s s were in h e r e n tly p a rt
!of g r e a tn e s s , and he condemned them w ith t h i s sta tem en t
:by Arundel*
61I b id . . pp. 20-21 (I. l v ) .
j 129
Oh, a s f o r me, I am a man d e f i c i e n t
In t h a t f i r s t q u a l i t y t h a t I a s s ig n e d
To w o r ld ly g r e a t men— n a t iv e e n e r g y .
I som etim es s e e how th e game m igh t be p la y e d ,
But a l l t h e i r w in n in g s w ould n o t tem pt me enough
To p la y i t m y s e lfj and why I s t a y a t c o u r t ,
I h a r d ly know, sa v e t h a t I a lw a y s had
A l i k i n g f o r th e k in g , w hose t a l k i s goodj
And i t am uses me t o s e e th e schem es
o f b u sy , s e l f i s h p e o p le .® 2
H elp s h as b een d e s c r ib e d a s a " co u n try g en tle m a n o f
some m eans and m o d e r a te ly l i b e r a l sy m p a th ie s," who had "a
g i f t o f g e n t le hum or," b u t was r a th e r i n c l i n e d "to e a s y
o p t im is m ." ^ H is p e r s o n a li t y , co u p le d w ith h i s lo n g e x
p e r ie n c e in p o l i t i c s , m ust have I n flu e n c e d him t o w r ite
H enry th e Second a s an e x p r e s s io n o f h i s a d m ir a tio n f o r
g r e a t men l i k e Henry and B e c k e t, b u t H elp s was a v e r s e to
th e s e l f i s h n e s s and b r u t a l i t y w h ich was o f t e n r e q u ir e d o f
h i s c h a r a c t e r s .
There was a r e s t r a in e d q u a l i t y i n H e lp s' B ec k e tj
f o r ex a m p le, i n th e sc e n e w h ich to o k p la c e a t C laren d on
B eck et ap p eared much more p o l i t i c and com p rom isin g th a n in
th e p r e v io u s p la y s o r i n h i s t o r i c a l a c c o u n t s . He was n o t
ad am antly op p osed t o s ig n in g th e K in g 's C o n s t it u t io n when
he f i r s t a r r iv e d a t C laren d on , a f a c t w h ich was e s t a b l i s h e d
i n h i s o p e n in g sp e e c h :
62I b l d . , pp. 2 3 -2 ^ ( I . i v ) .
^ S t a n l e y J . K e e n itz , e d . , B r i t i s h A u th ors o f th e N in e
t e e n t h Centur.v (New York: H. w 7- 17iT son- Co77^r93^Tr- p7- 25 9 .
130
The tim e s a r e stu b b o rn ; i n th e u n s e t t le d d a y s
Of ou r l a s t s o v e r e ig n , i f th e ch u rch r e g a in e d
Some p ow er, i t w as n o t from t h e s e p u is s a n t b a r o n s,
That a u g h t o f i t was g a in e d . And th e y a r e now
C o n fed era te a s one man a g a in s t ou r r i g h t s .
T h is d a u n ts me n o t; b u t th e c o u n s e l have I so u g h t
Of one th o u k n o w e st, th e P o p e 's A lm oner,
And he w ould have u s bend b e n e a th t h i s te m p e s t.
The k in g h im s e lf , but t h i s may be in s u b t l e t y , j
E n tr e a ts ou r a c q u ie s e n c e a s a mark
o f o u r r e s p e c ts and n o t , i n any w is e ,
A fo rm a l a b r o g a tio n o f o u r r i g h t s . ;
M oreover, i f we m er e ly sw ear t o o b se r v e i
The la w s and a n c ie n t cu stom s o f t h i s r e a lm , ;
I am n o t su re we l i m i t in th e l e a s t j
The p r i v i l e g e s o f th e Church. For t h e s e
And o th e r r e a s o n s o f much m a g n itu d e,
I p rom ised H enry, when a t W oodstock l a s t ,
To om it th e w ords t h a t g a l l him.
B eck et grew an gry and d e f ia n t o n ly a f t e r he d is c o v e r e d
t h a t th e K ing had drawn up a C o n s t it u t io n w ith su ch r e
s t r i c t i v e c la u s e s t h a t he f e l t t h a t th e Church c o u ld n ot
s u r v iv e w ith them . D e s p ite h i s a n g er B eck et a llo w e d him
s e l f t o be swayed from h i s own p o s i t i o n . He sw ore t h a t he
w ould r a t h e r d ie th a n s ig n th e h a t e f u l docum ent, but H elp s
em p h asized h i s g e n t le r and k in d e r n a tu r e by h a v in g him s ig n
th e C larendon C o n s t it u t io n o u t o f f e a r fo r th e l i v e s o f th e
o t h e r b is h o p s , r a t h e r th a n c o n cern f o r h i s own s a f e t y . He
d is p la y e d h i s cou ra g e when he s a id t o th e o th e r b is h o p s i
And y o u , my b r e th r e n , be n o t th u s d ism ayed ;
I f th e y do s la y u s , i t w i l l but e n r ic h
The Church w ith m a r ty r s. Each drop o f our
p oor b lood
W ill speak w ith a p r e v a i l i n g e lo q u e n c e , ,
Which s a g e s dream o f , but th e s p i r i t g i v e s . *
^ H e lp s , o p . c l t . . pp. 3 6 -3 7 ( I I . i l l ) .
65I M d . , p . M ( I I i v ) .
131
t S t i l l , th e b ish o p s begged fo r t h e i r l i v e s ; s o , B ecket f i n
a l l y gave In to t h e ir e n t r e a t ie s and sig n ed th e dreaded
s c r o l l to in su r e t h e i r s a f e t y .
|
T h is was a major tu r n in g p o in t in th e c h a r a c te r o f J
B eck et; when he had had tim e to r e f l e c t on h i s a c t io n s , he j
was shocked a t what he co n sid er ed to be h is own cow ard ice.
He abhorred what he had done and concluded th a t he had p e r - !
jured h is " p lig h te d word," th u s showing f a i t h l e s s n e s s "to J
i
mine o r d e r . H e a c t u a lly appeared to b e lie v e th a t he had
been tak en ov er by e v i l s p i r i t s which had tem pted him to
break h is sacred t r u s t and d u ty to th e Church, w hich turned
i
him, in s te a d , toward an un sh akeable f a i t h in th e te n a n ts o f ’
th e Church. He became a r e l ig i o u s z e a lo t , w hich can be
seen from th e fo llo w in g speech* j
No! i t i s no ex cu se to say I d id i t !
From r ig h te o u s fe a r o f b lood sh ed ; non e, w hatever* |
K in gs, p r in c e s , b is h o p s, what are t h e ir l i v e s , !
What a re th e l i v e s o f a l l o f u s compared j
To one m an's one s in ? 6? j
i
From t h i s p o in t on , B ecket seemed e n t i r e ly com m itted toj
i
i
h is r o le a s th e A rchbishop o f Canterbury; h is a m b itio n be
came h is d e ter m in a tio n to f u l f i l l h is p o s it io n a s head o f
i
th e Church in E ngland, r e g a r d le s s o f what may b e f a l l him
s e l f or anyone e l s e . He became r u t h le s s in h is d e s ir e to
accom p lish what he co n sid er ed m o ra lly r ig h te o u s . The
66I b i d . , p . 45 ( I I . v ) .
^ I b i d . , p. 46 ( I I . v ).
I 132
I
p la y w rig h t e x p la in e d t h i s p o in t in a sp eech d ir e c te d a t one
o f H en ry's b aron s, F ltz u r s e , by th e E arl o f A rundeli
Now th a t j u s t i c i a r y ,
How a t e v er y tu r n , h is o f f i c e shows in him! j
Indeed i t ' s sad to se e how many men I
Are q u ite o 'er m a ster e d by th e a r t th e y p r a c tic e . !
Poet or p a in te r , sta tesm a n , w arrior c h i e f , j
They do n ot make t h e ir c r a f t an in str u m e n t,
A th in g fo r s e r v ic e or fo r s a f e t y to them.
But th e y 'r e i t s s la v e s , and i t ab sorb s them w h o lly . |
How wearisom e i s a l l th e y ta lk a b o u t, I
J u st a s th e t a lk o f o th e r men to them,
U n le ss i t be upon t h e i r wonderous d o in g s. !
W hy even k in g s , not bound to what i s t e c h n ic a l,
W ho should d is c e r n th e v ery p it h o f t h in g s .
They have a k in g - c r a f t t o o , and lo s e in th a t ;
The sen se o f som ething g r e a te r than t h e ir o f f i c e —
The men t h a t ' s in th e m ,°°
S ir Arthur H elps* many y e a r s in th e s e r v ic e o f h is Queen j
must have h elp ed to prompt him to w r ite a sp eech about t h i s
d e s t r u c t iv e elem ent o f th e o f f i c e s o f g r e a t men. In d eed ,
H elps f e l t th a t good government was d en ied by t h i s very
f a c t o r , w hich was r e f l e c t e d in h is p o l i t i c a l n o v e l,
Realmah, and h is p o l i t i c a l e s s a y s , Companions o f M y S o i l -
i
|
tu d e . He was d istu r b e d by th e la c k o f concern w hich many j
i
p o l i t i c i a n s had fo r th o s e whom th e y were supposed to be
g overn in g in d e fe r e n c e to t h e ir g a in in g o f power and p o s i
t io n . To c l a r i f y t h i s p o in t a re two sh ort paragraphs from
h is n o v e l:
Here i s th e m id d le-aged man t o i l i n g away, not
g r u d g in g ly , fo r a la r g e fa m ily . H is l i f e i s n ot too
happy i t s e l f , but he i s t o le r a b ly co n ten t w ith i t ,
h avin g merged h is own d e s ir e s and hopes in th e d e s ir e s
and hopes o f th o se d ear to him. He l i t t l e th in k s ,
68I b i d . , p. 65 ( I I I . i ) .
133
p oor man, t h a t th e w ild f a n a t ic is m o f some s ta te sm a n ,
upon whose mind he ca n n o t hope t o have th e f a i n t e s t
i n f l u e n c e , w i l l be th e m eans o f rem ovin g him from th e
f a c e o f th e e a r t h , le a v in g h i s fa m ily to th e m ercy o f
a w orld n o t to o t e n d e r -h e a r te d t o th e f r i e n d l e s s and
th e p o o r.
Then th e r e i s th e v a n it y o f man— t h a t u n a p p e a sa b le , i
in e x h a u s t ib le v a n it y , a lw a y s lo n g in g to be f i r s t . No- |
body seem s t o s e e th e b e a u ty o f b e in g seco n d o r t h ir d .
As C a r ly le s a y s , 'We a r e l i k e sn a k e s in a b o t t l e , a l l j
w r ig g lin g a b ou t e n d e a v o r in g to g e t u p p erm o st, b i t i n g I
and h i s s i n g a t one a n o t h e r . |
By im p r e ss in g th e a u d ie n c e w ith th e g r e a t y e t s e l f i s h |
a c t s o f B eck et and H enry, H elp s r e v e a le d th e d a n g e r s o f
pow er w h ich a cco m p a n ies g r e a t n e s s .
F i n a l l y , he summed up t h i s i s s u e i n a sp e e c h w h ich w as !
d e liv e r e d by B eck et o n ly a s h o r t w h ile b e fo r e he was k i l l e d .
H is c l o s e f r ie n d , John o f S a lis b u r y , warned him t h a t he
sh o u ld n o t p rovok e th e K ing any f u r t h e r , b u t B eck et r e - j
p lie d s |
I
I lo a t h e t h e s e com prom ises; w e ll enough j
For th e m a r ts, and f o r th e m o n e y -len d in g t r i b e . |
I f t h i s m an's lo v e o f s e l f , and t h a t m an 's |
g r e e d in e s s j
Would d rag t h e i r v ic t im s w l d e l y - d i f f e r e n t w ays, |
And i f a t l a s t a m id d le l i n e be fo u n d , I
I t I s a g a in f o r b o th ; but o f t h i s be su re
T here can n ot be a r ig h t e o u s com prom ise
B etw een a m an 's s e l f - i n t e r e s t and h i s d u ty .
To f in d th e p a th o f d u ty may be hard*
That d o n e, n o th in g o f c h o ic e r e m a in s, but t h a t
W ith s in g l e n e s s o f h e a r t we k eep th e p a th .
Where i t may le a d t o i s a t b e s t a q u e s t io n
For i d l e and f o r c u r io u s men, but fr a u g h t
W ith d a n g er i f i t m akes u s f o r a moment
Go f a l t e r i n g on ou r w a y . 70
^ s i r A rth u r H e lp s , Realmah (London* M acm illan and C o .,
1 8 6 8 ), pp. 2 - 3 .
Helps, King Henr.v. op. c l t . , pp., 7^-75 ( I I I . l v ) .
I 13^
iT his le d up t o th e s ta te m e n t w hich B eck et made a s he fa c e d
h i s m u rd erers in h i s cham bers a t C anterbury C a th ed ra l
(w h ich e c h o e d , i n c i d e n t a l l y , P o lo n iu s ' "To t h in e o w n s e lf
be t r u e " ) . B eck et s a id t o th e t h r e a te n in g k n ig h t,
1
I F itz u r se s
I s e e f o r men th e r e i s but one a m b itio n —
One sim p le end— t o sp e a k , t o a c t , to t h in k ,
The t r u t h . 71
B eck et had p r o g r e s s e d from w o r ld ly g r e a t n e s s i n A ct I
t o s a i n t l i n e s s th ro u g h h i s martyrdom in A ct I I I , S cen e v i i ,
;and in t h i s he resem b led th e a m b iv a le n t n a tu r e o f G o e th e 's
F a u st, H is e n e r g y and pow er o f c o n c e n tr a tio n made him a
g r e a t man, y e t th e y a l s o made him so s in g le -m in d e d t h a t .he
d is r e g a r d e d th e n e e d s o f o t h e r s in s t r i v i n g f o r h i s g o a l s .
Thomas was n o t a d e l i b e r a t e l y m a lic io u s o r e v i l man? he w as,
n e v e r t h e l e s s , ta k e n o v e r by th e i n i q u i t y o f g r e a t n e s s .
I . . . . . . . . .
I 71I b ld . . p. 85 ( I I I . v i ) .
j
i
CHAPTER IV
BECKET TRIUMPHANS (1 8 6 3 -1 8 9 2 )
I n t r o d u c t io n
v !
B e g in n in g w ith A lex a n d er H a m ilto n 's Thomas A B ec k et
(1 8 6 3 )* Thomas' d ra m a tic c h a r a c te r became th e co m p lete !
i
a n t i t h e s i s o f what i t had b een d u r in g th e f i r s t h a l f o f th e |
i
c e n tu r y . W hereas he had b een marked a s a th o r o u g h ly d a e
m onic f ig u r e d u r in g th e f i r s t f i f t y - t w o y e a r s o f h i s e x i s t - |
I
e n c e , he was now d e s t in e d to become a h ero i n th e t r a d it i o n
o f such m a rty rs a s A e s c h y lu s ' Prom etheus and J e s u s C h r is t.
I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g to n o te t h a t , w h ile th e e ig h t p la y
w r ig h ts o f th e l a t t e r p a r t o f th e n in e te e n t h c e n tu r y have
c r e a te d an e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t v ie w o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c t e r , i
th e y have u t i l i z e d e s s e n t i a l l y th e same e le m e n ts o f h i s j
i
h i s t o r i c a l - l e g e n d a r y l i f e a s th e w r it e r s d is c u s s e d i n j
|
C hapter I I I . F u r th e r , i t w i l l be p o in te d o u t i n t h i s
c h a p te r t h a t th e r e i s a c l o s e u n it y b etw een th e two grou p s
o f p la y s . F i r s t , h o w ev er, i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o r e p o r t on
th e a n a ly s e s o f th e e ig h t c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s o f B e c k e t.
The C haracter A n a ly ses
A Saxon Hero o f th e P eo p le
A lth ou gh s e v e r a l o f th e o th e r n in e te e n t h c e n tu r y dram as
c h a r a c t e r iz e d B eck et a s b e in g o f Saxon o r i g i n , none o f them
made t h i s a s Im p ortan t to th e c e n t r a l them e o f th e p la y and
-..... 135_________________________________
I 136
t o th e c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B eck e t a s d id A lex a n d er H a m ilto n .
From th e o p e n in g l i n e s o f th e p la y H am ilton em p h asized th e
h e r o ic q u a l i t i e s o f B eck et by h a v in g one o f h i s e n e m ie s,
i
B r it o , sa y s ' j
A 'B eck et and th e K ing! th o s e l a t e d e a r f r ie n d s I
They ca n n o t lo n g be fo e s * A *B ecket i s to o g r e a t
Not to f o r g iv e h i s w rongs; th e K ing to o w eak.
In t h e s e w ild tr o u b lo u s t im e s . . . . 1
i
And when F it z u r s e s a id t h a t B ec k e t was a c h u r lis h p r i e s t ,
1
who was n o th in g b u t a tr a d e sm a n 's s o n , B r ito r e p lie d s
A tr a d e sm a n 's so n ! Know, my young L ord,
H is f a t h e r was a w a r r io r t o o , a s h o n e s t , S i r ,
As b r a v e — and h o n e s ty makes any tr a d e
An h onor; and m ore, h i s m o th er, th o ' o f
a n o th e r c lim e , j
Owned g e n t le b lo o d . '
And he c o n tin u e d to p r a is e th e n ew ly e l e c t e d A rchbishop*
F i r s t p rim a te sprun g from A n g lo -S a x o n r a c e ;
Honored and tr e a s u r e d by a l l o f Saxon b lo o d ;
R ec eiv ed by W elsh w ith th e m ost lo u d a c c la im ,
T h eir f i r s t Lord P rim ate under Norman r u l e —
For th ough I h a te him , I must own him g r e a t . 2
T h is s e t th e to n e f o r th e e n t ir e p la y . B eck e t ap p eared n o t !
o n ly a s a s p i r i t u a l le a d e r o f th e common p e o p le , b u t a l s o
a s a Saxon h ero and le a d e r who fo u g h t f o r th e Saxon com
m oners a g a in s t th e e v i l Norman I n v a d e r s. C e r t a in ly , in
choosing one o f B e c k e t's f o e s to d e l i v e r t h e s e e a r ly sp e e c h e s
o f p r a i s e , H am ilton had s tr e n g th e n e d th e c h a r a c te r w h ich he
had w ish ed to e s t a b l i s h f o r h i s h e r o . In th e e a r ly s c e n e s
^ A lexan d er H a m ilto n , "Thomas A. B ecket" Dramas and
Poems (New York* D ick and F i t z g e r a ld , 1 8 8 7 ), p . 5 (I» i ) .
2I b l d . . p. 6 ( I , 1).
; 137
j
io f th e p la y th e p la y w r ig h t made two a l l u s i o n s to o th e r
m y th ic a l f i g u r e s , th u s im p ly in g B e c k e t 's r e l a t i o n s h i p to
them . For exa m p le, in th e f i r s t sc e n e o f th e drama F lt z u r s e
r e f e r s to B eck e t th u s*
And y e t I ' v e h eard t h a t he was humbly b o rn , |
But r o s e so f a s t , t h a t , l i k e th e young f l e d g l i n g , ,
S o a rs to o h ig h a t f i r s t - s i n g e i n g h i s w in g s
He weakened them , and now, f u l l grow n,
They w i l l n o t b ea r him up. . . .3 j
i
O b v io u sly t h i s r e f e r s t o th e myth o f I c a r u s and m ust have j
b een an a tte m p t by th e p la y w r ig h t to r e l a t e B eck et to th a t
i
m y th o lo g ic a l f ig u r e j i t a l s o a c t s a s a s u g g e s t io n o f B eck et's
i
e v e n tu a l martyrdom .
At th e b e g in n in g o f th e secon d sc e n e i n A ct I , B eck et
s o li l o q u i z e d t h a t he had f a l l e n o u t o f fa v o r w ith K ing
Henry * j
i
So much f o r b e in g th e w i l l i n g s la v e t o power!
Had I b u t so u g h t my p le a s u r e and my w e a l,
F o r g e tt in g h i s , w hose shadow I h ave b e e n ,
Not h i s th o u g h t my th o u g h ts , h i s e v e r y w ish my a c t ,
A ll had b een w e ll!
But n o , n o t s o i I , t o enhance
H is g lo r y , w e a lth , and pow er, to j e a lo u s envy
Have ex p o sed m y s e lf , and now m ust f a l l
Even l i k e L u c if e r , l o s t i n th e r a d ia n c e
I have h e r a ld e d !^
T h is sounded l i k e th e em in en t f ig u r e o f M ilto n 's S a ta n . \
I
Did H am ilton h ave P a r a d is e L o st in mind when he w ro te t h e s e
p a ssa g e s?
^I b ld . . pp. 5-6 (I. i ) .
^ I b i d . , p. 11 (I. i i ) .
I 138
i
I There w ere many o th e r a c t i o n s w it h in t h e s e two sh o r t
s c e n e s w h ich a llu d e d to B e c k e t 's co m p a ssio n f o r th e Saxons
and h i s su b seq u en t d e fe n s e o f them a g a in s t th e Norman lo r d s .
i
The m ost em p h atic s ta te m e n t o f th e A r c h b ish o p 's h e r o ic
i
n a tu r e and Saxon a l l e g i a n c e , h o w ever, came th ro u g h a s e r i e s
o f s p e e c h e s w h ich he d e liv e r e d a t th e end o f A ct I , Scene
i \
i l l . I n r e p ly to th e K in g 's demand t h a t he Im m ed ia tely |
!
su r r e n d e r th e C h u rch 's p r o p e r ty o f th e C a s t le s o f Eye and
i
Berkham, B eck et r e p lie d *
A ccu rsed was th e day when H arold f e l l ,
For s i n h a th shadowed a l l ou r w ays s in c e th e n !
But s t a y , b ea r t h i s from A 'B eck et o f C anterbury
To Henry o f E n glan d , K ing b u t by a c c id e n t
Of b ir th s sa y th a t I n e it h e r w i l l su r r e n d e r a u g h t,
Nor y i e l d u n to h i s w i l l .
Whence i s h i s power
That he sh o u ld tra m p le upon me, i n a l i
H is e q u a l, sa v e in h o n o r s ? 5
.
He a g a in em p h asized t h i s p o in t in two l a t e r sp e e ch e s*
P h i l i p o f Rome, w e, A n glo -S a x o n bornj
Are f r e e by n a tu r e , a s th e wind t h a t b lo w sj
W e bow no s u p p lia n t knee t o pow er,
Save ' t i s th e power o f m ind!
G en iu s may r e a r h e r th ro n e b e n e a th th e h o v e l ' s r o o f , i
And th e r e h er w o r sh ip p e r s in crow ds w i l l k n e e l.
I am th e p e o p le 's f r i e n d , th e l o r d l i n g ' s f o e ,
When a rr o g a n c e marks t h e i r s t e p s — g o , s i r s ,
And t e l l th e K ing I w i l l n o t y ie ld !®
W ith in t h e s e s ta te m e n ts was th e n u c le u s o f H a m ilto n 's
s y m b o lis t ic tr e a tm e n t o f B e c k e t's c h a r a c t e r . For th e f i r s t
tim e (and more s t r o n g ly th a n i n any o t h e r drama o f th e
5 l b i d . , p. 15 (I. i i ) .
6I b l d . . pp. 15-16 (I. i i ) .
! 139
(n in e te e n th c e n tu r y ), he emerged a s a Saxon champion o f
dem ocracy and th e common people* he had d e fie d th e tyran ny
o f th e in v a d e r s, th e Norman n o b i l i t y . By th e same to k e n ,
H am ilton had c r e a te d a hero who was th e epitom e o f n in e
te e n th c en tu ry A m erica's a n im o sity toward th e crowned heads
o f Europe. I t un dou btedly was an e x p r e ss io n o f th e p la y
w r ig h ts d i s l i k e o f th e a r is t o c r a c y o f th e Old South. S im i- I
l a r l y , i t i s im p o ssib le to m iss th e a l lu s i o n to L in c o ln in
i
t h i s l a s t sp eech . C e r ta in ly , th e p la y w rig h t must o f had in
mind th a t B eck et, l i k e L in c o ln , had come from humble b e
g in n in g s when he spoke o f g e n iu s coming from b eneath th e
h o v e l's r o o fj he d id n ot m iss any o p p o r tu n ity to em phasize
what he supposed to be t h e ir c lo s e r e la t io n s h ip . For e x
am ple, in an o th er sp eech w hich B ecket d e liv e r e d in th e same ;
sc e n e , he said *
I am th e v e r i e s t s la v e th a t ev er liv e d .
No m other e v er f e l t more p an gs, than I i
For England— t h e r e 's n o t a c h u rl in a l l th e la n d , j
But I am bound to him by bands o f adam ant, !
M y h e a r t - s t r in g s webbed in h i s . . . . '
A lso , i t should be noted th a t B ecket appeared a s a
!
v e r y T ita n in t h i s sc e n e . He w ith sto o d a l l o f th e th r e a ts
o f h is f o e s and w arnings o f h i s f r ie n d s . He r e fu se d to
su b ju g a te h im s e lf to th e w ish e s o f th e King even though he
knew i t would be th e e x p e d ie n t th in g to d o , s in c e fu r th e r
r e s is t a n c e cou ld r e s u l t in h is d e a th . One i s reminded o f
? I b i d . , p. 17 ( I . i i ) .
I 140
!
'a n o th er g r e a t h e r o ic r e b e l , Prom etheus o f A e s c h y lu s'
Prom etheus Bound, who w ith s to o d th e t o r t u r e s o f Zeus r a th e r
th a n a c c e p t th e term s o f an u n ju s t t y r a n t .
H am ilton ev en u sed t h i s Saxon f i g h t f o r freedom a s th e
r a t i o n a l e b eh in d B eck et f a l s e l y s ig n in g th e C laren d on Con- !
s t i t u t l o n , H enry, n e v e r t h e le s s d e liv e r e d a sp e e ch i n w hich
he warned B e c k e ti
W e w i l l no more w ith t h e e .
Here i s a s p e c ia l m essen g er from th e P op e, i
In an sw er t o my p r a y e r . He w ith l e t t e r s
A p o s t o l i c a l , e n j o in s a l l p r e l a t e s , and more
E s p e c i a l l y you o f C a n terb u ry , t o a c c e p t and I
O bserve a l l th e K in gs o f E n g la n d 's la w s .
C hoose h e re upon th e i n s t a n t — C om p lian ce,
E x i l e , o r d e a t h .°
T h is , n e c e s s a r i l y , gave B eck et two good e x c u s e s f o r com
p ly in g w ith th e K in g 's demands* f i r s t l y , Henry in d ic a t e d
t h a t th e Pope had o rd ered h i s A rch b ish o p t o do so j s e c o n d ly ,!
i
B eck et was th r e a te n e d by th e K ing w ith d e a th o r e x i l e . He j
h ad , h o w ev er, w ith s to o d th e K in g 's t h r e a t s b e f o r e , and
H am ilton had B eck et f o llo w w ith a sp e e c h w h ich J u s t i f i e d h i s
s ig n in g o f th e C o n s t it u t io n , s t i l l m a in ta in in g h i s h e r o ic
p r o p o r tio n s* j
M y L ie g e , my hour h a s n o t y e t com e.
A s id e . A ll armed
And re a d y f o r th e a c t? A fo r c e d co m p lia n ce
W ill n o t b in d 't h e r i g h t s o f ou r o r d e r * — and a s
on them
Hangs th e s o le hope th e A n g lo -S a x o n p e o p le have
A g a in st th e Norman m on arch 's f i e r c e a s s a u l t s ,
I ' l l w ear t h e s e r o b e s , p ro o f-a rm o r i n t h e i r c a u s e ,
8I b l d . , pp. 24-25 ( I . i l l ) .
i 1 4 1 ;
, i
And w ith r e l i g i o n on o u r s i d e , th e s o le tr u e f r ie n d
Of L ib e r t y , I w i l l a s s e r t — m a in ta in t h e i r r i g h t s ,
I w i l l c o n s e n t — s tr a ig h tw a y t o F r a n c e , and th e n c e
To h i s H igh H o lin e s s , a p p e a l from t h i s . 9
A lex a n d er H a m ilto n 's m ajor c o n t r ib u t io n t o th e d e v e lo p
ment o f B e c k e t's d r a m a tic c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n was i n u s in g th e
common h i s t o r i c a l and l i t e r a r y m is c o n c e p tio n o f B e c k e t's
Saxon b ir t h a s a b a s i s f o r h i s h e r o ism . W ith in th e f i r s t
A ct th e p la y w r ig h t had f ir m ly e s t a b lis h e d th e c o n f l i c t a s
s y m b o lic a lly r e p r e s e n t in g th e c o n f l i c t b etw een dem ocracy i
and a u to c r a c y * t h e r e f o r e , B eck e t was th e sym bol o f freed om
and d em ocracy, w h ile K ing Henry and h i s lo r d s w ere r e p r e
s e n t a t i v e o f t h a t form o f governm ent w h ich d e p r iv e d th e
common p e o p le o f t h e i r r i g h t s f o r th e b e n e f it o f th e few
p o w erfu l and w e a lth y .
T hroughout th e r e s t o f th e p la y H am ilton u sed v a r i a - j
j
t i o n s o f t h i s same th em e, s y m b o lic a lly t r e a t i n g th e r e - I
i
i
m ainder o f B e c k e t's c h a r a c t e r . Som etim es he d id so d ir e c t ly j
th ro u g h a c t i o n s and s p e e c h e s o f B e c k e t, w h ile a t o th e r tim esj
he c o n c e n tr a te d on th e v i l l a i n y o f th e Norman lo r d s . By J
c r e a t in g th e e v i l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e Normans, he was
b e t t e r a b le to em p h asize th e h ero ism o f B e c k e t. S im ila r to
C a tte r m o le , he c h a r a c t e r iz e d F lt z u r s e a s b e in g in lo v e
w ith a r e l a t i v e o f Thomas B e c k e t. H ow ever, F it z u r s e now
ap p eared a s a much more e v i l and d e s p ic a b le c h a r a c te r th a n
he had i n C a tte r m o le 's B ec k et (1 8 3 2 ). C a tterm o le had made
9l b l d . . p. 25 ( I , i l l ) .
142
i F i t z u r s e 's d e s p e r a te lo v e f o r B e c k e t's s i s t e r , Id o n e a , th e
m o tiv e f o r h i s tr e a s o n a g a in s t h i s good f r i e n d , th e K in g.
In th e en d , h i s tr e a s o n o u s a c t d ro v e him mad, and he J o in ed i
th e o th e r th r e e k n ig h ts In m u rd ering Thomas B ec k et to
c le a n s e h i s s o u l. A ll o f t h e s e a c t i o n s w ere o b v io u s ly j
c o n tr iv e d to em p h asize th e e v i l o f B e c k e t, a s w e ll a s to
add a G o th ic to n e o f e x c ite m e n t to th e p la y . !
In H a m ilto n 's p la y t h in g s w ere r e v e r s e d . F i r s t , he
i
r e v e a le d t h a t F it z u r s e was th e b a sta r d so n o f Henry I I and
Rosamond, who had d ie d b e fo r e th e a c t i o n o f th e p la y had
begun. No lo n g e r was th e lo v e a f f a i r o f Henry and Rosamond
c h a r a c t e r iz e d a s i d y l l i c and J u s t i f i e d . H a m ilto n 's p la y
r e v e a le d how th e K ing had r u in e d Rosamond and ab u sed h er
f a t h e r , who was a g r e a t Saxon lo r d . Out o f t h i s i l l e g a l
i
i
and u n h o ly lo v e had come th e sch em in g and e v i l s o n , F itzu rse^
j
H a m ilto n 's F it z u r s e m erely fe ig n e d lo v e f o r B e c k e t 's j
i
n i e c e , L u c i l l e . He r e v e a le d h i s tr u e f e e l i n g s in two
s p e e c h e s w hich he d e liv e r e d i n A ct IV . F or ex a m p le, i n an
a s i d e , he c o n fid e d t h a t one o f th e r e a s o n s he had w anted t o j
w in h e r was t o h e lp h i s r a th e r d e s p e r a te f i n a n c i a l s i t u a t i o n
when he s a id , "Her w e a lth would prop my f a l l i n g f o r t u n e s , /
10
Though h er d i s p r i z e sh o u ld c h i l l my h e a r t ," Somewhat
l a t e r , b u t in th e same s c e n e , he spoke o f L u c i l l e t o h i s
f r ie n d De T ra cy , s a y in g , " I ' l l w ear h e r , i f n o t w in h e r ! " 11
10I b ld . . p. 67 (IV, i ) . 11I b l d . . p. 68 (IV, i ) .
| 1^3
' A g a in , i t seem ed l i k e l y t h a t H am ilton had c o n tr iv e d
t h i s e n t ir e lo v e s i t u a t i o n to s tr e n g th e n h i s p o in t c o n -
I
c e r n in g th e e v i l n e s s o f th e r u lin g Norman l o r d s , th u s
s tr e n g t h e n in g th e h e r o ic c h a r a c te r o f Thomas B eck et and
th e c a u se o f d em ocracy. He m issed few o p p o r t u n it ie s to
c r i t i c i z e th o s e who r u le by b ir t h o n ly and to d e fe n d th e
id e a t h a t g e n iu s o f t e n s p r in g s from th e m ost humble circu m
s t a n c e s .
A nother c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n o f how d eterm in ed H am ilton
was to p la c e B eck et i n th e r ig h t was i l l u s t r a t e d by th e
manner i n w h ich he had th e A rch b ish o p u t t e r th e w ords o f
h i s own i d o l , Abraham L in co ln *
P eace a w h ile I L et n o t ill- t e m p e r e d h a s t e
Dash to atom s th e f r a i l cup o f lo v e I o f f e r
To you r l i p s . Here i s no tr e a s o n } I would
t h a t Church and S ta te
Were a s tw in b r o t h e r s , lin k e d i n a m ity ;
U n ited th e y sta n d t i l l t im e 's no more;
D iv id e d , th e y m ust f a l l e r e s e t th e s u n .12
How b e t t e r c o u ld H am ilton c h a r a c t e r iz e B eck et a s a
cham pion o f th e commoner th a n to make u se o f i t ? Through
o u t th e p la y he c o n tin u e d to em p h asize t h i s p a r t ic u la r
a s p e c t o f B e c k e t's c h a r a c t e r , an exam ple o f w h ich i s t h i s
sp e e c h by th e A rchbishop*
H e n c e fo r th know, n o b le L o rd s,
That a s th e p o p u la c e o f E ngland n e e d s a f r ie n d
t o guard them from o p p r e s s io n
That f r ie n d th e y have i n m e ! 1 ^
12I b l d , . pp . 7 2 -7 3 (IV . i l l ) .
13Ibid., p. 85 (V. 1).
I 144
i
I Or *
Oh! poor no "bill t y , thou wronged name!
Thy n atu re has descen ded to th e s e r f ; 12,
There! th e r e a lo n e , we fin d you , robed in r a g s!
But most o f a l l , i t i s r e v e a le d in h is f i n a l sp eech when he
spoke o f King Henry and th e f u t u r e <
H is realm d is jo in e d ! Sons d is o b e d ie n t!
In r e b e llio n a l l ; w ith none but h ir ed m en ia ls
Near h is In fe c te d cou ch , t h i s m ighty monarch
In v i l e r a g s s h a ll d ie ! No r e g a l s t a t e , no honor,
and no l o v e ! —
Not e 'e n th e lo v e o f one poor h e a r t, fo r him
Whose lo v e was l u s t , and lo v e o f s e l f ! - -
Y et, had I l iv e d , I would have saved him
Prom t h i s l a s t d ish o n o r .
Come murder, have th y way! M y l i f e f a s t eb b s.
To God, S t. Mary, and th e S a in ts who are
The p a tro n s o f th e Church, and to S t. D e n is,
I do commend m y self and th e C hurch's c a u se .
You've done your w o rst!
Ye Norman L ords, h ere d i e s th e A nglo-Saxon hope;
To r i s e h e r e a fte r in a fa r W estern la n d ,
Whence l i k e th e su n, w ith Freedom 's g lo r io u s r a y s ,
I t s h a ll illu m e th e Wide, Wide W orld!15 j
I
One could alm ost hear "America th e B e a u tifu l" and th e j
" S tar-S p an gled Banner" p la y in g in th e background a s th e j
l a s t l i n e s were b e in g spoken. H a m ilto n 's p la y was th em a tic
and p r o p a g a n d is tic , y e t he alm ost c o m p le te ly ign ored h is to r y !
That Thomas was th e d efen d er o f an a u th o r ita r ia n Church,
f o r exam ple, had been c o m p le te ly d isr e g a r d e d ; th e r e was
l i t t l e in h is t o r y which cou ld s u b s ta n tia te H a m ilto n 's v iew
o f BeckSt a s a champion o f dem ocracy.
»
l 4 I b ld . . p. 86 (V. i ) .
15I b i d . , pp. 105-106 (V. v ) .
I 1^5
There was a g r e a t d e a l o f a c t i o n In H a m ilto n 's p la y
w h ich a llu d e d t o th e r e l i g i o u s n a tu r e o f Thomas B e c k e t.
There w a s, in f a c t , so m eth in g C h r is t lik e a b o u t him a t t im e s ,
i
b u t t h i s was subm erged under th e em p h a sis on h i s Saxon
h e r o ism and became a r e l a t i v e l y m inor p o in t . B eck et was j
n o t to become j u s t a C h r is tia n m artyr and h ero u n t i l he
ap p eared i n H o l l i s t e r ' s Thomas A B e c k e t, w h ich was w r it t e n
th r e e y e a r s l a t e r .
M ilit a n t D efen d er o f th e Church
The f i r s t r e a d in g o f H o l l i s t e r ' s p la y r e v e a le d a r e l a
t io n s h i p b etw een th e p la y w r ig h t 's name and th e c h a r a c te r o f
i t s h e r o , Thomas B e c k e t. Of c o u r s e , b o th Hiram (K in g o f
Tyre d u r in g D a v id 's r e ig n ) and G ideon (d e fe n d e r o f I s r e a l
a g a in s t th e h o s t o f M id la n ite s ) a r e fam ous B i b l i c a l nam es,
b u t th e l a t t e r was o f p a r t ic u la r i n t e r e s t to t h i s s tu d y .
H o l l i s t e r ' s B e c k e t, l i k e th e le g e n d a r y G id eon , was a proud
and f i e r c e s o l d i e r o f th e Church.
A lth o u g h H o l l i s t e r ' s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n a t f i r s t ap p eared
t o be v a s t l y d i f f e r e n t from t h a t o f H a m ilto n , t h e i r s im i
l a r i t i e s soon became a p p a r e n t. For ex a m p le, H o l l i s t e r
began h i s p la y by show ing th e e v i l n a tu r e o f th e Norman
lo r d s i n c o n t r a s t t o B e c k e t's h er o ism . G la n v il, Lord
j
J u s t i c i a r y o f E n g la n d , a ttem p ted to d eg ra d e B eck et by
1
c a l l i n g him an " a r t f u l S a x o n ," xo w h ile th e A rch b ish o p o f
l^Hiram G ideon H o l l i s t e r , Thomas A B eck et (B oston *
W . V. S p e n c er , 1 8 6 6 ), p. 2 ( I . 1 ) .
! 1^6
!York jo in e d him by c a l l i n g him a "Saxon C h u r l." 1?
Urged On by b o th G la n v il and th e A rch b ish o p o f York,
Queen E le a n o r and Q ueen-m other M a tild a t r i e d t o d is s u a d e
Henry from recom m ending t h a t B eck et become th e n e x t A rch -
b ish o p o f C a n terb u ry . M a tild a made u se o f B e c k e t* s b ir t h j
in h er argu m en ts a g a in s t h i s a p p o in tm en t. For ex a m p le,
i sh e s a id s |
I s i t th e n a l i e j
That Mayor B e c k e t* s so n , w hose S y r ia n w if e
Knew b u t two w ords o f E n g lis h when she f le d
The la n d o f h er n a t i v i t y , and o ' e r s e a s
And c o n t in e n t s ch a sed h e r r e t r e a t in g l o v e r ,
D isow ned h er God, fo r e sw o r e h er womanhood—
I s i t a l i e , t h a t th e same sw arth y sh o o t
Of t h a t f i e r c e m a rria g e i s to l i v e i n s t a t e
At C a n terb u ry , and d ip h e a th e n hands
In th e pure f o n t t h a t T heobald h a s b le s s e d ?
W e se e h e r e t h a t th e p la y w r ig h t had made u se o f two h i s
t o r i c a l and l i t e r a r y e r r o r s w h ich w ere common i n th e n ln e -
i
t e e n t h c e n tu r y . Not o n ly d id he e r r o n e o u s ly a s s ig n B eck et |
: |
a Saxon f a t h e r , b u t he f u r t h e r made u se o f th e le g e n d t h a t
B e c k e t's m other had b een a S y ria n P r in c e s s .
T hese s p e e c h e s w ere in te n d e d to d eg ra d e B eck et i n th e
e y e s o f th e K ing and t o p r e v e n t h i s becom ing one o f Eng
la n d 's m ost p o w erfu l f i g u r e s , b u t th e y w ere o b v io u s ly
in te n d e d by th e p la y w r ig h t t o c r e a t e th e o p p o s it e e f f e c t
upon B e c k e t 's c h a r a c t e r . He l a t e r condemned th e c h a r a c t e r s
who had a c c u se d B eck e t o f low and ig n o b le b ir t h w h ile t h e i r
1?I b l d . . p. 3 ( I , i ) .
18I b l d . , pp 7-8 ( I , i i ) .
1^7
e a r l i e r rem arks se r v e d t o s tr e n g th e n B e c k e t's h e r o ic c h a r
a c t e r . K ing Henry summed up th e th o u g h ts o f th e p la y w r ig h t
i n a sp e ec h w hich he d e liv e r e d i n r e p ly t o th e Queen
M o th er's argum ents*
You do m ista k e t h i s man. i
J e s u s was lo w ly ; P e te r , Jam es and John
Were humble fis h e r m e n . The p o o r , b lin d w orld ;
Knew n e v e r y e t i t s t e a c h e r s w h ile th e y l i v e d .
I t lo o k e th backward o ' e r a l e v e l w a ste j
Worn by th e f e e t o f g e n e r a t io n s g o n e ,
And ken no tr a c k sa v e th e l o n g - t r a v e l l e d o n e.
Hence p e r s e c u t io n s f o llo w on th e f o o t s t e p s
Of p r o p h e ts and a p o s t l e s , s e e r s c a l l e d ,
B ecause t h e i r e y e s b eh o ld new sh a p e s o f tr u th
B eck on in g to p a th s u n tro d d en by th e crow d.
Such i s a B e c k e t. Thus h i s s p i r i t u a l e y e 1
S e es th e f a r fu tu r e in th e v a r y in g i n s t a n t ,
Fathom s th e p a s t , and d r o p s a plummet down
To d e p th s b e fo r e u n tr ie d . F o r g iv e h i s b ir t h . ;
Ask n o t th e m ountain from what m arshy bed
He l i f t s h i s h oary p in n a c le s t o th e c lo u d s ;
Ask n o t th e c lo u d s , t h a t l i g h t th e c h a r io t w h e e ls
Of th e s e t t i n g sun w ith c o lo r s m ixed i n h eaven
In what g r e e n p o o l o r r e p t ile - h a u n t e d f e n j
T h e ir v a p o r s f i r s t w ere b orn . F o r g iv e , f o r g iv e !
P e a c e , l o v e , and c h a r it y a r e lo w ly b r e d .1 9
One can n o t ic e how t h i s p a r a lle le d th e c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f j
H am ilton ; H o l l i s t e r a l s o p ic tu r e d B eck et a s b e in g lo w -b o r n ,
but n o t o f lo w ly c h a r a c t e r . He p o r tr a y e d him a s a man from
humble su r r o u n d in g s, b u t n o t hum bled, and he had made a
v i r t u e o f B e c k e t's Saxon b ir t h . H ow ever, t h i s was n o t th e
m ost s i g n i f i c a n t e lem en t o f t h i s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B e c k e t.
R a th e r , i t was B e c k e t's r e l i g i o u s m ilit a n c y w h ich was
c e n t r a l to h i s c h a r a c te r in H o l l i s t e r ' s p la y , and in t h a t
way i t d i f f e r e d e n t i r e l y from th e c h a r a c te r w h ich had b een
19I b ld . . pp. 8-9 (I. i i ) .
i 1^8
!
(d evelop ed in A lex a n d er H a m ilto n 's p la y . Thomas was m il i t a n t
ev en b e fo r e he had become A rch b ish o p , a s h i s e n e m ie s, G lan -
v i l and th e A rch b ish op o f York, p o in te d o u t . For ex a m p le,
York d e c la r e d *
H is l i f e i s sc a th e d w ith f i e r c e , u n h allow ed f i r e s ; [
He h a th b een lew d and w anton in h i s y o u th ,
H ea d stro n g in h i s manhood, h o t and p a s s io n a t e .
B e s id e s , he com es n o t o f th e n o b le l i n e
Your p r e d e c e s s o r s honored w ith t h a t s e e . 20
G la n v il d e s c r ib e d him a s a ", . . r e s t l e s s man— / R ash, j
w i l f u l , h a rd , f i e r y , and t u r b u le n t ." 2* Even B eck et d e
s c r ib e d h im s e lf in s im ila r term s when he a tte m p te d t o p e r
suade Henry t h a t he was n o t f i t f o r th e o f f i c e o f A rch b ish o p
o f C anterbury*
I la c k th e h o ly u n c tio n o f a l i f e
Spent in meek c h a r i t i e s and lo w ly d u t i e s
S a v o r in g o f s a n c t i t y . M y h e a r t i s proud; j
M y e a r i s t ic k l e d w ith th e a p p la u se o f s c h o la r s ,
And my ey e bends t o th e n o d d in g o f a plum e. |
I lo v e th e w a r -c r y o f P la n ta g e n e t i
B e t t e r th a n anthem s p ie r c in g g o t h ic r o o f s , j
And th e lo n g w a ilin g o f a b u g le n o te i
T ouches me more th a n th e s i l v e r y b e l l s o f v e s p e r s , j
The la u g h o f th e p e a sa n t g i r l s , proud l a d i e s ' j
s m ile s , |
Are d e a r e r t o me th a n th e s ig h s o f n u n s, j
Whose h e a r t s k eep tim e to ebon r o s a r i e s . 22
There was n o th in g o f m eek n ess and m ild n e s s i n t h i s p o r t r a y a l
o f B e c k e t. He ev en a c t i v e l y so u g h t h i s m artyrdom and d id
n o t m erely sub m it t o i t .
N e v e r t h e le s s , th e K ing i n s i s t e d t h a t B eck et a c c e p t th e
2°I b l d . . p. 11 (I. i i ) . 21I b ld . . p. 12 ( I . 11).
22I b i d . , p. 16 <1. i i ) .
I 1^9
a p p o in tm en t t o th e See o f C an terb u ry, and o u t o f o b e d ie n c e
t o h i s s o v e r e ig n B eck et f i n a l l y a c c e p te d . The d ie w as c a s t*
H enry had fo r c e d h i s f r ie n d and C h a n c e llo r t o abandon him
and ta k e up a l l e g i a n c e w ith th e K ing o f K in g s. I t was
B e c k e t 's a l l e g i a n c e and n o t h i s c h a r a c te r w h ich changed a t
th e end o f A ct I , Scene I I I . He s t i l l had th e same p u rp o se j
and d r iv e a s b e f o r e , b u t now h e was In th e s e r v ic e o f God, j
n o t th e K in g. A ll o f th e e n e r g y w h ich had made him g r e a t inj
c o u r t and on th e b a t t l e f i e l d w as now ch a n n eled in t o th e
s t r u g g le o f th e Church i n i t s f i g h t a g a in s t th e Norman K ing |
and h i s b a r o n s. T here was n o th in g p e r s o n a l i n w hat B eck et
d id . As a m a t t e r - o f - f a c t , h i s a c t i o n s w ere a b s o lu t e ly con
t r a r y t o h i s p e r s o n a l w is h e s , b u t h e was a man who must f o l
lo w w here d u ty d ir e c t e d him r e g a r d le s s o f th e c o n se q u e n c e s.
H o l l i s t e r f u r t h e r em p h asized B e c k e t 's co u ra g e and d e - j
I i
v o t io n t o h i s new p o s i t i o n o f A rch b ish o p th ro u g h a s c e n e i n j
1 . !
w h ich he spoke w ith P h i l i p , th e P o p e 's l e g a t e , a b o u t th e
s i t u a t i o n in E n glan d . In a s o li l o q u y d e liv e r e d b e fo r e
P h i l i p e n te r e d th e cham ber, B eck e t m usedi
I t i s a s I foreb od ed * I was made
A rch b ish op b u t t o p an d er t o th e g reed
Of H enry, and d e s p o i l G od 's tr e a s u r e -h o u s e
To cram th e r o y a l v a u l t s a t W in ch e ster
W ith J e w e ls from o u r h o ly s h r in e s and a l t a r s .
I t s h a l l n o t be* t h e s e h ands a r e c o n s e c r a te
To h o ly o f f i c e s * t h i s brow marked th e s ig n
That k in g s can n e ' e r e r a s e . 2 3
23 i b i d . f p. 23 ( I . l v ) .
! 150
i
Then, a f t e r P h ilip a r r iv e d , he sa id to hlmi
There I s a tem p est g a th e r in g In th e heavensj
B o lts c le a v e th e v a u lt and ru m bling, d is t a n t
thu nd ers
B egin to shake th e ro ck -rib b ed l s l e j th e King
S e iz in g th e o c c a sio n o f d iv id e d r u le j
Between two c la im a n ts fo r th e pap al s e e , j
Hath p laced me h ere to r ifle ^ a n d to rend
The Church, n ot to keep i t .
P h ilip t r ie d to r e a ssu r e Thomas, by t e l l i n g him th a t Pope
I
A lexander would p r o te c t him and th a t B ecket was a ll-p o w e r fu l!
!
in England and needed to fe a r n o th in g from th e K ing. Becketj
r e p lie d i
. . . l i t t l e c a n st thou know
The str e n g th o f th e P la n ta g e n e t, h is p r id e ,
H is a v a r ic e , and th e fu r y o f h is r a g e .
He lo v ed me on cej and n a tu r e s such a s h i s ,
When once th e y change from lo v e to h a te , become
L ike la v a from a m ou n tain 's f e v e r is h l i p s . ^
These a c t io n s served a s a c a t a ly s t w hich hardened th e :
l i n e s th a t had been drawn betw een Henry I I and Thomas o f
C anterbury. F u rth er, th e y stren g th en ed th e a lr e a d y c a s e -
i
hardened c h a r a c te r o f B ecket in p r e p a r a tio n fo r th e f ig h t j
and f i n a l martyrdom which he must meet in d e fe n se o f h is j
Church. The b e st d e s c r ip t io n o f t h i s was co n ta in ed in a J
sp eech near th e end o f Act I . P h ilip had admonished Thomas
to rem ain firm in h i s p o s it io n on Church m a tte r s, and B ecket
had r e p lie d to him» "Nay more. God g iv e me c o u r a g e ./
Firm ness i s p a s s iv e , and but k eep s h er ow n j/ But I must a c t ,
2^I b l d . . p. Z U r ( I , i v ) .
2^ l b i d . , pp. 2^-25 (I. i v ) .
151
I Of\
and a c tio n c a l l s fo r cou rage.
In ord er to fu r th e r em phasize t h i s c h a r a c t e r is t ic o f
B eck et, H o llis t e r g r e a t ly expanded th e t r i a l scen e which
t r a d i t io n a ll y had ta k en p la c e a t Northhampton. The p la y - j
w righ t s e t th e scen e a t W estm in ster, perhaps m ista k e n ly
th in k in g th a t th a t was th e s e a t o f governm ent in t w e lf t h -
cen tu ry England. T h is scen e a llo w ed H o ll i s t e r to d is p la y ;
a l l o f th e courage and f i e r c e d e te r m in a tio n w ith which he j
had endowed h is hero d u rin g th e f i r s t A ct.
In p re p a r a tio n fo r t h i s sc e n e , H o ll i s t e r showed th e
King to be w i l li n g to p e r ju re h im s e lf fo r th e sake o f d e
f e a t in g B eck et. Urged on by th e M ep histoph elean a d v ic e o f
th e e v i l A rchbishop o f York, Henry sa id th a t he was w i l li n g
to b r in g unsupported ch a rg es a g a in s t B ecket fo r m isu sin g
S ta te fun ds w h ile he was C h a n c ello r. T h is, and th e s e v e r a l
sc e n e s w hich fo llo w e d , la id th e groundwork f o r th e f i g h t j
: I
w hich took p la c e a t th e W estm inster (Northham pton) t r i a l . j
i
King Henry had a lr e a d y cowed a l l o f th e o th e r b ish o p s
in to d o in g h is b id d in g by th e tim e B ecket e n ter ed th e h a l l .
The d e s c r ip t io n o f B e c k e t's en tra n ce was s u f f i c i e n t to t e l l
us th e n atu re o f th e man a t th a t moment. "He advan ces to
th e m iddle o f th e h a l l , g la n c e s c o ld ly around upon h is
p r e la t e s , and th en f i x e s h is e y e s upon th e K ing, who s t a r t s
back and tu rn s p a le , w h ile th e b ish o p s c lu s t e r to g e th e r and
26I b i d . , p. 26 (I. i v ) .
152
stand m o tio n le s s . "2? B ecket sounded l i k e a Gideon o r E lish a
o f th e Old Testam ent when he s a id i
W ho sa y s I d are n ot fa c e t h i s tre m b lin g K ing,
And th e s e p a le , q u iv e r in g m in ion s o f h is cou rt?
Behold I come armed w ith t h i s h o ly sym bol,
Token o f agony and b i t t e r d e a th ,
Whose tou ch can sc a th e th e th ron e and b la s t th e
s c e p t r e ,
Through a l l th e kingdoms where in c a r n a te God
I s owned and fe a r e d o f men. These hands a re c le a n ,
T h is h e a r t i s s t a i n l e s s o f o ffe n c e j t h i s brow j
Was n ever furrow ed by th e sharp rem orse
That w a ite th on a g u i l t y s o lit u d e . j
He who im p lead s me f a l s i f i e d h i s word;
A ll w itn e s s e s a p p ea rin g in t h e i r o a th
To t e s t i f y a g a in s t me a re base l i a r s ,
W hom God w i l l p u n ish w ith th e d i r e c t v en g ea n ce,
Woe, woe, and la m e n ta tio n on h is head,
A h is s in g and s c o f f s h a ll be th e w retch ,
Shunned by a l l men, an o u tc a s t in a l l la n d s ,
W ho p e r s e c u te s me h e r e , K ings can d e s tr o y
The bodyj but th e blood o f m artyrs s p i ll e d
S h a ll r i s e in vap ors t i l l i t s t a in th e h ea v en s,
And f a l l in r a in t i l l a l l th e s w e llin g r iv e r s
S h a ll crim son ev ery l i p th a t d r in k s .2”
Never had B ecket appeared w ith g r e a te r s tr e n g th and cou rage.
Perhaps he approached i t in some o f th e sp ee ch es in D a r le y 's
drama, but th e r e he was d e p ic te d a s a v i l l a i n o u s c h a r a c te r , j
The e f f e c t was n ot th e same. In t h i s scen e Thomas appeared
l i k e th e "host o f a n g e ls" se n t to avenge th e m se lv e s on th e
e v i l men who would d e s tr o y God*s Church.
i
The p la y w rig h t d id n o t sto p th e r e . B ecket charged King
Henry w ith a second p e r ju r y , w hich was a s o d io u s a s th e
f i r s t . When th e King had r eco v ered from th e shock o f th e
2?I b l d . . p. 68 ( I I I , i l l ).
28I b i d . , pp. 68-69 ( I I I , i l l ) .
153
A rch b ish o p 's f i r s t a t ta c k , he a sk ed , "A m I p erju red and a
l i a r ? "29 B ecket r e p li e d i
I charge th e e to th y fa c e
With rank o p p r e ssio n s and w ith s e c r e t s i n s .
Where i s th e C l i f f o r d 's d a u g h ter, once b e g u ile d
With prom ises th a t m elted from th y l i p s ;
And what were th e y but p e r ju r ie s , my lord ?
: ' i
T his l a s t sp eech r e f e r r e d , o f c o u r se , to th e f a c t th a t j
i i
!Henry had en tered in to a mock m arriage w ith Rosamond b e fo re J
he was crowned K ing, and th a t he had prom ised Rosamond th a t j
j
she would be crowned h i s Queen. Whether or n o t Henry had
i !
meant i t a t th e tim e was a moot p o in t; he had ch osen to be j
e x p e d ien t and marry E lean or o f A cq u ita in e in ord er to j
| I
a c q u ir e h er v a s t em pire. '
I
H o llis t e r fu r th e r h eig h ten ed th e e f f e c t o f t h i s sc en e; 1
I
when th e King reco v ered from what B ecket dared to s a y , he
was d ou b ly determ ined to b r in g B ecket to h i s k n e e s. S eein g
th a t th e A rchbishop and h i s fo llo w e r s had s ta r te d f o r th e
d o o r, Henry, w ith sword drawn, stepp ed betw een them and th e
idoor and said *
S h a ll th e King sta n d , h is hands behind h is back,
For f e lo n s such a s thou to p lu ck h i s beard?
I D ost thou n ot know, in s a c r i l ig i o u s hands
The c r o s s i s l a t h , th e c r o s ie r but a sh ee p -c ro o k ,
i To make th e r a b b le gape and fr a n k lin s sta r e ?
F la sh n o t a g a in on me th o se angry e y e s;
I was n o t born to be o u tfa c e d by p r i e s t s !
Out o f my s ig h t ! Speak but a n oth er word,
And I w i l l c le a v e th a t r e b e l head o f th in e !
29i b i d . . p. 69 ( I I I , i i i ). 3°rbid.
! i &
j
(To th e b is h o p s ,)
S to p , on th e i n s t a n t ! On you r l i v e s , tu r n b a c k !31
None o f th e o t h e r p la y w r ig h ts had made K ing Henry
r e a c t a t t h i s moment i n su ch a v i o l e n t and im p a ssio n e d
m anner. I t made him a p p ea r im m ature and e v i l ; he had b e
come th e p la y s v i l l a i n .
The A rch b ish o p , c o m p le te ly u n d au n ted , tu rn ed upon th e |
K ing and p r o c la im e d , "Henry P la n t a g e n e t , / I c u r s e th e e in j
th e name o f Rom e."32
There was no h i s t o r i c a l fo u n d a tio n f o r t h e s e a c t i o n s , |
b u t H o l l i s t e r ’ s u se o f t h i s f i c t i o n a l i z e d v e r s io n o f t h e i r
m e e tin g a t W estm in ster was v e r y e f f e c t i v e i n e s t a b l i s h i n g
i
th e c h a r a c t e r s o f b o th B eck et and H enry. T h is sc e n e l e f t
no d ou b t a s t o th e co u ra g e and r e l i g i o u s m ilit a n c y o f
Thomas B e c k e t. !
i
The m ost i n t e r e s t i n g com m entary on t h i s c e n t r a l t r a i t j
i n th e c h a r a c te r o f B eck et came i n a s h o r t sc e n e a t -th e end
o f A ct IV , Scene I . G la n v il, who had b een excom m unicated
a lo n g w ith th e K ing and th e r e s t o f h i s company a t th e
W estm in ster C o u n c il, came t o B eck et b e g g in g f o r a b s o lu t io n !
G ian. M y g r a c io u s lo r d ,
Hear me! I s u p p lic a t e on bended k n e es
For a b s o lu t io n from t h i s a w fu l doom.
T h is c u r s e — ' t i s on my h ead — h e r e a t my h e a r t ,
Sunk l i k e a s t o n e , I do r e p e n t! R e sto r e me!
31l b i d . , p. 71 ( I I I . H i ) .
32I b l d . , pp. 71-72 ( I I I . i i i ) .
155
' A rch. C ra w lin g worm,
R e p t i le , s lim y y e t t o o t h l e s s , venom w ith o u t s t i n g .
H a te fu l a s a b j e c t f c o c k t r i c e l The Saxon ,
The c h u r l, th e S y r ia n s e t s h i s h e e l upon t h e e ,
And i t s h a l l b r u is e th y h ea d . Out o f my s ig h t !
i
Win. M y lo r d ! j
I
A rch. I know w hat th o u w o u ld st s a y . M y m a ster j
Was p i t i f u l , t e n d e r , f o r g iv in g ! I
A m p rou d , r e m o r s e le s s . W in c h e ste r , j
He was a Godi I am a s i n f u l man,
Sprung from a r a c e , w hose h ig h , r e b e l l i o u s b lo o d
Burns *mid th e sa n d s o f S y r ia . 0 my God,
How o f t e n do I l a y th e cro o k a s id e j
To b ea r th e sw ord! Y et i n th e tem p le o n c e ,
When th e y who b ou gh t and s o ld d e f i l e d th e p la c e .
He d ro v e them from i t s p o r t a ls w ith a s c o u r g e ,
And w ith a h o ly sc o r n o 'e r th r e w t h e i r s e a t s ,
S p u rn in g t h e i r money and t h e i r m e r ch a n d ise.
'Twas h i s exam ple? I w i l l f o llo w i t . 33
H ere, i t seemed t h a t H o l l i s t e r had found a sound J u s t i
f i c a t i o n f o r th e m i l i t a n t a t t i t u d e w h ich he had g iv e n
B e c k e t, At f i r s t , Thomas th o u g h t o f i t a s a w e a k n e ss, b u t
j
l a t e r he found J u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r h i s a c t i o n s i n th e S c r ip
t u r e s . T h is was c e n t r a l t o B e c k e t 's c h a r a c t e r . I t J u s t i
f i e d what had ta k e n p la c e b e f o r e , and i t p rep a red u s f o r
what was y e t to ta k e p la c e .
Thomas, a p p a r e n tly s e n s in g t h a t h i s tem p o ra l b a t t l e f o r
th e ch u rch had f a i l e d , tu rn ed tow ard m artyrdom a s th e f i n a l
i
form o f v i c t o r y i n a sc e n e a t th e end o f A ct IV . Henry had j
b een b rou gh t t o h i s k n e e s by excom m u n ication and was now
p rep ared t o make th e b e s t p ea ce he c o u ld w ith th e A rch
b ish o p . J u s t a t th e moment t h a t he was re a d y t o k n e e l f o r
3 3 ib id .. pp. 76-77 (IV. i ) .
! 156
a b s o lu tio n , Henry r e c e iv e d a l e t t e r from P a s c a l, th e a n t i
pope, a b s o lv in g him. T h is was th e s tr e n g th th a t he had
needed to l i f t B eck et*s c r o s s from o f f h i s back, so he
turned upon B ecket and sa id :
! On p e n a lty o f d e a th ,
I b a n ish th e e beyond th e B r it is h se a s!
L in ger n o tf fo r th e m essen gers o f f a t e .
Are on th y back! W e la c k a Saxon s a i n t !
In ord er to understand th e f u l l Im portance o f t h i s
a c t io n , i t i s n e c e ssa r y to r e a l i z e th a t h i s t o r i c a l l y B ecket
escap ed from England a s King Henry t r ie d to sto p him. T his
was th e o n ly v e r s io n in w hich Henry b an ish ed B eck et from th e
i
realm . A gain, th e p la y w rig h t found th e d i s t o r t i o n o f h i s - j
to r y a c o n v e n ien t way to a c h ie v e th e kind o f h e r o ic fig u r e j
he wanted fo r Thomas B eck et, g iv in g , a t th e same tim e a j
i
daem onic one fo r Henry.
B eck et*s r e p ly to th e King was d ou b ly s i g n if i c a n t :
M y lo r d , I go. V ic to r I w i l l r e tu r n !
Then s h a ll you sue fo r mercy on your k n e e s,
And hold my s t ir r u p a s I mount my p a lfr e y ,
In honor o f th e God you now blasphem e.
Then, i f my name be added to th e r o l l
Of b le s s e d m a rty rs, you s h a ll seek my s h r in e ,
And monks a t m idnight on your naked sh ou ld ers^
S h a ll la s h you, a s you k n e e l above my b o n e s .33
F in a lly , th e t r a i t o f th e m ilit a n t C h r is tia n s o ld ie r
was fir m ly stamped on H o l l i s t e r ' s B ecket w ith h i s l a s t a c t
in th e p la y , where he d e a lt w ith B e c k e t's martyrdom.
3^1b id . . p. 80 (IV. i i ) .
35I b i d . , pp. 80-81 (IV. i i ) .
157
‘D uring th a t scen e he c a lle d h i s m urderers, "murderous
m in io n s," 3^ and he disarm ed F it z u r s e , u s in g th e l e t t e r ' s
sword to d efen d h im s e lf from th e o th e r a tta c k in g k n ig h ts .
F in a lly , he was subdued by B r it o , who step p ed behind him
and stabbed him in th e s id e . As B ecket f e l l and la y d y in g ,
he gave t h i s f i n a l speech*
Thus d i e s a m artyr, d ark en in g w ith h is blood
The monument o f h o ly T heobald.
Bear w itn e s s th o u , whose r e l i c s s le e p b e n e a th ,—
Thou, who f i r s t ta u g h t my w andering f e e t th e way,
M y h e a r t th e tr u t h , my darkened e y e s th e l i g h t ,
That h ere I ren d er c r o s s and c r o s ie r up,
S ta in ed o n ly w ith th e s e d rop s o f martyrdoms
That I d ie f e a r l e s s , f ig h t in g fo r th e church,
M y so u l com m itting to th e hands o f God,
The b le s s e d Mary, and her con q u erin g Son!-?'
Even in h is a c t o f d y in g he was f i g h t i n g fo r th e Church,
d e f e a t in g th e enemy w ith th e o n ly way l e f t .
Most a s s u r e d ly , th e p la y w r ig h t in ten d ed fo r us to
understand th a t B ecket had been a champion o f th e common
p e o p le . T h is was im p lied by h i s trea tm en t o f King Henry
and h i s f o llo w e r s , a s w e ll a s b e in g s ta te d a t s e v e r a l
p o in ts in th e p la y . For exam p le, in a scen e w hich took
p la c e in England v e r y n ear th e end o f B e c k e t's seven year
e x i l e and Ju st p r io r to h i s r e tu r n to C anterbury, Henry,
who had f a l l e n i l l , s o lilo q u iz e d on h i s m isfo rtu n es*
36I b l d . . p. 107 (V. v ) .
37I b l d . . p. 108 (V. v ).
I 158
I t en d s w here i t b eg a n . The p r im a t e 's k in g .
The r o y a l t i e s , th e f l o r i e s , th e p r e s c r i p t i o n s ,
The bended k n e e , th e l o y a l - b e a t i n g h e a r t ,
The s w e llin g sh o u t o f th e g la d m u ltitu d e
T h a t's m u sic a l a s th e * a l l h a il* o f th e s p h e r e s * - -
T h ese— t h e s e a r e B e c k e t 's , b u t no lo n g e r m in e .3 °
U n lik e H a m ilto n , h o w ev er, H o l l i s t e r d id n o t make t h i s
th e c e n t r a l t h e s i s o f h i s dramaj i t was o n ly one f a c e t o f
B e c k e t 's h e r o ic c h a r a c te r .
i
T e s tim o n ia l to S a in t Thomas j
W hereas H o l l i s t e r ' s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B ec k e t had
p a r a lle le d th e s t o r y o f G ideon in th e Old T esta m en t, j
Aubrey De V e r e 's b ore an u n m ista k a b le r e se m b la n c e t o th e
p ro to m a rty r o f th e New T estam ent* J e s u s C h r is t.
D e s p ite h i s p r o t e s t a t i o n s t h a t he had w anted to
i l l u s t r a t e ". . .a few o f th e c h i e f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
B e c k e t's tim e t h a t throw l i g h t upon a m em orable c a r e e r ," 3 9 j
■ j
De V ere had a c t u a l l y w r it t e n a tw o-h u n d red and f o r t y - n i n e j
i
page p la y w h ich had b een a t e s t i m o n i a l t o h i s f a v o r i t e j
s a in t* S t. Thomas o f C a n terb u ry.
C h r i s t l l n e s s was th e m ost s t r i k i n g f a c e t o f B e c k e t's
c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n , and v e r y e a r ly i n th e p la y one was made
;aw are o f i t th ro u g h th e u se o f th e B i b l i c a l a l l u s i o n s in
Thomas' s p e e c h e s . For ex a m p le, e a r ly i n A ct I I B eck et
38I b l d . . pp. 9 6 -9 7 (V. i i ) .
^ A u b r e y De V er e, S t. Thomas o f C an terb u ry (London*
H. S . K ing & C o ., 1 8 7 6 ) , p . v .
159
answ ered G ilb e r t P o l i o t ' s argum ent i n fa v o r o f s ig n in g th e
C laren d on C o n s t it u t io n w ith th e f o llo w in g i
The Church i s G od*si
L o rd s, w ere i t o u r s , th e n m igh t we t r a f f i c w ith i t »
I t w i l l make la r g e i t s f u n c t io n s , o r c o n t r a c t ?
S erv e i t o r s e l l ? w o r sh ip o r c r u c i f y .
I sa y th e Church i s G od's? f o r He b e h e ld i t ,
H is th o u g h t, e r e tim e began? co u n ted i t s b o n e s,
Which i n h i s book w ere w r it . I sa y t h a t He
From h i s own s id e i n w a te r and i n b lo o d |
Gave b ir t h to i t on C a lv a r y , and ca u g h t i t , !
D e s p ite th e n a i l s , H is B r id e , i n h i s own arm si
I sa y th a t He, a s p i r i t o f c l e a r h e a t , ;
L iv e s i n i t s fra m e, and c le a n s e s w ith pure p a in
H is s a c r i f i c i a l p r e c i n c t , but. consum es
The c h a f f w ith o th e r a rd ou rs,^ ® j
The B i b l i c a l a l l u s i o n s o f t h i s sp e e c h a r e o b v io u s . For
ex a m p le, S t. M atth ew 's d e s c r i p t i o n o f J e s u s ' triu m p h a l
e n tr y in t o J e ru sa le m c o n t a in s a v i v i d d e s c r i p t i o n o f how
C h r is t had throw n th e money c h a n g ers o u t o f th e tem p le and
had o v er tu rn ed t h e i r t a b l e s (M atthew 2 1 * 1 1 - 6 ), and i n P a u l's
E p i s t l e t o th e E p h e sia n s one f in d s th e w o rd s, ". . .C h r is t
a l s o lo v e d th e ch u rch , and gave h im s e lf f o r i t * /T h a t he
m igh t s a n c t i f y and c le a n s e i t w ith th e w a sh in g o f w a ter by
th e w ord. . . .
D ia lo g u e su ch a s t h i s was r e p e a te d a g a in and a g a in
th ro u g h o u t th e p la y . At tim e s th e s p e e c h e s o f B eck et
rea ch ed th e s i z e and su b sta n c e o f serm on s.
De V ere was p a r t ic u l a r l y I n t e n t on b u ild in g an im age
o f B eck et a s th e p r o t e c t o r and s o la c e o f th e p o o r. For
4 0 I b i d . , pp. 6 ^ -6 5 ( I I . i i i ) .
Ali ,
E p h e sia n s 5 * 2 5 -2 6 .
I 160
ex a m p le, i n A ct I B eck et s a id , "Ye t h a t h ave power w ith God,
th e poor o f C h r is t, / L i f t up you r h e a r t s , and p ray t h a t
E n g la n d 's p rim a te /May w alk i n h o n e sty w ith God t i l l
Il o
d e a t h ! H o w l i k e th e y a r e t o th e w ords i n Luke 6*20 and
^ « 1 8 . A ls o , l i k e C h r is t , th e p oor and dow ntrodden p e o p le
lo v e d and lo o k e d up to B eck et a s th e C h u rch 's le a d e r and
t h e i r p r o t e c t o r . For ex a m p le, a f t e r h i s l i f e had b een I
th r e a te n e d a t th e N o rth a m p to n C o u n c il, he f l e d f o r F ran ce; -
b u t th e e v e n in g b e fo r e he l e f t , he b le s s e d th e p oor a t S t.
A ndrew 's c o n v e n t, a s was d e s c r ib e d to th e K ing by John o f j
O x fo rd :
S ir e he i s f l e d . L a st e v e n in g was h i s triu m p h .
The p e o p le , a s he is s u e d h en ce ( t h e i r c r im e , j
The f o o l s t h a t sh o u ld have h e ld him f a s t ) k n e lt down, 1
C ravin g h i s b l e s s i n g . In S t. A ndrew 's c o n v e n t 1
He ch a n ted n o n es and v e s p e r s f i r s t ; th e n d in e d , i
R anging th e p o o r, th e h a l t , th e la m e, th e dumb, .
Around t h i s b o a rd , i n p la c e o f f r ie n d s who f l e d . ^
A g a in , one o f th e c o n d it io n s w h ich he had sued f o r a t
h i s m e e tin g w ith K ing Henry a t " T r a it o r 's Meadow" n e a r
F r e i t v a l had b een th e r e tu r n o f th e ch u rch p r o p e r t ie s ,
w h ich w ere th e b e n e f ic e s o f C h r is t 's p o o r.
The g r e a t lo v e and a d m ir a tio n o f th e p e o p le w ere b e s t
show n, h o w ev er, in th e sc e n e w h ich d e p ic te d B e c k e t 's r e tu r n
to E n glan d . I t was d e s c r ib e d by B e c k e t's o ld e n e m ie s,
G ilb e r t F o l i o t and J o c e lin e o f S a lis b u r y ;
^ 2De V e r e , op . o l t . . p. ^2 ( I . i i i ) .
^3I b l d . . p. 78 ( I I . v ).
l 6 l
G ilb e r t.
The boors a t Sandwich, a s h i s sh ip drew n ea r,
N otin g th e g r e a t c r o s s a r c h le p is c o p a l,
Met him b r e a st h ig h In th e w aves.
J o c e lln e o f S a lisb u r y .
The women h a ile d him
The o rp h a n 's f a t h e r , and th e w idow 's judge:
From Sandwich to th e g a te s o f C anterbury !
The c o n c o u r se, a s he p assed them , k n e lt , and sang
•B le sse d i s he who cometh in G od's n a m e!* ^
Somewhat l a t e r in th e same p a ssa g e , one o f B e c k e t's j
en em ies, Robert De B roc, d e sc r ib e d how th e p eo p le had pro
t e c te d t h e ir s p i r i t u a l F ather:
W here'er th e t r a i t o r moves I hem him round
With horsem en f i e r c e and f r e e . W ithout a guard
He d a r e s n ot move. Now mark! A g u a r d 's an army!
A la r g e r army i s th a t, r a b b le -r o u t
Which d ogs h is s t e p s . *
The Queen a ffirm ed th e p o p u la r ity o f B ecket when, in a
moment o f near m adness, she s a id : "A t o a s t , my lo r d s ! th e
London m erch a n t's so n , /O nce E n g la n d 's p rim ate— h e n c e fo r th
i
King o f E n g la n d !" ^ A lso , B e c k e t's c lo s e fr ie n d and a d v i
s o r , H erbert o f Bosham, spoke o f th e A rch b ish o p 's g r e a t
p o p u la r ity among th e common p eop le o f England:
From f i r s t to l a s t de Broc w ith wrong a s s a ile d u sj
But on u s , l i k e th e p a s sio n a te sou th w ind, blew
The g r e e tin g o f th e lo y a l and th e j u s t .
Two d ays we ro d e. L ondon's o ld tow er in s i g h t ,
W e met th e c i t i z e n s j fo r m ile s f o r t h stream ed th ey
To meet t h e ir c i t i z e n — fo r so th e y h a ile d him.
^ I b i d . , p. 206 (V. i i i ) .
^ I b i d . , p. 209 (V. i i i ) .
^6I b i d . , p. 217 (V. i v ) .
162
The poor came f i r s t ; th en m erchants and t h e i r w ives*
N ext, c la d In g o ld , th e mayor and alderm en;
And, l a s t l y , p r i e s t s in to n in g B en ed ictu s
S carce heard amid th e p e a lin g o f th e b e l l s .
On London B ridge th e house on each s id e
Hung t a p e s t r ie s f o r t h , t h e i r r o o fs o'ersw arm ed w ith
g a z e r s;
The s h ip s a l l p u rp led by th o se f l a g s th a t s t i l l
p a in te d th e
C r y sta l bosom o f th e T h a m es-
More swayed by p op u lar e c s t a s i e s , so seemed i t .
Than by s h i f t i n g o f th e w ind.
The con cep t o f a C h r is t lik e B ecket cu lm in ated in a
scen e w hich had tak en p la c e a t Canterbury s h o r tly b e fo re
th e A rchbishop was murdered. John o f S a lisb u r y and H erbert
!
o f Bosham were engaged in c o n v e r sa tio n a s B ecket approached i
a t th e head o f a p r o c e ssio n * !
John o f S a lisb u r y .
The prim ate w alks
As one th&t d ie d , and r c j e , and d i e s no more.
H erb ert,
I n o te in him one s tr e n g th th e w orld d e t e c t s n o t;
For th e Church f o r o th e r s h ath seven sacram ents;
For him she k eep s an e ig h th — th e poor in C h r ist!
Lo th e r e ! As o f t e n a s he g iv e s them alm s
He la y s on them h i s hands.
John.
As one th a t lo v e s them?
H erb ert.
As one t h a t , to u c h in g them , draws s tr e n g th from God;
Wins more than he b esto w s. He s to p s ; he sta n d s; —
The e x i l e g a z e s on h is church a g a in .
47 l b l d . , p. 219 (V. v ) .
I 163
I Now d ie w h e n e 'e r God w i l l s t I n e v e r spake
That word b e f o r e . In th e e C h r i s t ' s Church h a th
co n q u ered .
To f u r th e r a c c e n tu a te t h i s C h r is t lik e f a c e t o f B e c k e t's
c h a r a c te r De V ere d e v is e d s e v e r a l s c e n e s in w h ich a f a m ilia r
c o n v e n tio n was u sed w h ich added a m y s t ic a l a i r to h i s p e r - |
|
s o n a l i t y . S e v e r a l tim e s i n th e p la y p r o p h e c ie s o f h i s j
i
m artyrdom had a p p ea red . For ex a m p le, in A ct V, Scene I I , a j
nun, Id o n ea d e L i s l e , had come to B eck et to t e l l him o f h e r j
v i s i o n ; sh e spok e o f h a v in g s e e n th e Em press and B e c k e t's
s i s t e r , b o th o f whom w ere d e a d , and o f how th e y had g iv e n
h e r a s h in in g shroud "For him whom m ost th o u l o v ' s t on
e a r t h . . . ,"^ 9 A ls o , sh e had b een g iv e n a ". . .crow n
whose r a d ia n c e quenched th e h e a v e n ly s ig n s ; /T h e s ta r -c r o w n 1
o f th e e l e c t who bore th e C r o s s ."5° A ll o f t h e s e s ig n s ;
foresh ad ow ed th e martyrdom o f Thomas B eck et and l e n t a
m y s t ic a l atm osp h ere t o h i s c h a r a c te r .
H e r b e tt o f Bosham, a l s o spoke o f a p rop h ecy o f th e
martyrdom o f Thomas B e c k e t:
I t was a t P o n tig n y . H is m ass j u s t s a id
W ith in th e c h a p e l o f th e p r o to -m a r ty r {~slSJ »
He k n e lt in p r a y e r . The w ords w e r e :— 'Thom as,
Thom as!'
'Who a r e th o u , L ord?' he a n sw ered . Then th e v o i c e ,
'Thom as, I am th y B r o th e r , and th y Lord:
4 8 I b i d . , pp. 2 2 4 -2 2 5 (V. v i ).
4 9 I b i d . , p. 199 (V . 1 1 ) .
5 ° I b l d . . p. 201 (V. i i ) .
I 164 |
! M y Church s h a ll In th y blood be g l o r i f i e d ,
And th o u in M e.'51
As Thomas approached th e hour o f d e a th , he became even
more l i k e th e protom artyr o f th e Church. On C hristm as
I
m orning, he preached a sermon in C h r is t 's Church a t C an ter- |
I
b u ry, w hich m ight w e ll have been a B ib lic a l d e s c r ip t io n o f
J e su s p rea ch in g . One o f th e monks who a tten d e d th e mass !
|
r ep o rted th e s e r v ic e and i t s e f f e c t i sp eak in g o f B eck et,
j
he s a i d :
Thus he began* ' I s t h i s a t war w ith peace?
Nay, t h i s a lo n e i s peace* b e r e ft o f a l l th in g s ,
Then most our God i s o u rsj and God i s p e a c e ,' ,
Next spake he o f th e s a in t s o f Canterbury*
'Ye have a m artyr lik e w is e , S t. E lp h eg e,
And God may g iv e you, f r ie n d s , e re lo n g a n o th e r .'
On a l l s id e s sob s b u rst f o r t h , and w a il was h eard , !
'F a th e r , d e s e r t us n o t ; ' — one l i t t l e moment
With them he wept; and th en in s tr e n g th resumed*
L ike some g r e a t anthem was th a t serm on 's c lo s e ,
The w hole church g low in g w ith se r a p h ic j o y . 5 2 j
O b v io u sly , De Vere had been a stu d en t o f th e B ib le . J
;For exam ple, t h i s sermon o f B e c k e t's rem inded one o f s e v e r a l
p a ssa g e s from th e B ib le , perhaps none more than C o rin th ia n s
14*33* w h ich s a y s , "For God i s n o t th e a u th o r o f c o n f u s io n ,
but o f P eace." T his was a most e f f e c t i v e d e v ic e fo r g iv in g I
th e hero a C h r is tlik e c h a r a c te r , and through out th e p la y De j
Vere made d e lib e r a t e use o f i t . Even a s he d ie d b e fo re th e
a l t a r in C anterbury C a th ed ra l, B ecket appeared C h r is t lik e
i
i
in h i s com p lete su b m ission to th e w i l l o f God. There was
51l b l d . . pp. 230-231 (V. i i i ) .
52I b i d . , p. 236 (V. x ).
165
i
none o f th e a c t i v e h ero ism w h ich had b een n o te d in p r e v io u s
p la y s . R a th er, he spok e o f th e w i l l o f God and th e Joy o f
d yin g*
I y i e l d Thee th a n k s , my Maker, and my God!
R e c e iv e my s o u l
For th e g r e a t name o f J e s u s , and t h a t Church
C lea n sed by H is s a v in g b lo o d , w ith Joy I d i e . 53 j
In o r d e r t h a t h i s C h r is tia n m artyr c o u ld be shown o f f
i n h i s f u l l s p le n d o r , De V ere s e t him a g a in s t th e background!
o f an u n ju s t and e m o tio n a lly im m ature K ing and h i s M ep h isto
p h e le a n a d v is o r s . For ex a m p le, he d id n o t p o r tr a y Henry I I
a s a Norman. R a th er, he p ic tu r e d him a s an a l i e n k in g
th ro u g h a sta te m e n t by Lord L ie c e s t e r *
Norman and Saxon d a i l y b len d i n England*
The k in g i s n e it h e r . S ir h e ’ s A n gevin
H is f a i t h f u l l e s t s u b j e c t s wej n o t l e s s we j
know him j
Of a l i e n r a c e — an a l i e n em peror j
W ho c o u n ts ou r England 'mid h i s s u b j e c t I
realm s* |
And seldom s e e s h er f a c e , 54
I
I t was th e K ing th e n , n o t B e c k e t, who was d e p ic te d a s an j
o u t s id e r .
H en r y 's n e g a t iv e c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n was a m p lif ie d by
B e c k e t* s r e s ig n a t io n from th e o f f i c e o f C h a n c e llo r . The
K ing r e c e iv e d th e news w ith v io l e n c e and im m atu rity*
K ing H enry.
To h u r l a t E n g la n d 's head E n g la n d 's G reat S e a l,
5 3 r b i d ., p. 248 (V. x i i ) .
3^1 b id . . p. 5 (I. i ) .
j 166
I
I At l a s t I know him ! T r a ito r !
(He t e a r s up th e l e t t e r , and f l i n g s i t on th e f i r e . )
Burn u n rea d ,
F ou l web o f l i e s ! T h ou .tb o* E n g la n d 's G reat S e a l, j
Once ty p e o f j u s t i c e and la w , t h i s day
Spurned from th e t r a i t o r ' s c lu t c h t h a t lo n g d e f i l e d
t h e e !
D is h o n o u r 's b adge! p oor c lo d o f kneaded v i l e n e s s ! !
I c r u sh th e e 'n e a th my f e e t ! |
(He tr a m p le s on th e G reat S e a l .) 5 5 j
W orking and f e e d in g upon t h i s im m a tu r ity o f th e K ing i
was two e v i l men, G ilb e r t F o l i o t (B ish o p o f London) and
John o f O xford (a p r i e s t and S e c r e ta r y to th e K in g ). They i
schemed a g a in s t B eck et w ith John u r g in g th e K ing to
Tax f i r s t th e p rim a te
W ith u n p a r tic ip a t e d c r im e sj h i s o n ly j
H is s p e c ia l f o r f e i t , h i s u n sh ared o f f e n c e »
Then s h a l l h i s b is h o p s le a v e him . One t h in g mores
See t h a t he 's c a p e n o t! n a i l him t o t h i s i s l e ! 5 6 |
A g a in , a t th e end o f A ct I I , S cen e I , Henry showed how
I
e v i l and c o r r u p t he had become under th e t u t e l a g e o f t h e s e
tw o:
K ing H enry.
W e want new la w s . The K ing m ust make h i s p r e l a t e s j
The c h a p te r s — sa y t h e i r d e l e g a t e s r a t h e r — met
n o t i n t h e i r m in is t e r s b u t h i s r o y a l c h a p e l,
Must r a t i f y h i s c h o ic e .
John o f O xford.
That tim e w i l l comej
But th e y th e a c t who f e a r n o t , f e a r th e sham e,
And w i l l n o t s in 1 ' th e su n . L eave a l l t o me.
5^1b id . . pp. 2^-25 (I. i v ) .
56I b i d . , p. 57 ( I I . i ) .
167 !
B reak , w here you ca n , th e co u ra g e o f th e b i sh o p sj
D iv id e them , ea ch from e a c h , k eep em pty lo n g
The v a c a n t s e e s . One hour some c r i s i s d ir e
S h a ll w rin g from th o s e proud lo r d s o f York and London
C onsent t o t h a t w h ich , u rged t h i s d a y , m igh t shake
I t s g l o s s from L i s i e u x ' s s i l k . When com es t h a t hour j
Your H ig h n ess s h a l l n o t m iss i t . j
I
K ing H enry. I
i
Look to t h a t 157
|
Thus d id De V ere w eave a background o f e v i l f o r h i s !
C h r is t lik e f ig u r e o f Thomas B e c k e t. |
i
A ubrey De V e r e 's d r a m a tiz a tio n o f th e s t r u g g le o f
Thomas B eck et a g a in s t h i s K in g 's e v i l dem ands c o u ld w e ll i
have b een c a l l e d "The G lo r io u s L if e o f th e M artyr, S t.
T hom as." I t had much o f th e rhythm and la n g u a g e o f a
m e d ie v a l m y stery p la y .
A n oth er T e s tim o n ia l t o S t . Thomas
Three y e a r s a f t e r De V e r e ' s S t . Thomas o f C anterbury
ap p eared i n p r i n t , C. T. W inter p u b lish e d h i s p la y , B eck et
( 1 8 7 9 ) . L ik e De V ere, he i n s i s t e d t h a t he had d e a l t
o b j e c t i v e l y w ith th e s t r u g g le b etw een Thomas and Henry:
I t i s n o t , h o w ev er, th e p u rp o se o f t h i s s to r y t o
a n a ly z e th e e x a c t amount o f r i g h t and wrong i n B e c k e t's
p r i n c i p l e s j o r to sa y w here and how he e r r e d in c a r r y in g
them o u t . I t ' s th e o b j e c t r a t h e r to show what th e man
r e a l l y was by h i s w ords and a c t i o n s — t o read them in
l i g h t o f h i s own t im e s , and a c c o r d in g t o th e v ie w ta k e n
by con tem p orary c h r o n i c l e r s .58
5 7 1 b id . , p . 60 ( I I . i ) .
^®C. T. W in ter, B eck et (London: R em ington & C o .,
1 8 7 9 )» P. v .
168
H ow ever, W in te r 's own w ords i n th e P r e fa c e t o th e play-
b e lle d t h i s s t a t e d I n t e n t and l e f t l i t t l e d ou b t t h a t h i s
d r a m a tiz a tio n w o u ld , i n f a c t , p a r a l l e l t h a t o f De V e r e 's .
i
I
The s t r u c t u r e , h o w ev er, o f W in te r 's p la y was d i f f e r e n t .j
He b egan th e a c t i o n o f th e p la y a t th e end o f B e c k e t 's I
i
s e v e n y e a r e x i l e , h e lp in g t o e s t a b l i s h th e s a i n t l y c h a r a c te r
o f B ec k et by n o t show in g th e c o n t r a s t o f h i s e a r l i e r s e c u la r
l i f e . I t gave B eck e t a much g r e a t e r u n it y o f c h a r a c te r than!
1
he had p r e v io u s ly had. The f i r s t sc e n e to o k p la c e n ea r
M o n tm ira il on Jan u ary 6 , 1169* B ec k e t and h i s f o llo w e r s t
w ere on t h e i r way t o a m e e tin g w ith Henry I I and L o u is o f
F r a n ce. They had hoped to end th e lo n g s t r u g g le b etw een
Church and S t a t e . B e c k e t, th o u g h , s e t th e to n e o f h i s
c h a r a c te r i n h i s f i r s t speech *
. . .1 w i l l n e v e r be
A t r a i t o r u n to Him to whom I owe
M y f i r s t a l l e g i a n c e — t o Him w hose m in is t e r
I am and whom I s e r v e — t o C h r is t my l o r d . 59
T h is was th e a t t i t u d e w h ich B ec k et m a in ta in e d th ro u g h o u t
th e p la y . He was w i l l i n g t o sub m it t o th e w is h e s o f th e
K ing i n a l l t h in g s e x c e p t th o s e w h ich c o n f l i c t e d w ith h i s
b e l i e f s and th e ca n o n s o f th e C hurch. There was no f l a g
g in g , no f a l t e r i n g i n h i s d e v o t io n t o God.
E a r ly in th e p la y W inter em p h asized th e s t e a d f a s t n e s s
o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r by h a v in g one o f h i s f o llo w e r s a sk
th e A rch b ish o p i f he w ould n o t co n ced e on th e fam ous p h r a se ,
59l b l d . . p. 1 (I. i ) .
169
i" S avin g G od 's H onour," In o r d e r t h a t th e y m igh t a l l go home
in p e a c e . B eck et r e p lie d *
Dear f r i e n d s , have p a t ie n c e ; w ould y e h ave me p le d g e
M y c o n s c ie n c e ? I t m ust be f r e e — u n f e t t e r e d ; j
And I m ust l i s t e n t o i t s w arn in g v o i c e .
'T is God g i v e s w lM om ; and remember t o o , !
That o f t e n w hat w ith men i s much esteem ed
To God i s h a t e f u l , and p ro v o k es H is w ra th .® °
Im m ed ia tely f o llo w in g t h i s s p e e c h , H erb ert o f Bosham sa id *
i
They a s k , th e y know n o t w h at. T h e ir s i s , I tr o w , j
Mere w o r ld ly p o l i c y — a d o in g o f i l l j
That good may come o f i t . A b a se su r r e n d e r
Of th e c i t a d e l u n to th e enem y.
Not th u s a r e won th e C h u rch 's v i c t o r i e s ! ,
Not th u s d id s a i n t s o f o l d , i n h e a th e n t im e s , I
P r e s s forw ard t o th e mark and w in th e p r i z e .
They lo v e d n o t t h e i r l i v e s u n to d e a th ,
And ' t i s f o r u s to f o llo w i n t h e i r s t e p s .® 1
T h is was th e f i r s t w arn in g o f what i n e v i t a b l y fo llo w e d and
th e f i r s t fo r e b o d in g o f B e c k e t 's m artyrdom . I t e s t a b lis h e d i
th e s t e a d f a s t n e s s o f h i s r e l i g i o u s b e l i e f s . j
At th e C o u n cil K ing L o u is a tte m p te d t o r e s o l v e th e
f i g h t b etw een th e two o ld f r ie n d s by p o in t in g o u t to Henry
t h a t a p r i e s t was s e t a p a r t and m ust g iv e h i s f i r s t a l l e
g ia n c e t o th e K ing o f K in g s, and i f B eck e t w ere tr u e to
C h r is t he w ould c e r t a i n l y be tr u e to H enry. H ow ever, he
d id n o t make much o f an im p r e s s io n on H enry, who sa id *
I f he w i l l sw ear a l l e g i a n c e u n to me,
W ithout r e s e r v e , I w i l l r e s t o r e a l l r i g h t s ,
A ll r e v e r e n c e s t h a t t o th e E n g lis h Church,
And to h i s See b e lo n g — b u t h e r e he com es
6°I bid. . p. 5 (I. i).
61Ibid.
I 170
i
W ith a l l h i s f o llo w e r s ; lo o k in g h im s e lf ,
A k in g — -proud and s e l f - w i l l e d a s L u c if e r .
The C o u n c il proved n o th in g and ended i n a d e a d lo c k ,
b o th men c l i n g i n g d o g g e d ly t o t h e i r p r i n c i p l e s . Henry
argu ed v e r y e f f e c t i v e l y , a c c u s in g B ec k e t o f t r y in g to
o b fu s c a te th e r e a l i s s u e . He s a id o f B e c k e t, "The w ick ed
f l e e when no man d o th p u r su e , "63 an< j . i n s i s t e d t h a t th e
A rch b ish o p had f le d from E ngland o n ly b e c a u se o f h i s own
bad c o n s c ie n c e . He was so c o n v in c in g t h a t L o u is tu rn ed
a g a in s t B e c k e t, whom he had p r o t e c te d f o r th e p a s t se v e n
y e a r s , and adm onished him f o r n o t g iv in g i n t o H en ry 's
w is h e s . S t i l l , B eck et h e ld t o h i s b e l i e f s , d e s p i t e th e
in su rm o u n ta b le odds a g a in s t him . He a p o lo g iz e d t o L o u is i
Most n o b le K ing o f F r a n c e , i n whom I se e
P r o t e c t o r , f r ie n d and c o u n s e llo r , I g r ie v e
To seem t o th e e r e b e l l i o u s , w i l f u l , proud!
For p r id e and w i l f u l n e s s becom eth n o t
A m in is t e r o f C h r is t — o f Him who sto o p e d
For u s t o su ch u n fa th o m a b le d e p th s .
To t h e e , my l o r d , a s a v in g c la u s e may seem
A t h in g o f sm a ll a c c o u n t, o r c o n se q u e n c e ;
I f s o , i t seem s to be what i t i s n o t;
For i n i t l i e s th e s a f e t y o f th e Church. . . .
B eck et c o n tin u e d th e sp e e c h ;
I f I w ere f a l s e
To Him who i s th e K ing o f K in g s, how c o u ld
M y e a r t h ly K ing depend upon my lo y a lt y ?
I f I am tr u e t o C h r is t; I s h a l l be tr u e
To him . I f f a l s e t o C h r is t , th e n f a l s e to
him . . . . 6 5
62I b l d . , p. 8 ( I . i i ) . 63I b l d . . p. 11 ( I . i i ) .
^ I b i d . , p. 13 (I. i v ) . 65 l b i d . , p. lb (I. i i ) .
! The c o u n c il ended w ith o u t s u c c e s s , and a s B eck e t
r e tu r n e d w ith h i s f o llo w e r s to t h e i r encam pm ent, th e y
harangued him to com prom ise w ith K ing H enry so t h a t th e y
m igh t r e tu r n t o t h e i r homes i n E n g la n d . F i n a l l y , he tu rn ed
;to them , s a y in g i
I t g r ie v e s me much t h a t any one o f you
Should th in k o f me u n k in d ly ; b u t i t g r ie v e s
M e more t h a t you sh o u ld s e t ou r e a r t h ly w ea l
B e fo re C h r i s t ' s h on ou r. M oses d id n o t so
When c a s t i n g h i s l o t w ith G od 's p e o p le ,
He co u n ted a l l a f f l i c t i o n s borne f o r them
B e t t e r th a n E g y p t's t r e a s u r e . 66
Even when K ing L o u is th r e a te n e d t o abandon B e c k e t and
b a n ish him from F r a n c e, th e A rch b ish o p rem ained calm and
s t e a d f a s t in h i s b e l i e f s , sim p ly s a y in g t h a t w h a tev er
h ap p en ed , "I am c o n te n t t o w a it H is w i l l . "^7
W ith in th e f i r s t two a c t s , th e p la y w r ig h t was a b le t o
e s t a b l i s h B eck et a s a co u r a g eo u s and s t a lw a r t C h r is tia n
h e r o , who had b een w i l l i n g t o make any s a c r i f i c e f o r h i s
b e l i e f i n C h r is t and th e Church. He a ffir m e d t h i s p o s i t i o n
m ost v i v i d l y a t th e b e g in n in g o f A ct I I I , S cen e I I I *
Men th in k t h a t r i c h e s
Are a l l p o w e r fu l; th e y d e s p is e th e ch ea p —
And w hat i s f r e e t o a l l — a s n o th in g w o rth .
That i s th e law o f b a r te r ,, and in th a t
H old s good; b u t God be th a n k ed , i t i s n o t tr u e
Of t h in g s o f g r e a t e s t w o rth — l o v e , h on ou r, p e a c e ,
C o n ten t. T hese money ca n n o t b u y, and y e t
They a r e w it h in th e r e a c h o f e v e r y one
W ho v a lu e s them a s G od 's b e s t g i f t s t o men.
66I b i d . , p. 20 ( I . i i i ).
67I b i d . , p. 22 (I. i l l ) .
172
1 And so o f h e a v e n ly t h in g s — g r a c e , g lo r y ,
And th e b le s s e d g i f t s t h a t C h r is t h a th p u rch ased
For h i s p e o p le . In t h i s w orld th e y a r e p o o r,
D e s p is e d , an d , l i k e t h e i r M a ster, s u f f e r in g
O fte n tim e s e x tr e m e s t woe— y e t h e i r s o f God!
The r i c h man d i e s , and s c r i p t o f a l l d o th le a v e
H is w e a lth t o o t h e r s j b u t th e r i c h i n f a i t h
Do g a in by d e a th th e p o r t io n t h a t ' s r e s e r v e d
For them in H eaven.
T h is was v e r y r e m in is c e n t o f Jam es 2 * l-5 » and i t was o n ly
i
one o f th e many B i b l i c a l a l l u s i o n s w h ich W inter u sed to
h e lp e s t a b l i s h B e c k e t's C h r is t lik e c h a r a c te r . R ep resen
t a t i v e ex a m p les a r e f u r t h e r l i s t e d *
( 1 )
( 2 )
(3 )
(4 )
68I b i d . .
PP.. 4 9 -5 0 ( I I I , i l l ) ,
69I b i d . .
P.
22 ( I . i l l ) .
7° I b i d . .
P. 35 ( I I . 1 1 ) .
71I b l d . .
P.
4 6 ( I I . i i ) .
72I b i d . .
P.
48 ( I I I , i i i ) .
He who d i s t r u s t s th e Mercy o f o u r g od ,
I s b u t an i n f i d e l , o r w o r se . . . .6 9
( T it u s 3 * 4 -1 1 )
A la s ! we do n o t g a th e r g r a p e s from t h o r n s ,
Nor f i g s from t h i s t l e s 7 ° (M at. 7*16)
And he who sm ote th e t r e e b e c a u se i t was
A sym bol and s ig n o f f a l s e p r e t e n s e —
Of outw ard show and inw ard r o t t e n n e s s ,
Of fa ls e h o o d and d e c e i t — w i l l sm ite th e man
Of whom t h a t b a rren t r e e was t y p i c a l . 71
(M at. 7 * 1 7 -2 0 )
M y l i f e , I know,
S h a ll pay th e f o r f e i t * b u t ou r Lord h a th s a id
That he who b a s e ly s a v e s h i s l i f e s h a l l l o s e
E te r n a l l i f e . 72 (John 12*25)
173
j (5 ) The r i c h man d i e s t and s t r i p t o f a l l d o th le a v e
H is w e a lth t o o t h e r s ; b u t th e r i c h i n f a i t h
Do g a in by d e a th th e p o r t io n t h a t ' s r e s e r v e d
For them i n H e a v e n ,73 (P sa lm s 4 -9 :6 -1 0 )
(6 ) Tho' v ic t o r in th e s t r i f e , must f a l l , th a t sh e ,
C h r is t 's Church, may r i s e , 'T is n ot by l i f e but
d e a th
That I s h a l l c o n q u e r . 74- (Homan 8 t 3 6 -3 9 )
(7 ) Tho' k in g s stand up and r u le r s c o u n se l tak e j
A gain st th e Lord, and though th e p eo p le r a g e , j
Yet God s h a ll la u g h a t them and c a s t them !
dow n.75 (P salm s 2 :1 -4 -) j
I
(8 ) I know t h a t ye h ave come to ta k e my l i f e , i
But I make God my s h i e l d , I f e a r y e n o t , 7 6
(P sa lm s 23:4—6)
F in a lly , W inter h elp ed c r e a te an aura o f s a i n t l i n e s s
around B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r by in tr o d u c in g s e v e r a l sc e n e s in i
w hich Thomas' martyrdom had been p ro p h esied by dream or
v i s i o n .
B eck et f i r s t p r e d ic te d h i s m artyrdom j u s t p r io r t o
h i s r e tu r n to C an terb u ry, H ea rin g rum ors o f t h r e a t s
a g a in s t h i s l i f e i f he w ere t o r e tu r n t o E n g la n d , he a sk ed
H erb ert o f Bosham f o r a d v ic e , H e r b e r t, a r e l i g i o u s z e a l o t ,
u rged B eck et t o r e tu r n t o E ngland and t o ". . . f e a r n o t
man, /H e ca n n o t harm th e e t i l l th y work be d o n e , "77 B eck et
a g r e e d w ith him , but d e c la r e d t h a t he w ould be m arty red .
73I b l d . . p. 50 ( I I I . i l l ) .
7^1 b id . . p. 84- (IV . v ) .
7 5 i b i d . , p. 86 (IV . v i ) .
7^1b id . . p. 101 (V. i ) .
77i b l d . . p . 52 ( I I I . i i i ) .
17^
'when H erb ert a sk ed him how he knew t h i s , B eck et r e p l i e d i
'Twas i n a dream .
I dream t I was a t Rome p le a d in g my c a u s e ,
When s e v e r a l o f th e h o s t i l e c a r d in a ls
Rushed a t me, d e a lin g b lo w s m ost s a v a g e ly .
And th e n th e y ch a n g ed , m eth o u g h t, t o armed men,
Who, w ith t h e i r naked sw o rd s, s tr u c k o u t a t me,
D e f e n s e le s s . I f e l t th e c o ld s t e e l d esc en d
W ith c r u e l f o r c e on my b are h ead — and th e n
I woke! I t was a dream j b u t su re I am
I t was a p ic t u r e o r p r e se n tim e n t
Of what w i l l be! I t w i l l come t r u e , I k n o w . 7 °
Of c o u r s e , t h i s a c c o u n t o f th e p rop h ecy o f h i s own
martyrdom was n o t an u n tr ie d o r u n u su a l t h e a t r i c a l d e v i c e ,
s in c e , a s A lon zo Brown h a s s a id i
The martyrdom o f B eck et was n a t u r a lly th e c e n t e r
around w h ich a ccu m u la ted a la r g e group o f le g e n d s . I t
was b e lie v e d t h a t th e murder had b een r e v e a le d t o s e v
e r a l p e r so n s b e fo r e th e e v e n t , and a t th e tim e o f i t s
o c c u r r e n c e had b een m ir a c u lo u s ly announced i n d i s t a n t
p l a c e s . 79
A ls o , th e s t o r y — e s s e n t i a l l y th e same a s i t had b een r e
p o rted i n th e p la y — can be found i n th e a c c o u n t o f H erb ert
Bosham a s i t ap p eared in th e R o lls S e r i e s .
The secon d p a ssa g e o f th e martyrdom o f B ec k et was
r e v e a le d i n th e dream o f P r in c e s s Joan n a, th e d a u g h te r o f
Henry I I . T h is was th e manner in w h ich she r e la t e d th e
dream t o h er fa th e r *
7®i b i d . , p. 53 ( H I . H D .
^ A lo n z o Brown, The Developm ent o f th e Legend o f Thomas
B ecket (P h ila d e lp h ia * U n iv e r s ity o f P en n sylvan ia P r e s s ,
1 9 3 0 ), P. 1 0 8 . ____________
I 175
I dream t o f m urder, o u tr a g e , s a c r i l e g e .
Armed men w ere i n th e ch u rch . The monks w ere th e r e
And th e o th e r h o ly men; b u t th e y a l l f l e d ,
And h id th e m s e lv e s , sa v e o n ly one o r tw o .
W ho sto o d w ith t h e i r d e a r m a ster B e c k e t. Y es,
'Twas h e , and th e r e he sto o d im m ovable.
He w ould n o t f l y b e fo r e h i s e n e m ie s.
And th e n th e y s tr u c k him down; w h ile h e , a l a s !
Most m eek ly bowed h i s h ea d , and s a id , my lo r d ,
That he w ould g la d ly d i e f o r C h r i s t ' s good c a u s e . ;
F a th e r , I know t h a t dream s o f t t im e s p r e sa g e
What i s t o b e ,™ ;
i
A lon g w ith th e p r e v io u s ly c i t e d s c e n e , t h i s h e lp e d t o g iv e j
B eck et th e m y s t ic a l q u a l i t y o f a C h r is t lik e f ig u r e . i
The p la y w r ig h t a l s o u sed th e lo v e o f th e common p e o p le
I
and t h e i r h a tr e d o f th e Norman n o b i l i t y a s a d e v ic e f o r
g i v i n g th e A rch b ish op a s a n c t i f i e d a i r . In a sc e n e w h ich
d e p ic te d B e c k e t's r e tu r n to E n glan d , G ervase De C o r n h e lle
( S h e r i f f o f K en t) and Randolph De Broc th r e a te n e d h i s l i f e
i f h e d id n o t a b s o lv e th e E n g lis h b is h o p s w h ich h e had j
excom m u n icated . U n d o u b ted ly , th e y would have c a r r ie d o u t
t h e i r t h r e a t s i f i t had n o t b een f o r th e ", . .t w i c e te n
i
th ou san d men— th e s t a lw a r t men o f K en t. . . , "81 They had
come t o show t h e i r Joy a t th e A r c h b ish o p 's r e tu r n an d , f o r
th e moment, saved h i s l i f e .
A ls o , th e p e o p le tu rn ed o u t by th e th o u sa n d s t o m eet
him a t Sandw ich, th e p la y w r ig h t g iv in g w ords o f p r a is e to
s e v e r a l o f th e c i t i z e n s i n t h i s sc e n e t o show th e lo v e o f
t h e common p e o p le f o r t h e i r s p i r i t u a l F a th e r . I t was
®°Winter, op. c l t . . p. 76 (IV. i i i ) .
8 l I b ld . . p. 58 ( I I I . i v ) .
I 176
* H erb ert o f Bosham*s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e i r t r i p from th e
c o a s t to C an terb u ry w h ich m ost v i v i d l y showed t h i s f a c e t
o f B e c k e t's c h a r a c t e r . H e r b e r t's d e s c r i p t i o n w as ex ten d ed
f o r n e a r ly fo u r p a g e s and i s f a r to o lo n g t o s e t down h ere
i n i t s e n t i r e t y . By u s in g th e f o llo w in g p a s s a g e s , h ow ever,
;i t i s p o s s i b l e t o s e e how th e p la y w r ig h t had p a r a l l e l e d
B e c k e t* s r e tu r n t o C an terb u ry w ith C h r i s t ' s triu m p h an t
e n tr y i n t o Jeru salem *
H erb ert De Bosham.
I t was a f e s t i v a l o f w elcom e home,
And l i k e t o t h a t , m e th in k s, o f w h ich we read
When a l l J e r u sa le m w en t o u t t o m eet
The H oly O n e .82
Men th rew t h e i r n e w e st garm en ts i n th e way
For him t o w alk up on , and s a id , 'God b l e s s
Our good a r c h b ish o p — b le s s e d i s he who com eth
In God' s name.* 83
He d id o u ts h in e , m eth in k s, a crowned King;
W hile in h i s Jew eled hand he h e ld a l o f t
H is p a s to r a l s t a f f , a s i t w ere, in d e e d ,
The s c e p tr e o f a p r in c e —a s ig n o f r o y a lty .
He used but sim p le words*
Yet e lo q u e n t in t h e i r s im p lic it y
And e a r n e s tn e s s ; th e y b reath ed but lo v e and hope,
They were f o r th o se around— f o r f r ie n d s , n ot f o e s .
The p e o p le 's Joy a t h i s r e tu r n had been
A g la d su r p r is e to him. The s h i e l d ' s r e v e r se
He had n o t y e t b e h e ld . The b i t t e r h a te
And p e r s e c u tio n o f h i s enem ies
He had n o t f e l t .
82I b ld . . p. 60 ( I I I . v ) .
83I b ld . . p. 61 ( I I I . v ) .
8^I b ld . . pp. 62-63 ( I I I . v ) .
| 177
i Through B e c k e t's a c t io n , h is e x te n s iv e u se o f B ib lic a l
la n g u a g e, and h is m y s tic a l n atu re W inter was a b le to c r e a te
a c h a r a c t e r iz a tio n o f B ecket which p a r a lle le d th e l i v e s o f
i
C h r ist and th e A p o s tle s .
P r o te s ta n t Martyr
A lthough th e American p la y w rig h t A lfre d W aite ch a ra c-
j
t e r iz e d B ecket a s a C h r istia n m artyr, h is approach was |
!
e n t i r e ly d i f f e r e n t from th o se c r e a te d by De Vere and W inter.:
In th e p la y Thomas Beket f s l c l or The M itre and th e Crown
W aite made th e A rchbishop a P r o te s ta n t. That i s , he made
B ecket appear v e ry c r i t i c a l o f th e Pope and th e "corrupt"
Church w h ile s t i l l rem ain in g a d evou t C h r is tia n .
Another v a r ia t io n on th e c h a r a c te r iz a t io n o f B ecket
r e s u lt e d from W aite making him a w o r ld ly C h a n c ello r, who
was a stau n ch enemy o f th e Church.
i
In th e e a r l i e s t p a rt o f th e p la y , B ecket had appeared j
a s a C h a n cello r who was determ ined th a t th e Church should
obey th e law s o f th e S ta te and th e commands o f th e K ing.
i
I
T h is was c le a r l y shown in Act I , Scene i i i , when he met
w ith th e b ish o p s and A rchbishop Theobald to i n s i s t th a t
th e y pay a s h ie ld ta x to th e Crown. There was c o n sid e r a b le
a r g u in g ov er th e m a tter , and B ecket f i n a l l y s a id i
He who
Cannot, w i l l n o t, pay th e d eb t i s bankrupt
I 178
j
In l o y a lt y * and I , by th e K in g 's le a v e
T h rea ten —
B e fo r e he co u ld c o n t in u e , h ow ever, A rch b ish o p T heobald
s ile n c e d him , and th e r e fo llo w e d a h e a te d argum ent b etw een
th e tw o. The o ld A rch b ish o p became so e m o tio n a l t h a t h i s
a lr e a d y weakened c o n d it io n w o rsen ed , and he d ie d . B eck et
s t a r t e d to ru sh t o him i n th o s e l a s t m om ents, b u t th e o ld
man m otion ed him aw ay. N ever had Thomas ap p eared more
d aem on ic; on e would h ave th o u g h t t h a t he was d e s t in e d to
become th e v i l l a i n o f th e p la y . W a ite 's c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n
o f B e c k e t, h ow ever, was a c t u a l l y a u n iq u e v a r i a t io n o f th e
C h r is tia n h ero f ig u r e .
No so o n e r had th e p la y w r ig h t e s t a b lis h e d B e c k e t's
daem onic n a tu r e , th a n he r e v e r s e d i t by r e v e a lin g a new
found f a i t h i n B e c k e t. A ct I , Scene v , i s d e v o te d to t h i s
tr a n s fo r m a tio n . For ex a m p le, a t th e b e g in n in g o f t h i s
I
sc e n e B eck et s o lilo q u iz e d *
T h is morn, I saw w retch ed P a t e r in e s ,
W ith branded f r o n t and la c e r a t e d sh o u ld e r s*
U n c h a r ita b le w in t e r , a s th e y p a s s e d ,
W h istled up f i e r c e h u n g er’ s h ou n d s, to tr a c k them
T i l l th e y p e r is h . R e lig io n w ith u n g e n tle hands
Had c lo s e d th e e y e s o f sw eet c o m p a ssio n ,
That h a te a lo n e m igh t g a ze on h e r e t i c s .
They m arched f o r t h s e r e n e ly c o n f id e n t ,
As i f God le d them . I q u a ile d b e n e a th th e g la n c e
Of on e o f t h e s e w hose lo o k d id q u e s t io n me*—
'W ou ld st th o u th u s much f o r r ig h te o u s n e s s ? *
T ruth sp ra n g t o my l i p s and answ ered ' n o . '
P a le r e s o l u t i o n f l e d my c o u n te n a n c e ,
And t r a i t o r shame d id h o i s t h i s e n s ig n t h e r e .
A lfr e d W a ite, Thomas B e k e t, o r th e M itre and th e Crown
I ( Bo s to n * p r i v a t e ly p r in t e d , 1 8 8 2 ) , p. l 4 ( I . i l l ) .
179
1 Though t h e s e men s in n 'd and j u s t l y w ere condem ned»
Y et I was n e v e r humbled so b e f o r e .
What w a s 't t h a t humbled me? What w a s 't made them
I n s e n s ib le t o p ain ? Nay w elcom e
b u f f e r in g w ith s m ile s a s t 'w e r e a b le s s in g ?
H e ll had no sh a re in t h a t . Som etim es I th in k
The w o r ld 's h a tr e d s e c u r e th h e a v e n 's lo v e *
And e a r t h ' s d e s p is e d a r e G od 's n o b i l i t y .
: i
T h is was th e f i r s t s ig n o f B eck et t u r n in g tow ard r e l i g i o n . |
In th e same s c e n e , Henry announced t o Thomas t h a t he was t o |
I
become th e n e x t A rch b ish op o f C an terb u ry. A g a in , B eck et !
i
e x p r e s se d s e lf - d o u b t , and warned th e K ing t h a t t h i s would
s u r e ly b r in g c o n f l i c t s b etw een them . E v e n t u a lly , h ow ever,
B eck et a c c e p te d th e i n e v i t a b i l i t y o f h i s b ecom ing Archbishopi.
With m is g iv in g s and a n x ie t y he tu rn ed t o th e B ib le f o r (
g u id a n c e , sp e a k in g t o h im s e lf i
i
I have known men when e a r t h ly c o u n s e l f a i l e d , ;
Haphazard tu r n th e p a g es o f th e H oly Book
And read th e p a s s a g e s w here th e in d e x r e s t e d .° 7
He th e n tu rn ed th e p a g e s u n t i l h e sto p p ed a t th e f o llo w in g
p a s s a g e i
No man can s e r v e two m a s te r s , f o r e i t h e r
He w i l l h a te th e o n e , and lo v e th e o t h e r i o r he
W ill h o ld t o th e o n e , and d e s p is e th e o t h e r .
Ye ca n n o t s e r v e God and mammon. T h e re fo re
I sa y u n to y o u , ta k e no th o u g h t f o r y o u r l i f e ,
What ye s h a l l e a t , o r what y e s h a l l d r in k j n or y e t
For you r body what y e s h a l l p u t o n . “8
B eck et had tu rn ed to Mat. 6 x 2 5 » and w it h in i t he had found
a c l e a r s o lu t io n to h i s dilem m a. He now r e a l i z e d t h a t he
86I b i d ., pp. 19-20 ( I . v ) .
87I b i d ., p. 26 ( I . v ) .
88I b i d . , pp. 26-27 (I. v ) .
j 180 I
; |
c o u ld n o t s e r v e b o th God and K ing H enry. T hus, a m ir a c u lo u s
change o c cu rr e d In B e c k e t* s c h a r a c t e r , and h e sw ore a l l e
g ia n c e t o God w ith a s much s tr e n g t h a s he had p r e v io u s ly
sworn t o th e K in g.
Thomas was a s u n sh a k a b le i n h i s new f a i t h a s he had j
i
b een i n h i s o ld . He was now c o m p le te ly d e d ic a te d t o God and?
th e Church. H ow ever, a s we s h a l l s e e somewhat l a t e r , h i s j
d e v o t io n t o th e Church was a s a r e fo r m e r , n o t a s a su b
m is s iv e f o llo w e r . W aite h e lp e d to s tr e n g th e n th e p ic t u r e
o f B eck et a s a d e v o u t C h r is tia n w ith th e f o llo w in g ex a m p le, j
i
w h ich was a r e p ly t o John o f S a lis b u r y ’ s and H erb ert o f
Bosham’ s q u e s t io n s a b o u t h i s I n t e g r i t y . They ch id ed him
ab o u t p u t t in g a s id e h i s r i c h garm en ts f o r a m onkish g a rb ,
t o w h ich h e r e p lie d :
You w ould ju d ge my g o o d n e ss by my !
C ostum e, t h a t ' s n o t wisdom j men a r e l i k e b o o k s, j
The n o b le s t m a t t e r 's o f t e n found b en ea th
A w o r t h le s s d r e s s , and c o s t l y c o v e r in g s
D is a p p o in t, when we d is c e r n th e w e a k n e sse s
They h id e . T h is g a rb becom es me, I in d ee d
Rank f i r s t in s u b j e c t d i g n i t y , and y e t
The p o o r e s t b eg g a r i n th e rea lm i s r ic h e r i
In G od 's g r a c e . You w ere c o u n tin g up th e c o s t
Of o p p o s it io n t o th e K ing; t h i n k ' s t th o u
Those w ere th e s w e e ts t h a t made my sh a r e o f l i f e
More p a la ta b le ? R oyal fa v o r means
I n j u s t i c e , and w here t h a t i s , r o y a lt y
I s c r im e . He b u ild s on c lo u d s who t r u s t s th e r e o n .
W ealth? Should man i n h i s l i t t l e b r e a th in g tim e ,
E xh au st h im s e lf by e a g e r s t r i v i n g
In th e mad r a c e f o r w e a lth , when a t th e g o a l
The v i c t o r ' s s tr ip p e d o f e v e r y penny _
And C ro esu s s ta n d s a pauper i n th e s ig h t o f H eaven !0 '
89I b l d . , p. 36 ( I I . i ) .
| 181
iH is a t t i t u d e In t h i s sp e e c h c l e a r l y marked him a s a penu
r io u s and C h r is t lik e man.
In o r d e r t o cap t h i s moment o f a c t i o n , th e p la y w r ig h t
had B ec k e t ch a rg e h i s two f r ie n d s w ith r e tu r n in g th e G reat
S e a l o f E ngland t o H enry, th u s s i g n i f y i n g t h a t he was
I
r e s ig n in g h i s w o r ld ly p ow ers.
N o th in g swayed Thomas a f t e r t h i s moment. N e ith e r
c o a x in g n o r th r e a te n in g shook him from h i s f a i t h and d e v o - I
t i o n . For exam p le, th e K in g 's t h r e a t s a t th e Southam pton
(N ortham pton) C o u n cil c r e a te d no f e a r i n B ecket? r a t h e r , he i
r e p lie d t o H en ry 's t h r e a t , "Too l a t e / W ilt th o u r e g r e t t h a t
th o u h a s t tu rn ed th y b a c k / On f r i e n d s h i p , "9° w ith i
When f r i e n d s h i p ' s in c o m p a tib le
W ith d u ty th e r e i s no a l t e r n a t i v e ,
I f h o n e sty means what I t s h o u ld . There i s
The p o l e - s t a r ; n o t t h e r e . 91
H ow ever, B eck et l a t e r e x p e r ie n c e d a moment o f u n c e r -
i
t a i n t y and was p ersu ad ed t o s ig n what became h i s t o r i c a l l y |
known a s th e C laren d on C o n s t it u t io n . Im m ed ia tely a f t e r
s ig n in g i t he d ou b ted th e w is e n e s s o f h i s d e c i s i o n . He
r e t r a c t e d h i s c o n s e n t and vowed t h a t he w ould " f a l t e r
n e v er m o r e." 9 2
T h is was B e c k e t's f i n a l r e s o lv e t o be a b s o l u t e l y tr u e
t o God and th e Church. He r e fu s e d to be shaken by th e w ild
t h r e a t s o f th e K ing and h i s b a ro n s a t th e N ortham pton
9° I b l d . . p. ^5 ( I I . H i ) . 91 I b i d .
92I b ld . , p. 51 (II . l v ) .
! 182
m e e tin g , a lth o u g h th e y w ere aim ed a t h i s f r ie n d s and th e
Church, a s w e ll a s h im s e lf . Even w ith th e p le a s o f h i s
b is h o p s and th e t h r e a t s o f h i s f o e s r in g in g i n h i s e a r s , he
tu rn ed on Henry s a y in g , "Not s o , h i s sword can c u t my b o d y /
And f e l l me t o th e e a r th ; my c r o s s can w ound/ H is s o u l and
sm ite him down t o h e ll! " 9 3
Out o f j e a lo u s y and a f e a r f o r t h e i r own s a f e t y th e
b is h o p s abandoned him to s id e w ith th e K in g. S e e in g t h a t
he was co rn ered B eck et r e s o r te d t o a l e g a l d e v ic e t o sa v e
h im s e lf and th e Church. The f o llo w in g sc e n e a g a in i l l u s
t r a t e d h i s g r e a t s t r e n g t h and co u ra g e i n f i g h t i n g th e
c o r r u p t K ing and h i s e v i l b a ro n s;
B e k e t. I ' l l n o t sub m it so ta m e ly !
I c la im th e a r b itr a m e n t o f th e Pope,
To whom, b e fo r e you a l l , I do a p p e a l;
And now commit my Church o f C a n terb u ry ,
M y o f f i c e , and a l l t h a t ' s a p p e r t a in in g ,
Unto h i s d i r e c t i o n ; n or s h a l l you e sc a p e
M y f e l lo w B is h o p s, who f e a r e a r t h ly power
More th a n h e a v e n ly j u s t i c e . I summon you
To th e a u d ie n c e o f th e P op e, and now d e p a r t
As from th e en em ies o f th e C a th o lic Church
And a p o s t o l i c s e e .
K in g. The v i l l a i n h a th
D isarm ed u s!
T racy. T r a ito r !
B r it o . T h ie f!
F it z U r se. P e r ju r e r !
De B roc. L ia r !
93I b l d . . p. 72 ( I I I . i v ) .
i 183
! B e k e t. Thou a r t v e r y b rave De B ro c, I saw th e e
But y e s t e r n ig h t e n t e r a p e a s a n t 's c o t ,
And h eard th e e u t t e r f o u l e s t m a le d ic t io n s
A g a in st an aged woman. Her w o lf-h o u n d
G row led, w h erea t th o u s a ld s t * 'g o o d d o g , n ic e
d o g , sw e e t d o g .' I
The m agn anim ity t h a t c u r se d th y k in ,
Could com plim ent a b r u t e , when th o u d i d s t f e a r
'Tw ould b i t e t h e e ! 9**
i
That sc e n e had ta k e n p la c e a t th e end o f A ct IV? when ;
I J
we r e tu r n t o th e a c t i o n o f th e p la y In A ct V, B e c k e t* s j
s e v e n y e a r s o f e x i l e had p a s s e d , and h e was a b o u t t o r e tu r n I
t o C an terb u ry. There was much t a l k o f th e d a n g er t h a t
a w a ite d him In E n g la n d , a n d , a g a in , th e p la y w r ig h t r e v e a le d j
th e co u ra g e o f B e c k e t. F it z S te p h e n 's d e s c r i p t i o n t o Becket;
o f th e King* s m a n ia c a l ra g e and t h r e a t s tow ard th e A rch
b ish o p showed th e co u ra g e and s t e a d f a s t n e s s o f B ec k et In th e
f a c e o f im m inent d a n g er .
B e k e t. They t h r e a te n me you say?
F it z S. W ith d e a th i f you d a r e v e n tu r e on t h i s er ra n d ,
B e k e t. S h a ll t h a t d e la y me? T h r e a ts a r e f o r
th o s e
W ho f e a r i
Courage i s th e s o u l o f a l l en d ea v o rs
The c a u se i s dead t h a t h a th i t n o t.°->
From t h i s p o in t on th e p la y w as h e a v i l y in t e r s p e r s e d
w ith s p e e c h e s and p h r a se s d e s ig n e d t o show B e c k e t 's t r u s t
and f a i t h i n Gods
i
^ I b ld . . pp. 7^-75 ( I I I . i v ) .
95i b l d . . pp. 79-80 (IV. i ) .
| 184
j
! (1 ) Our b ir t h i s th e b e g in n in g ,
Of o u r d e a th f o u r l i f e a lo n g f a r e w e ll,
(2 ) Weep n o t ,
O m nipotence w ith t e n d ' r e s t e y e b e h o ld s
The w e a k e st s t r a g g l e r ." '
(3 ) G od 's p i t y co m p a sseth t h i s l i t t l e w o r ld .9^
I
(4 ) He t h a t i s tr u e t o H eaven ca n n o t be f a l s e j
To man! |
(5 ) Were I t o s h r in k a s i f g a lle d !
From th e b u rd en , T 'w ould p rove my l i f e h a s had
But l i t t l e p u rp o se i n ' t . 100 '
(6 ) B e k e t. O' f a i t h f u l Grim! A jo y u n sp ea k a b le
P o s s e s s e t h me. j
Grim. 'T is d e a th .
B e k e t. And d e a th i s v i c t o r y . 101
To a id i n th e d ev elo p m en t o f B e c k e t's h e r o ic c h a r a c te r ,!
K ing Henry was p o r tr a y e d a s a t y r a n n ic a l r u l e r , who, a s he
was p la n n in g t o i n s t a l l Thomas i n th e See a t C a n terb u ry ,
s a id t o h im s e lf , " I f d e te r m in a tio n can a c c o m p lish a u g h t ,/
I w i l l be t r u l y m onarch, and c o n t r o l / The Church a s w e ll a s
!
r u le t h e S t a t e ." 102 j
9 6 I b l d . . p. 82 (IV . i i ) .
9 7 I b id .
" i b i d . , p. 83 (IV . i i ) .
9 9 i b l d . . p. 90 (V. i i ) .
100I b i d . , p. 92 (V. i i ) .
1 01I b i d . , p . 9^ (V. i l l ).
1 0 2 I b l d . . p . 9 ( I . i i ) .
! I t came a s no s u r p r is e , th e n , th a t th e King was a lm o st
b e sid e h im s e lf when he found th a t B ecket d id n ot in te n d to
a c t a s m erely h is pawn, but in th e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f th e
Church. Henry showed h is e v i l c h a r a c te r when he f i r s t
planned to r id h im s e lf o f B ecket by b r in g in g f a l s e ch a rg es i
j
a g a in s t him. The e v iln e s s o f h is a c t was fu r th e r heightened!
by one o f th e most M ep histoph elean c h a r a c te r s in th e p la y , i
John o f O xford. !
i
The e v i l n atu re o f Henry was b e s t summed up by F itz
|
Stephen:
Our E n g lish King on h e a r in g your i n t e n t ,
Was w ild w ith p a ssio n ; threw o f f h i s cap , h is b e l t ,
Tore both h i s h a ir and garm ents, foamed a t th e mouth,
And raved a s i f p o s se ss e d w ith e v i l sp ir its.-* -03
However, i t was John o f Oxford and G ilb e r t F o lio t who
r e p re sen ted th e most daem onic f ig u r e s in t h i s drama. They
planned th e K in g 's a tta c k s upon B eck et, and i t was t h e ir
l i e s w hich urged Henry on to more and more e v i l a c tio n s
a g a in s t th e A rchbishop and h i s f r ie n d s . E v e n tu a lly , th e y
drove th e King to such mad a c t s , a s were d e sc r ib e d h ere by
John o f S a lisb u r y :
There a re th o se p r e se n t whom th e King su sp e c ts
Do m in is te r to B e k e t's a id and com fort:
To such I now a d d ress m y se lf. H en ceforth
The r e p e t it io n o f such a c t s w i l l name .
The d oer t r a i t o r , and th e headsman more e x p e r t.
103I b l d . , P. 78 (IV. i ) .
lo 4 I b l d . , p. 71 ( I I I . i v ) .
; 186
W aite ch ose to ig n o r e th e f a c t th a t Thomas B ecket had been
a d evou t C a th o lic A rch bish op, and, in h i s d e s ir e to p ic tu r e
B ecket a s a P r o te sta n t h e r o , th e p la y w rig h t s e v e r e ly c r i t i
c iz e d th e Pope and th e C a th o lic Church. For exam ple, John
o f Oxford r e v e a le d to B ecket th a t th e Pope had retu rn ed to
Henry a p r iv a te l e t t e r w hich B eck et had w r itte n to A lex
an d er, a p p e a lin g th e trea tm en t th a t he had r e c e iv e d from
th e K ing. Upon h ea rin g t h i s , B ecket said *
I su sp ected f o e s a t Sens.
The K in g 's a l l p ow erful th e r e , and l a t e l y s a id .
That in th e sm all c ir cu m fer en ce s o f h i s purse
He h eld th e Pope and a l l h i s C a r d in a ls.
T his d o th confirm t h a t . I am abandoned.
A lexan d er, G od's v ic e g e r e n t upon e a r th .
Were you p la ced in th a t e x a lte d o f f i c e
To be a pander to th e b a s e s t p a ssio n s?
Were th e w orld crammed w ith argum ent, no rea so n
Could be g iv e n why you should ju g g le u s.
When God co in ed man, he w ith h is image stamped j
The q u a lit y , th a t a t t h e ir tr u e v a lu e
Through th e w orld th e y m ight p a ss u n su sp ec ted .
But h e l l in p a rt r ev e rse d h e a v e n 's in te n t*
And th e g r e a t c o u n t e r f e it e r h ath g iv e n
Currency to b e in g s made up o f b ase a l l o y ,
U n certain in th e r in g , and la c k in g w e ig h t.
These brazen c o u n te rs ta k e th e p la c e o f g o ld
And frown upon th e w o r th ie r m etalj
But a t th e grand a s s a y , th e sp u r io u s from
The tru e d iv id e d , th e s e c o ze n in g p ie c e s
S h a ll be filin g a s id e w ith d r o ss and a l l im p u r ity .1 ^
T his p o in t was fu r th e r em phasized in Act IV by B e c k e t's
op en in g sp eech . The seven y e a r s o f e x i l e had ended, and th e
A rchbishop was p rep a rin g to retu r n to C anterbury. Grim
asked him , "Does your purpose hold my lo r d , f o r E ngland?",
to w hich B ecket r e p lie d *
10^I b ld . . pp. 61-62 ( I I . v ) .
187
| Y es, a t le n g t h my m in d 's made u p , no more w i l l I
S o l i c i t Rome. P u ll se v e n y e a r s h ave I t a r r ie d
In th e hope t h a t A lex a n d er w ould su p p o rt
M y f e e b l e arm i n t h i s m ost h o ly w ork.
Seven y e a r s a w retch ed e x i l e from my c h u rch ,
A b an ish m en t p ro lo n g e d by p a p a l a r t i f i c e .
Were th e y d e t e r m in a t e ly b e n t on r i g h t i
In t h i s f i e r c e q u a r r e l, on e q u e s t io n w ould be asked* !
'Whose c a u se i s H eaven?' S w ift an sw er w ould be g iv en ,;
D e c is io n r e a c h e d , and v a c i l l a t i o n c e a s e . j
But l i k e a pendulum , th e Pope v i b r a t e s i
B etw een th e r ig h t and w rong, so n e a r ly to u c h in g e a c h , i
He d o th en co u ra g e b o th . D oes t h a t becom e a man
Whose hands do h o ld th e k e y s , rew ard f o r g o o d ,
And pu n ish m en t f o r i l l ? At Rome ' t i s now !
As e r s t i t was w it h in J e ru sa le m ;
I n t e g r i t y ' s a l o n e l y s tr a n g e r t h e r e .
The w inged swarms o f h a t e s and s p i t e s i n f e s t
And p o is o n a l l . I n i q u i t y ' s e n th r o n e d , !
H ea v en 's d e a r e s t g i f t d e s p is e d , a l l h on or g o n e ,
The c a u se o f J u s t ic e t r e a t e d w ith f o u l s c o r n ,
W hile g r in n in g en m ity i s e a g e r f o r my l i f e
And e v e r y P h a r is e e d o th c r y alo u d * ,
'R e le a s e B a rra b a s! C r u c ify th e C h r i s t ! ' * 06
W a ite 's a l l u s i o n s t o th e Pope and h i s c a r d in a ls a s " P h a ri
s e e s" and t o B ec k e t a s " C h rist" w ere r a t h e r c o n c lu s iv e
e v id e n c e t h a t he in te n d e d h i s h ero t o be th o r o u g h ly P r o te s
t a n t . In t h i s way th e p la y w r ig h t was a b le t o a c c o m p lis h
so m eth in g w h ich th e B ec k et p la y s o f th e f i r s t h a l f o f th e
c e n tu r y c o u ld n o t . He w as a b le t o s e v e r e ly c r i t i c i z e Rome
and th e Norman r u l e r s a s sym b ols o f e v i l f o r e ig n e le m e n ts
o f E n g lis h h i s t o r y w it h o u t , i n tu r n , c r i t i z i n g Thomas
B e c k e t.
lo6I b i d . , pp. 77-80 (IV. i ) .
188
!0n N e u tr a l Ground
As B r it a P u sc h e l p o in te d o u t in h e r b ook , Thomas A
B eck et i n P er L l t e r a t u r , C h a r le s G r in d r o d 's Henry I I (1 8 8 3 )
was r e m in is c e n t o f S ir A rth u r H e lp s' K ing Henry th e S eco n d .
B oth w ere weak p r e s e n t a t io n s o f th e s t r u g g le b etw een th e j
A rch b ish op and th e K ing s in c e b o th p la y w r ig h ts i n s i s t e d |
upon rem a in in g on n e u t r a l grou n d . They d i l i g e n t l y t r i e d t o I
a v o id fa v o r in g e i t h e r B eck e t o r Henry I I . As B r it a P u sc h e l I
i
s a id i
. . .G rin d ro d s B ec k e t o p p o n ie r t au fgru n d s e in e r s a c h s i s -
chen Abstammung a b e r n i c h t , w ie a n d ersw o , g eg e n d ie
norm an nisch en E r o b e r e r , so n d ern e r i s t im G e g e n te il
z u t l e f s t bem uht, b e id e E lem en te zum N utzen E n g la n d s
v e r m u tlic h v on Der V ere. M it d i e s e r H a ltu n g m ochte
G rindrod v o r a lle m b e w e is e n , daB im Grunde genommen
K onig and E r z b is h o f gen au d a s g l e i c h e Z i e l haben* nam-
l i c h d a s Whol d e s L an d es. D ie T ragik l i e g t i n d ie se m j
Drama d a h er i n dem Umstand daB t r o t z ih r e r F r e u n d sc h a ft ,
und t r o t z d e s g le ic h e n Z e i l e s d ie Wege, d i e d i e b e id e n j
a u f Grund ih r e s Amtes e in s c h la g e n m u ssen , so u n v e r e in b a r !
s in d , daB d a ra u s d e r K o n flik t w a c h st. S e in e E n tste h u n g
l e g t d e r Auton Auton so m it keinem d e r b e id e n C h arak tere
zu r L a s t, son d ern s i e e r g ib t s ic h u n a u sw eich b a r a u s d e r
G e s a m t s it u a tio n .1 0 '
Which f r e e l y t r a n s la t e d r e a d s «
. . .G r in d r o d 's B ec k e t d o e s n o t op p o se th e Normanic [
co n q u ero rs b e c a u se o f h i s Saxon o r i g i n , b u t to th e
c o n tr a r y , i s d e e p ly co n cern ed w ith co m b in in g b o th
e le m e n ts f o r th e good o f E n g la n d . T h is th o u g h t p rob
a b ly came from De V e re , and G rindrod u sed i t to p rove
t h a t th e K ing and th e A rch b ish o p had th e same g o a l,
nam ely th e good o f th e c o u n tr y . The t r a g i c i n t h i s
drama l i e s i n th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s , w h ich f o r c e them to
ta k e d i f f e r e n t p a th s b e c a u se o f t h e i r p o s i t i o n s , i n
s p i t e o f t h e i r f r ie n d s h ip and th e same g o a l s . T h is
10? B r ita P u s c h e l, Thomas A B eck e t In Der L lt e r a t u r
( B ochum -L angendreert V e r la g H e in r ic h P o p p in g h a u s, 1 963)*
P. 8 9 . _____________________ ____________
189
"brings on th e c o n f l i c t . T h is c o n f l i c t i s n o t blamed on
th e c h a r a c te r o f - e i t h e r man but a r i s e s in e v it a b ly from
th e s i t u a t i o n .108
As P u sch el p o in ted o u t, th e b a t t l e betw een B eck et and
Henry in G rin d rod 's p la y was conducted w ith j u s t i c e on both
s id e s . I t was o n ly th e c ir cu m sta n c es o r d e s t in y w hich to r e
th e men a p a r t. T h is was c le a r l y r e v e a le d in one o f B e c k e t' s j
s p e e c h e s > j
I t e l l th e e C la ren ce,
H is f a t e and mine a r e so opposed in h eaven ,
(L ik e two c o n f l ic t in g s t a r s w hich meet in a i r ,
O 'e r -d a z z lin g e it h e r w ith m a je s tic sh o c k )— j
That we are born to s h a tt e r our d e s i r e s , i
As m eteo rs, to th e wind
T h is p d in t o f v iew was fu r th e r j u s t i f i e d by th e en d in g ,
o f th e p la y . I t was most un orthodox. Both C atterm ole and
W ightwick opposed h is to r y by h avin g Henry I I app ear a t th e
i
scen e o f B e c k e t's martyrdom moments a f t e r th e A rchbishop
had gasped h i s l a s t b r e a th . Grindrod even c o n tr iv e d a
f i n a l scen e in w hich Henry and B eck et come f a c e - t o - f a c e in
th e f i n a l moments o f B eck et* s l i f e . T h is a ffo r d e d th e two
p r in c ip a l c h a r a c te r s an o p p o r tu n ity fo r a r e c o n c il i a t io n ,
w hich a p p a re n tly th e p la y w rig h t f e l t was a b s o lu t e ly n e c e s
sa ry to th e purpose o f h is c h a r a c t e r iz a tio n o f th e two men.
B e ck et, who had been wounded o f f - s t a g e , sta g g e re d on and
l ° 8Author ( t r a n s . ) , Thomas A B eck et In Der L lte r a tu r by
B r ita P u sch el (Bochum -Langendreeri V erla g H ein r ich Pop-
p in g h a u s, 1 963)* P. 8 9 .
10^C harles P. G rindrod, K ing Henry I I ( Londoni Kegan
Paul & C o., 1883), p. 118 (IV . i ) .
190
!a sk ed h i s m u rd erers who had p lan n ed h i s d e a th . F lt z u r s e
r e p l i e d i " I ' l l an sw er i t . —/ So r e s t th e doubt* The K ing
d e s ir e d y o u r d e a th ," t o w h ich B eck et r esp o n d e d , "That s ta b s
th e w o r s t!" H 0 Then th e p la y w r ig h t began th e f o llo w in g
u n u su a l scen e*
i
1
K. Hen. And God, who knows a l l h e a r t s ,
Be w it n e s s t o t h i s f o u l e s t l i e o f h e l l
Which burned yon t r a i t o r ' s m ou th !— 0 w ick ed to n g u e
That w rought su ch m is c h ie f on so good a h ea d , j
And th ro u g h one i d l e t r i p p i n g ! — Hear me, B e c k e t!
Too l a t e I com e, t h a t d id to o l a t e s u s p e c t
T h is i s s u e t h a t i s b o r n !— 0 B e c k e t, B e c k e t,
Could t e a r s o f b lo o d redeem th e e to sw eet l i f e , i
By J e s u s ' l o v e , th e y sh o u ld n o t c e a s e t o flo w
T i l l H en ry 's l i f e was t h i n e ! — I pray t h e e , sp eak j
But n o t o f p ard on , f o r i t damns me m o st,
That r a t h e r w ould h ave c h o se te n th ou san d d e a th s j
Than s e e th e e l y i n g th u s ! Y et o n ce f o r g iv e me—
Not f o r my c r im e , who n e v e r dream ed th e e i l l j
But f o r my to n g u e , w h ich made t h e s e v i l l a i n s do ;
What t o r t u r e s t h a t no v en g e a n c e h a th im agin ed !
S h a ll s w i f t rew ard f o r d o in g ! (K n e e ls b e s id e B e c k e t) j
i
B e c k e t. I b e s e e c h you
To pardon them* I w ould n o t th e y a r e h arm ed .—
D eath a l t e r s a l l .
I pray you r g r a ce a moment
To h ea r me s p e a k .— M y l i e g e , i n form er y e a r s
( S a v in g you r k in g ly w o r th )th e r e grew b etw een u s i
A m ost d e a r f r ie n d - s h ip j w h ich th e tim e t h a t f o llo w e d , |
F u ll o f v e x a t io u s t r o u b le s , came b e t w ix t* — j
But my good l i e g e , i n a l l t h a t b i t t e r q u a r r e l
I n e v e r l o s t th e memory o f o u r bond*
M y b l e s s i n g ta k e f o r pardonj and m y s e lf
W ill a sk a s much a g a in * th ou gh n e v e r y e t
I fo u g h t a g a in s t my K ingj b u t f o r th e Church
Did i n my c o n s c ie n c e s t r i v e .
Think w e ll on E n g la n d , and i n tim e o f need
Her so n s s h a l l b ea r you n o b ly ! There i s t h a t ,
11QI b ld . . p. 128 (IV. i i ) .
191
Did l o s e a t H a stin g s through m isgovern an ce,
Which s h a ll anon subdue th e w orld to se r v e I t —
And so C h r is t 's lo r e be spread I H I
The p r e ced in g scen e stru ck a p a r t ic u la r ly C a rly lea n pose*
England owed h er g r e a tn e s s and g lo r y to th e a c tio n s o f th e
h e r o e s o f i t s h is t o r y such a s Henry I I and Thomas B eck et.
T h is ep ito m ized th e c h a r a c te r o f b oth B eck et and Henry
through out th e p la y . I t showed n o t o n ly th e g r e a t lo v e
1
w hich th e two men had fo r each o th e r , but a ls o t h e ir s i n - j
c e r i t y and u n s e lf is h d e v o tio n toward t h e i r co u n try . For
exam ple, B e c k e t's p o s it iv e c h a r a c te r was r e v e a le d in an
1
e a r l i e r sp eech by one o f Thomas' a rch en em ies, F itz u r s e , who
: j
claim ed th a t B ecket was a t r a i t o r , but*
E 'en such he is *
A man more str o n g than h e 's presum ptuous}
Wise in h i s c o u n s e l, in d e c r e e a s fir m ,
And s w if t to i t s advancement* s te r n he i s , j
Yet h o n est in h i s p u rp ose, a s he th in k s , I
And kind to th o se th a t t r u s t him* one to r u le
An em pire to advance i t , and o 'e r lo o k
How he advanced h im s e lf. A man I h a te ,
For th a t he punished (th o ' in j u s t ic e g iv e n )
A kinsm an I d id lo v e* y e t , a l b e i t ,
A man I r ev e re n c e in th e t e e t h o f m a lic e ,
For wonder o f h is m e r its th a t o ' e r - r i d e .
The trem b lin g w orld s w hich se rv e h lm l^ ^
There co u ld h a r d ly be a more com plim entary sta tem en t
th an t h i s from a man who hdted B eck et. I t e s ta b lis h e d
B e c k e t's h o n esty and s i n c e r i t y a lm o st from th e b eg in n in g
o f th e p la y . Nor d id h i s c h a r a c te r v ary th rou gh ou t.
111I b i d . , pp. 128-129 (IV. i i ) .
112I b ld . , P. 62 ( I . 1 ).
192
He was c o n s is t e n t ly lo y a l to h i s id e a ls o f both Church and
S ta te .
A gain, e a r ly in Act I th e p la y w rig h t g l o r i f i e d th e
c h a r a c te r o f B ecket by th e A rch b ish o p 's own sta te m e n t. To
G rim 's r e q u e st to become h i s f a i t h f u l and d ev o ted se r v a n t,
j
B ecket r e p lie d t I
j
: i
As my d e a r e s t fr ie n d and t r u e s t fo llo w e r ,
I say amen, i f you d e s ir e i t . — j
Yet be you th o u g h tfu l, Grim. I 'd have you ch oose j
With Judgment e re you c a s t . W e r o l l a sto n e
May n ev er sto p a g a in . The K in g 's no puppetj
To th o se th a t work h i s p le a s u r e . In h is s e r v ic e
Thy w it and courage m ight e x a lt th e e h ig h .
With me, thou c lim b * st upon a th orn y h i l l . . . .
B ecket n ot o n ly showed a la r g e measure o f c o n s id e r a tio n fo r i
h is f r ie n d , Grim, but a ls o fo r King Henry w ith whom he had
a lr e a d y been engaged in a g r e a t s t r u g g le . ;
Even when B eck et was co n fro n ted by th e K in g 's argum ents
fo r th e a c ce p ta n c e o f th e Clarendon C o n s titu tio n , he d id not
r e p ly in a h a t e f u l o r v in d ic t iv e manner. B ather he i n s is t e d
i t h a t :
No s u b je c t b e t t e r s e r v e s your M ajesty,
Save where my d u ty to my Church i s to u c h e d .—
For t h i s d is p u te co n cern in g C larendon,
With a l l su b m ission to your H igh n ess' le a r n in g ,
I se e n o t why i t should a f f e c t our f e a l t y . 13-^
When th e King fu r th e r q u e stio n e d B e c k e t's m o tiv es and
asked i f th e A rch bish op, d e s p it e h is w ords, in ten d ed to
1 se rv e him p e a c e a b ly , B ecket r e p lie d *
1:L 3i b l d . . p. (I. i ) .
^ I b ld . . p. 67 (I. i ) .
193
! M y l i e g e , f o r g r a c e o f H eaven, and lo v e o f y o u ,
I do d e s i r e t o l i v e i n bonds o f p e a c e ,
And t o be m ore, y o u r m ost o b e d ie n t s e r v a n t.
But f o r t h i s t h in g w h ich you w ould ta k e from u s ,
T ou ch in g ou r r i g h t s i n m a tte r s s p i r i t u a l ,
I sa y we ca n n o t y i e l d t h a t s o v e r e ig n t y , . . .
Thus G rindrod a llo w e d o n ly th e s i t u a t i o n i t s e l f t o s e p a r a te
; i
th e two a d v e r s a r ie s . He was v e r y c a r e f u l t o make th e a r g u - !
Iment Im p e r so n a l, b a sed on p r i n c i p l e s , n o t p e r s o n a l i t i e s .
At l e a s t t h a t was th e c a s e w ith B e c k e t, i f n o t th e K in g . j
|
T h is w as c l e a r l y r e v e a le d i n th e f o llo w in g s p e e c h e s from
A ct I , S cen e I i
B e c k e t. M y l i e g e , I h o ld a u t h o r it y from H eaven— j
No e a r t h ly hand s h a l l bend me.
K. Hen. Look t o i t , B e c k e t.
There l i e s ou r q u a r r e l, th e r e th e m eans t o end i t s
And f o r u p h o ld in g o f o u r C h r is tia n c a u s e ,
M ethinks 'tw e r e s e e m lie r en d ed .
K. Hen. P e a ce! d o s t th in k
That P r in c e s sh o u ld be sc h o o le d by s u b j e c t s ' to n g u e s
T h em selv es have r a is e d t o power? I t e l l t h e e , p r i e s t ,
I ’l l te a c h th y a r r o g a n c e t o s to o p th e k n e e ,
Though I sh o u ld b reak i n b en d in g !
B e c k e t. So much 'tw e r e b e t t e r I o ffe n d y o u r Grace
Than God sh o u ld ju dge me i l l !
K. Hen. When B ec k et s h a l l grow hum ble, th e n h i s
K ing
W ill know how t o r e c e iv e him .
B e c k e t. H eaven be ju dge
'T w ix t o u r two a r g e m e n ts !— b a r r in g t h i s is s u e *
I am th e h u m b lest o f y o u r G r a c e 's s e r v a n t s .1 1 °
l l 5 I b ld . . p. 68 (I. 1).
l l 6 I b i d . , pp. 69-70 (I. i ) .
W ith in t h i s s c e n e , a s w it h in many o t h e r s , t h e s e two
p o w er fu l and stu b b o rn men w ere d ea d lo c k e d i n a s t r u g g le
w h ich u lt im a t e ly w ould d e te r m in e th e d e s t i n y o f E n g la n d .
B oth w ere h e r o ic f ig u r e s i n th e c l a s s i c a l s e n s e , f o r ea ch
r e p r e s e n te d a r ig h te o u s f o r c e . I t was a c o n t e s t o f r ig h t
a g a in s t r i g h t , b u t t h e i r h a m a r tla s w ere form ed o u t o f t h e i r
i
I n a b i l i t i e s t o com prom ise f o r th e sa k e o f th e g r e a t e s t
j u s t i c e . In th e end th e y m ust d e s t r o y on e a n o th e r . Y e t,
o u t o f t h e i r a s h e s w i l l r i s e th e E ngland w h ich was to r e a c h
i t s g r e a t e s t h e ig h t s o f g lo r y d u r in g th e V ic t o r ia n p e r io d .
T h is a p p a r e n tly was th e m ajor sta te m e n t w h ich th e p la y
w r ig h t w anted t o make.
The Making o f E ngland
The m ost p o p u la r B ec k e t p la y o f th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y
was w r it t e n by A lfr e d Lord T ennyson. He co m p leted B ec k e t
i n 1879* b u t i t was n o t p u b lish e d u n t i l 188^ b e c a u se th e
g r e a t E n g lis h p o e t d id n o t c o n s id e r th e tim e r ig h t f o r su ch
a p la y . A c t u a lly , th e v e r s io n o f h i s p la y w h ich i s g e n e r
a l l y a c c e p te d to d a y , and w h ich was u sed i n t h i s s tu d y , was
n o t co m p leted u n t i l 1 8 9 2 . I t had b een c o n s id e r a b ly c u t and
a l t e r e d from th e o r i g i n a l t o p r o v id e an a c t i n g e d i t i o n f o r
S ir Henry I r v in g .
Tennyson w ro te B ec k et a s p a r t o f a t r i l o g y ( H a r o ld .
B e c k e t. and Queen Mary) . w h ich h i s son r e p o r te d w as "to
195
[
p o r tr a y th e m aking o f E n g la n d ."117 H arold w as in te n d e d to
show th e g r e a t s t r u g g le f o r power b etw een th e D an es, S a x o n s,
and Normans. B eo k et was a d r a m a tiz a tio n o f th e c o n f l i c t
b etw een Church and S t a t e , and Queen Mary d e s c r ib e d th e
d o w n fa ll o f th e Roman C a th o lic Church and th e daw ning o f a i
i
new age in E n glan d .
A lth ou gh Tennyson had a p p a r e n tly In te n d ed to h ave th e j
p la y B ec k et i l l u s t r a t e th e d eca d en ce o f th e o ld sy ste m o f j
g o v ern m en t, w h ich had b een d om in ated by th e C a th o lic Church,
t
he d id n o t p o r tr a y Thomas a s an e v i l and c o r r u p t man.
I
R a th e r , Lord Tennyson ap p eared t o h ave an a d m ir a tio n f o r
th e h i s t o r i c a l B e c k e t. H is son r e p o r te d h i s v ie w s on th e j
: s u b j e c t a s f o llo w s i
B eo k et was a r e a l l y g r e a t and im p u ls iv e man, w ith a i
fir m s e n s e o f d u ty , a n d , when he ren ou n ced th e w o r ld ,
lo o k e d upon h im s e lf a s th e head o f t h a t Church w h ich
was th e p e o p le 's 'to w e r o f s t r e n g t h , t h e i r bulw ark
a g a in s t th ro n e and b a r o n a g e ,' T h is id e a so f a r
w rought i n h i s dom inant n a tu r e a s t o b e tr a y him in t o
many r a s h a c t s * and l a t e r he l o s t h im s e lf i n th e id e a .
H is e n th u sia sm rea ch ed a s p i r i t u a l e c s t a s y w h ich c a r
r i e s th e h i s t o r i a n a lo n g w ith i t * and h i s h u m an ity and
a b id in g te n d e r n e s s f o r th e p o o r , th e weak and th e un
p r o t e c t e d , h e ig h te n th e im p r e s s io n so much a s t o make
th e p o e t f e e l p a s s io n a t e ly th e w ronged R osam ond's
r e v e r e n t i a l d e v o t io n f o r him (m ost t o u c h in g ly r e n
d e re d by E lle n T e r r y ), when sh e k n e e ls p r a y in g o v e r
h i s body i n C an terb u ry C a th e d r a l.1 1 °
Of c o u r s e , one n e e d s t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h i s comment was
w r it t e n f i v e y e a r s a f t e r Henry I r v i n g ' s a d a p ta tio n had
• ^ H a lla m T en n yson , A lfr e d Lord T ennyson (London* Mac
m illa n and Co., L td ., 1&97)> P. 1 7 3 .
l l 8I b l d . , p. 195.______ ______________________ _____
! 196
enjoyed a lo n g run on th e London S ta g e . I t I s c e r t a i n ly
p o s s ib le th a t th e son was r e p o r tin g h i s own a t t it u d e toward
B eck et, r a th e r than A lfre d Lord T enn yson's o f tw en ty y e a r s
e a r l i e r . N e v e r th e le s s , th e r e seem s to be c o n s id e r a b le j
accu ra cy in H allam 's sta tem en t o f h is f a t h e r 's v iew o f j
Beoket a s su b s ta n tia te d by th e p la y i t s e l f . j
i
Tennyson was a b le to a v o id th e ap p aren t c o n t r a d ic tio n j
in h is own f e e l in g s and in t e n t io n s by d e v e lo p in g a c h a r a c te r
in B ecket which was r e m in isc e n t o f th o se in A lfre d W a ite's
1
and C harles G rin d rod 's dram as. Both o f th e s e men had p ic
tu red B ecket a s a man ahead o f h is tim e , a reform er o f th e
o ld and corru p t Church.
The f i r s t in d ic a t io n o f t h i s p a r t ic u la r c h a r a c te r
i s t i c o f T ennyson's B ecket occu rred v e r y e a r ly in th e p la y
(A ct I , Scene i i i ) where th e I n c id e n ts w hich h i s t o r i c a l l y
had tak en p la c e a t th e Clarendon and Northampton C o u n cils
were com pressed in to one sc e n e . In th a t scen e B eck et h e ld
ou t a g a in s t a l l th e u r g in g s and demands th a t he s ig n th e
K in g 's C o n stitu tio n u n t i l P h ilip de E leem osyna, a p r e la t e
f
o f th e Pope, persuaded him th a t i t was th e r ig h t th in g to
do fo r th e sake o f b elea g u ered Pope A lexan d er. A lthough
B eck et f i n a l l y a g r e e d , he v e n ted h is an ger and f r u s t r a t io n
in th e fo llo w in g sp eech to H erbert o f Boshanu
E a lse to m y se lf— i t i s th e w i l l o f God
To break me, prove me n o th in g to m y se lf!
T his alm oner h ath t a s t e d H en ry's g o ld .
The c a r d in a ls have f in g e r 'd H en ry's g o ld .
197
i
And Rome I s v e n a l ev en t o r o t t e n n e s s .
I s e e i t , I s e e I t .
I am no s o l d i e r , a s h e s a id — a t l e a s t
No le a d e r . H e r b e r t, t i l l I h e a r from th e Pope
I w i l l susp en d m y s e lf from a l l f u n c t io n s .
One sh o u ld n o t ic e how t h i s sp e e c h n o t o n ly em p h asized th e
co u ra g e and h o n e s ty o f B e c k e t, b u t i t a l s o h e lp e d r e v e a l
th e c o r r u p tn e s s o f th e Church and B e c k e t 's w i l l i n g n e s s t o j
i
t r y t o refo rm i t .
T ennyson f u r th e r em p h asized h i s p o in t a b o u t th e ch u rch I
th ro u g h th e a c t i o n s o f s e v e r a l o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s i n th e p la y ,;
i
For ex a m p le, he p o r tr a y e d th e o t h e r b is h o p s a s cr a v e n and
c o r r u p t, who w ere w i l l i n g t o abandon B ec k e t and th e Church
when th e y had become f e a r f u l o f th e K in g. P a r t i c u l a r l y ,
R oger o f York, G ilb e r t F o l i o t , and John o f O xford w ere
c h a r a c t e r iz e d a s e v i l s y c o p h a n ts, who w ere w i l l i n g t o ta k e j
j
an y s t e p s n e c e s s a r y t o s e t th e K ing a g a in s t Thomas B e c k e t. !
D uring th e sc e n e a t N ortham pton R oger o f York so a n g ered
B ec k e t w ith h i s d e v io u s n e s s t h a t th e A rch b ish o p had tu rn ed
on him and c a l l e d him " S a ta n ." 120 John o f O xford w as known
g e n e r a lly a s " th e sw e a r e r ," s a y s th e K in g , b e c a u se he was
su ch a p o l i t i c man t h a t he had b een w i l l i n g t o sw ear to
a n y th in g . Tennyson showed th e e v i l n a tu r e and c o r r u p tio n
o f Rome in a sc e n e i n w h ich H enry I I a sk ed him t o go th e r e
* ^ A l f r e d Lord T en n yson , The P o e t ic and D ram atic Works
o f A lfr e d Lord Tennyson (New Yorki H oughton M ifflin Co.,
1898), pp. 7 1 -7 2 ( I . i l l ) .
120I b i d . . p. 6 7 * 4 - (I. i l l ). _________________________ _______
I 198
I
t o a tte m p t t o b r ib e th e c a r d in a ls t o ta k e a c t i o n a g a in s t
B e c k e t.
H enry. . . .J o h n ,
Thou h a s t se r v e d me h e r e t o f o r e w ith Rome— and w e l l .
They c a l l th e e John th e S w earer.
John o f O xford. For th e r e a s o n ,
T h a t, b e in g e v e r d u te o u s t o th e K in g,
I everm ore h ave sworn upon h i s s i d e , '
And e v e r mean t o do i t . I
H enry. H on est John I
To Rome a g a in ! th e storm b e g in s a g a in .
Spare n o t th y to n g u e ! be l a v i s h w ith o u r c o i n s . j
T h rea ten o u r I n j u n c t io n w ith th e Em peror— f l a t t e r
And f r i g h t th e Pope— b r ib e a l l th e c a r d in a ls — le a v e
L a tera n and V a tic a n in one d u s t o f g o ld — i
Swear and u n sw ea r, s t a t e and m is s t a t e th y b e s t ! 121
Henry v e r y e a r ly had r e v e a le d h i s a t t i t u d e tow ard th e
i
ch u rch . When he was p la n n in g t o i n s t a l l B ec k e t in th e See I
o f C a n terb u ry , he sa id *
I tr u e son j
Of H oly Church— no cr o u o h e r t o th e G r e g o r ie s
That tr e a d th e k in g s t h e i r c h ild r e n u n d e r h e e l—
Must cu rb h e r 1 and th e H oly F a th e r , w h ile
T h is B arb arosa b u t t s him from h i s c h a i r , .
W ill need my h e lp — be f a c i l e t o my h a n d s .1
U n fo r tu n a te ly f o r th e K in g , Thomas sto p p e d him from c a r r y in g
o u t h i s w is h e s . One c o u ld o n ly g u e s s t h a t Tennyson would
h ave th o u g h t t h i s u n fo r tu n a te s in c e i t w as a good i n d ic a t io n
o f th e p la y w r ig h t 's c r i t i c a l a t t i t u d e tow ard th e o ld Church.
The p la y w r ig h t a l s o u se d h i s " m o u th p iece," W a lter Map,
t o c r i t i c i z e th e Church*
121I b i d . . p. 686 ( i l l . i ) .
122I b i d . . p. 66l (P ro lo g u e).
199
1 . . .T he Pope h im s e lf i s a lw a y s i n s u s p e n s e , l i k e Ma-
h o u n d 's c o f f i n hung b etw een h ea v en and e a r t h — a lw a y s
i n s u s p e n s e , l i k e th e s c a l e s , t i l l th e w e ig h t o f Ger
many o i1 t h e g o ld o f E ngland b r in g s one o f them down
t o th e d u s t - - a lw a y s i n s u s p e n s e , l i k e th e t a i l o f th e
h o r o lo g u e . . . . I have h ea rd sa y t h a t i f you boxed
th e P op e*s e a r s w ith a p u r s e , you m igh t s ta g g e r him ,
b u t he w ould p o ck et th e p u r s e . 1 2 3
And B ec k e t r e p lie d t o W alter M ap's comment w ith an ev en more
ip o in te d c r i t i c i s m o f Rome* I
i
B e c k e t. Map s c o f f s a t Rome. I a l l b u t h o ld w ith Map. |
Save f o r m y s e lf no Rome w ere l e f t i n E n g la n d ,
A ll had b een h i s . Why sh o u ld t h i s Rome, t h i s Rome,
S t i l l c h o o se B arabbas r a t h e r th a n C h r is t.
A b so lv e th e le f t - h a n d t h i e f and damn th e r ig h t?
Take f e e s o f ty r a n n y , w ink a t s a c r i l e g e .
Which ev en P e te r had n o t dared ? condemn
The b la m e le s s e x i l e ? —
H e r b e r t. T h ee, th o u h o ly Thomas!
I w ould th o u h a d s t b een th e H oly F a th e r .
B e c k e t. I w ould have done my m ost to k eep Rome h o ly ,
I w ould h ave made Rome know sh e s t i l l i s Rome—
W ho s ta n d s a g h a s t a t h e r e t e r n a l s e l f
And sh a k e s a t m o r ta l k in g s — h e r v a c i l l a t i o n ,
A v a r ic e , c r a f t — 0 God, how many an in n o c e n t
Has l e f t h i s b o n es upon th e way t o Rome
Unwept, u n cared f o r ! Yea— on m ine own s e l f
The K ing had no pow er e x c e p t f o r Rome.
'T is n o t th e K ing who i s g u i l t y o f m ine e x i l e ,
But Rome, Rome, Rome!12^
Tennyson was a b le t o c r i t i c i z e th e o ld sy stem o f th e
Church w h ich h e th o u g h t d om in ated by c o r r u p tio n and p rop h -
e c le d th e com ing o f a reform ed Church and governm ent w ith o u t
im pugning th e c h a r a c t e r s o f e i t h e r B e ck et o r H enry. In t h i s
way he was a b le t o show b o th f ig u r e s a s h e r o ic r e fo r m e r s ,
123 ib id ., p. 685 (II. I D .
12^ Ib id., p. 685 (II. 11).
| 200
i
who c o n tr ib u te d g r e a t l y t o th e e v o lu t io n o f E n glan d .
T here w ere two o t h e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f T ennyson*s
B e ck et w h ich w a rra n ted d i s c u s s i o n . He w as r e la t e d t o th e
i
C h r is t f ig u r e i n many w a y s, and s e c o n d ly , he was a h ero o f
th e common p e o p le . T hese two f a c t o r s w ere o f t e n in te r w o v e n .
■ i
One o f th e f i r s t t e s t i m o n i a l s t o B e c k e t* s r e l a t i o n s h i p
w ith t h e common man came from h i s enem y, F i t z u r s e , who s a id ,
"Ay, b u t he sp e a k s t o a n o b le / As th o ' he w ere a c h u r l, and !
to a c h u r l a s / I f he w ere a n o b l e . "125
B e c k e t* s h u m b len ess and lo v e o f th e common man was
a l s o shown i n t h i s s h o r t scen e* |
S e r v a n t. S h a ll I n o t h e lp you r lo r d s h ip t o you r r e s t ? ;
B e c k e t. F r ie n d , am I so much b e t t e r th a n t h y s e l f
That th o u s h o u ld s t h e lp me? Thou a r t w e a r r ie d o u t
With t h i s d a y 's workj g e t th e e t o t h in e own b ed .
H e r b e r t. Was n o t th e p e o p le 's b l e s s i n g a s we p a sse d
H e a r t-c o m fo r t and a b alsam to th y b lo o d ?
B e c k e t. The p e o p le know t h e i r Church a to w er o f
s t r e n g t h , ,
A bulw ark a g a in s t Throne and B aron age.
Then, b u ild in g on t h e s e i n d i c a t i o n s o f B e c k e t* s good
n e s s and b e n e f ic e n t r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith th e p e o p le , Tennyson
made him more C h r is t lik e by h a v in g him t e l l H erb ert o f
Bosham o f th r e e p r o p h e c ie s , f o r e t e l l i n g h i s b e in g g iv e n th e
"keys o f P a r a d ise " and h i s e v e n tu a l m artyrdom . In th e l a s t
12^ I b i d . , p . 663 ( P r o lo g u e ) .
126Ib id ., p. 664 (I. i ) .
! 201
I
io f t h e s e p r o p h e tic dream s th e Lord sm ote him "down upon th e
m in is t e r f l o o r . 1,127 T hese exam p les in d ic a t e d how th e p la y
w r ig h t w as a b le t o in t e r t w in e B e c k e t* s b e n e f ic e n t f e e l i n g
tow ard th e p e o p le w ith h i s M e ssia n ic c h a r a c t e r .
At th e end o f th e sc e n e w h ich t a k e s p la c e a t Northamp
to n ( I , i l l ) t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f B ec k e t was g r e a t l y |
i
a m p lif ie d when he tu rn ed upon th e b a ro n s who h ave b een j
c a l l i n g him " c a i t i f f , t u r n c o a t, s h a v e lin g and t r a i t o r , " and j
c a l l s them , "M annerless W o lv es!" 1 2 ® Then, a s he sto o d th e r e
b e fo r e th e " ra g in g h e a th e n s" who w ere p rep a red t o k i l l him ,
th e g r e a t d o o r s o f th e h a l l w ere throw n open and th e crowd '
o u t s id e began t o s h o u t, " B le sse d i s h e t h a t com eth i n th e
name o f th e L o rd ." 12^
Throughout th e p la y Tennyson em ployed v a r io u s d ra m a tic
d e v ic e s to em p h asize t h e s e p o s i t i v e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
B e c k e t. For ex a m p le, when th e m e e tin g w ith K ing H enry and j
K ing L o u is o f F rance a t M o n tm ira il f a i l e d and b o th k in g s j
r e j e c t e d B e c k e t, th e crowd o u t s id e sh o u ted t o him a s he
l e f t , " B le sse d be th e lo r d A rch b ish o p , who h a th w ith s to o d
two k in g s t o t h e i r f a c e s f o r th e hon or o f G od."1 ^
As B eck et and H erb ert p rep a red t o le a v e f o r E ngland
127I b l d . . p. 665 ( I . i ) .
128I b i d . , p. 676 ( I . i l l ) .
129I b l d .
130I b i d . . p . 684 (X I. i i ) .
I 202
I
!a f t e r th e p a tc h ed -u p p ea ce b etw een t h e A rch b ish o p and th e
J
K in g, B eck e t foresh ad ow ed h i s m artyrdom i n t h i s sp eech *
i
| No. — To d i e f o r i t —
I l i v e t o d ie f o r i t , I d id t o l i v e f o r i t .
The S t a te w i l l d i e , th e Church can n e v e r d i e .
The K in g 's n o t l i k e t o d i e f o r t h a t w h ich d i e s j
But I m ust d ie f o r t h a t w h ich n e v e r d i e s ,
I t w i l l be s o — my v i s i o n s i n th e Lord—
I t m ust be s o , my f r ie n d ! th e w o lv e s o f E ngland
! Must murder h e r on e shep h erd , t h a t th e sh eep
May fe e d in p e a c e . I™
;Then, th e r e was a m y s t ic a l q u a l i t y w h ich T ennyson g a v e h im ,
and w h ich was i l l u s t r a t e d i n h i s sp e e c h t o John o f S a lis b u r y
: i
th e T uesday o f h i s martyrdom*
. i
On a T uesday was I b o rn , and on a T uesday |
B a p tiz e d ! and on a T uesday d id I f l y
F orth from N ortham pton! on a T uesday p a s s 'd j
From E ngland in t o b i t t e r b a n ish m en t! j
On a T uesday a t P o n tig n y came t o me |
The g h o s t ly w arn in g o f my m artyrdom !
On a Tuesday from m ine e x i l e I r e t u r n 'd
And on a T uesday— 132
| A g a in , a s John o f S a lis b u r y and Grim d ra g g ed B ec k e t
itow ard th e C a th ed ra l a t C anterbury in h o p e s o f f in d in g
; s a f e t y f o r him t h e r e , B eck et sa id *
Why do th e h e a th e n ra g e? M y two good f r i e n d s ,
What m a tte r s m urder'd h e r e , o r m urder'd th e r e ?
And y e t my dream f o r e t o l d my martyrdom
In m ine own ch u rch . I t i s G od 's w i l l . Go o n . *33
As th e fo u r m urderous k n ig h ts e n te r e d th e c h a p e l and sh o u ted
I t h e i r t h r e a t s , John b egged B ec k e t t o h id e i n e i t h e r th e
I
131I b l d . . p. 692 (IV. i l ) .
132I b l d . . p. 702 (V. i l ) .
133I b i d . , p. 705 (V. i i ) .
! 203
f
ic r y p t b elow o r th e c h a p e l a b o v e , b u t B e ck et r e p lie d *
0 , n o , n o t e i t h e r w ay, n o r an y way
Save by t h a t way w h ich le a d s t h r o ' th e n ig h t t o
th e l i g h t .
Not tw en ty s t e p s , b u t o n e.
And f e a r n o t I sh o u ld stu m b le i n th e d a r k n e s s ,
Not th o ' i t be t h e i r h o u r, th e power o f d a r k n e s s ,
But my h ou r t o o , th e power o f l i g h t in d a r k n e s s .
I am n o t i n th e d a r k n e ss b u t th e l i g h t ,
Seen by th e Church i n h e a v e n , th e ch u rch on e a r t h — j
The power o f l i f e i n d e a th t o make h e r f r e e 113^ i
T en n y so n 's c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B eck e t w a s, i n a v e r y j
! i
r e a l s e n s e , an e x t e n s io n o f th e c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s o f Dr,
C h a rles G rindrod and A lfr e d W aite, I t i s l i k e W a ite 's
l
b e c a u se i t p o r tr a y e d B ec k et a s a r e fo r m e r . B oth p la y - j
w r ig h ts p ic tu r e d him a s a r e l i g i o u s cham pion o f th e p e o p le , j
n o t n e c e s s a r i l y o f th e Church. L ik e G rin d rod , Tennyson
to o k n e it h e r one s id e n o r th e o th e r i n th e s t r u g g le b etw een
B eck e t and H enry. D e s tin y d e c r e e d t h e i r f a t e j th e y w ere a
;p a r t o f th e g r e a t e v o lv in g h i s t o r y o f E n g la n d . Each o f
t h e s e men, in h i s own p a r t ic u l a r w ay, added t o th e g r e a t n e s s
!o f th e "new" E n g la n d . T en n yson , a s w e ll a s G rin d rod , i n
s i s t e d t h a t i t w as th e I n t e g r a t io n , n o t th e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n
o f th e i d e a l s o f th e A rch b ish o p and K ing w h ich made h i s
c o u n tr y e v o lv e in t o th e g r e a t d e m o c r a tic n a t io n w h ich was
i d e a l i z e d by w r it e r s o f th e V ic t o r ia n p e r io d .
13**I b l d . . p. 706 (V. i i i ) .
| 20^
!
iA n oth er T e s tim o n ia l t o S t . Thomas
The l a s t and fo u r te e n t h " B ec k e t” drama o f th e n in e
t e e n t h c e n tu r y w as S t . Thomas o f C anterbury ( I 8 9 2 ) w r it t e n
by Clem ent W illia m B arraud , S. J . U n fo r tu n a te ly , th e r e was
no a v a i l a b l e b io g r a p h ic a l in fo r m a tio n on t h i s p la y w r ig h t,
e x c e p t th e f a c t t h a t h i s t i t l e I n d ic a t e s t h a t he was a '
( 1
member o f th e S o c ie t y o f J e s u s . A n oth er i n d i c a t i o n o f h i s
1 i
C a th o lic p o in t o f v ie w came from th e f r o n t i s p i e c e o f th e
p la y , w h ich r e a d i
T hese two p la y s , fou nd ed on th e sta n d a rd w orks o f
F r. J . M o rr is, S. J . , and th e Comte De M on talem b ert,
w ere w r it t e n tw e n ty y e a r s a g o . They a r e now p u b lis h e d
on b e h a lf o f a sm a ll s c h o o l i n th e C o lo n ie s w ith w h ich
th e w r it e r i s c o n n e c t e d .135
T h is h e lp e d e x p la in th e o r th o d o x and sy m p a th e tic v ie w
tow ard C a th o lic is m w h ich was found th r o u g h o u t th e dram a.
i
W ith th e e x c e p t io n o f Aubrey De V ere* s p la y , a l l o f th e
i p r e v io u s dram as had a more o r l e s s n e g a t iv e a t t i t u d e tow ard
I j
th e C a th o lic Church ev en th ou gh th e y w ere sym p ath lc tow ard
B ec k et h im s e lf . I f a n y th in g , B a r r a u d 's drama was more |
la u d a to r y th a n De V e r e 's in i t s p r a is e o f C a th o lic is m .
P erh ap s more th a n any o t h e r n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y dram a, i n
c lu d in g De V e r e 's , t h i s one had th e slo w rhythm and r e l i
g io u s to n e o f a m e d ie v a l m y ster y dram a.
^ C le m e n t W illia m B arraud , S. J . , S a in t Thomas o f
C an terb u ry and S a in t E liz a b e t h o f Hungary ( London1 L on gan s,
G reen , and C o ., 1 6 9 2 ) , f r o n t i s p i e c e .
! 205
j
1 B a rr a u d 's c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B ec k e t was r e la t e d t o
t h a t o f De V e r e 's i n th r e e w ays: ( 1 ) B eck e t ap p eared in
th e p a t te r n o f a M e s sia n ic f ig u r e o r o f one o f th e e a r ly
C h r is tia n s a i n t s , (2 ) He was h a te d by th e Norman n o b le s and
th e K in g , b u t lo v e d by th e common p e o p le , and (3 ) many o f
h i s s p e e c h e s became lo n g ra m b lin g c a n o n ic a l d i s s e r t a t i o n s . |
A lth ou gh many o f th e o t h e r n in e te e n t h c e n tu r y p la y s d e a l t j
w ith t h e s e same th r e e a s p e c t s o f h i s c h a r a c t e r , none d id |
so a s e x t e n s i v e l y o r i n t e n s i v e l y a s B a r r a u d 's.
I t was n o t u n u su a l f o r th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y w r it e r s
t o h ave B eck et p r o t e s t h i s a p p o in tm en t t o th e See o f C an ter
b u r y , b u t th e manner i n w h ich Barraud w ro te h i s sp e e ch o f
p r o t e s t a t i o n w as u n iq u e and i n d i c a t i v e o f how he u sed e v e r y
o p p o r tu n ity t o make B eck e t a p p ea r M e s s ia n ic , One was r e
m inded o f M atthew 6 :2 4 a s B eck e t s a id :
I do b e s e e c h t h e e , a sk n o t t h i s o f me.
The z e a l I owe th y p e r so n b id s me f e a r i t f
For w e ll I know, i f t h i s sh o u ld come t o p a s s ,
The lo v e and fa v o u r t h a t th o u b e a r ' s t me now j
Would q u ic k ly change i t s c o lo u r , §qjd» p e r c h a n c e ,
C orrupt t o b la c k e s t h a tr e d , . • .*3®
F u rth erm ore, th e p a ssa g e p r e c e d in g t h i s sp e e ch in d ic a t e d
w hat a w o r ld ly man B ec k et had b e e n , and how he f e l t t o be
u n f i t f o r th e o f f i c e o f A rch b ish op o f C an terb u ry. Certainly,':
t h i s added t o h i s h o n e s t y , i f n o t h i s h u m ilit y , and th e
i
sc e n e showed t h a t he f i n a l l y c o n s e n te d t o ta k e th e h o ly
o f f i c e more o u t o f lo v e f o r h i s o ld f r ie n d and l i e g e ,
j
j
i 136I b i d . , pp. 16-17 ( I . i v ) .
206
H enry I I , th a n f o r any p e r s o n a l r e a s o n . T h is was th e
tu r n in g p o in t f o r B e o k e t* s c h a r a c te r i n t h i s p la y .
In o r d e r t o a c c e n tu a te B e c k e t* s C h r i s t l i n e s s , Barraud
g a v e him a J u d a s, In f a c t , he g a v e him s e v e r a lj m ost o f
them w ere th e t r a d i t i o n a l en e m ies o f B e c k e t— G ilb e r t F o l i o t ,
i
R oger o f York, and s e v e r a l o f th e o t h e r l e s s e r E n g lis h ,
b is h o p s . j
At th e b e g in n in g o f A ct I I t h e s e J u d a se s worked f u r i - j
o u s ly t o a l i e n a t e B e c k e t from t h e K in g . G ilb e r t o f F o l i o t
and th e B ish o p o f L ise a u x co m p la in ed o f B e c k e t* s e l e c t i o n
t o th e See o f C an terb u ry. They c a l l e d him "Proud, o v e r
w ro u g h t, a r r o g a n t, mad f o r pow er, mad w ith l u s t o f r u l e . .
. . m137 T h is was o n ly a mask f o r t h e i r tr u e r e a s o n s f o r
h a t in g him . The a c t u a l r e a s o n s w ere r e v e a le d i n th e |
f o llo w in g p a s s a g e s from a c o n v e r s a tio n b etw een H erb ert o f
' Bosham and R obert o f M erton j
; I
Rob. T e ll me, w h ich among them
Seem th e m ost f ir m ly sworn and s o ld t o C easar?
H erb. R oger o f York s ta n d s f i r s t i n d i g n i t y
Though n o t i n m a lic e . He h a th n e * e r f o r g o t t e n
H is f o o l i s h j e a lo u s y o f o u r lo r d Thomas,
When b o th w ere i n th e h o u se o f T h eob ald . . . .1 3 “
C h ic h e s te r sh o u ld rank n e x t , o f whom I t o ld you;
A c h ic k e n -h e a r te d , d o u b le - d e a lin g man,
W ho f a in w ould c u r r y fa v o u r w ith th e t im e s ,
And s e r v e b o th God and Mammon, h o p in g so
To sa v e h i s s o u l and b is h o p r ic t o b o o t.
L a s t, t h e r e i s one whom men o n ce th o u g h t an a n g e l—
A f a l l e n a n g e l now.
13 7 ib id # , p. 19 ( I I . i ) .
138I b i d . , p. 21 ( I I . i i ) .
! 207
!
1 Rob. G ilb e r t o f London?
H erb. The sam e. . . ,1 3 9
The p la y w r ig h t c r i t i c i z e d t h e s e men a s i n d i v i d u a l s , n o t a s
sym bols o f th e Church, He was c a r e f u l t o p o in t o u t t h a t
t h e s e w ere bad tim e s f o r th e Church, b u t t h a t i t w as in
i
i
tim e s l i k e t h e s e th A t God " le n d s a l l H is m igh t u n to H is
c h o se n s e r v a n t s . . . so th e y m igh t be h e ld " fo r t h , j
! • j
l i k e t o r c h e s i n th e d a r k ,/ T O g u id e th e l a t e d t r a v e l l e r and j
i
s c a r e / The p r o w lin g w o lf awayj and some He c a l l e t h / To w in
1 I t l ^
H is b a t t l e by a b lo o d y d ea th ." -1 - 1 T h is l a s t comment was a
p r e p a r a tio n f o r th e martyrdom o f Thomas.
F i n a l l y , th e p la y w r ig h t to o k f u l l a d v a n ta g e o f t h i s
sc e n e to brand t h e s e men a s J u d a se s and t o p ic t u r e B eck et
a s an e c ty p e o f C h r is t. R e fe r r in g t o Thomas, R ob ert o f
M erton s a id »
L et u s go h e lp him j f o r o u r Lord on ce more
I s i n h i s p e r so n b a r te r e d and b e tr a y e d
By more th a n one f a l s e J u d a s. ' V i g i l a t e e t o r a t e ,
Ut non i n t r e t i s i n te n ta tio n e m . *
A g a in , in A ct I I , Scene i v , th e p la y w r ig h t em p h asized
th e daem onic n a tu r e o f th e b is h o p s i n a sc e n e i n w h ich th e y
p lo t t e d t o c a u se th e k in g to h a te B eck e t ev en m ore. As
139I b l d . . pp. 2 1 -2 2 ( I I . i i ) .
l 4 0 I b l d . , p . 22 ( I I . i i ) .
l M I b l d . . pp. 2 2 -2 3 ( I I . i i ) .
1^2I b i d . , p . 23 ( I I . i i ) .
; 208
i
G ilb e r t F o lio t p u t I t , “Keep we K ing H arry’ s j e a lo u s y
a l i g h t / By d a i l y t a l k o f B e c k e t 's i n s o l e n c e . / The p o t w i l l
b o i l anon i f we b u t s t i r i t . "1^3
I f th e b is h o p s w ere p ic tu r e d a s J u d a s e s , th e n th e K ing !
i
was p o r tr a y e d a s a H erod. H erb ert o f Bosham d e s c r ib e d him
a t th e C o u n cil a t W estm inster*
The K in g, i n w rath to o b ig f o r u tte r a n c e ,!
S tro d e from th e C o u n c il, le a v in g th e p oor p r e l a t e s i
H a lf-d e a d w ith t e r r o r . j
The K ing b e lie d h i s own u n c o n t r o lla b le tem p er in th e f o l
lo w in g sce n e w h ich to o k p la c e d u r in g h i s m e e tin g w ith Thomas
a t Northam pton *
K ing H. Come, w i l t th o u p le a s u r e me,
M y lo r d A rch b ishop ? W ilt th o u p le a s u r e me? j
B e c k e t. I ca n n o t ta k e th e o a th b u t a s b e f o r e ,
’ S a v in g my o r d e r .’ |
j
K ing H. Then I h ave done w ith t h e e .
Curse on t h in e O rder! * t i s a s f u l l o f c r a f t
And dam nable d e c e i t a s h e l l i t s e l f .
A m I a k in g , and h a v e b u t w anton r e b e l s
To te a c h my p e o p le how th e y sh o u ld obey?
B e c k e t, M y g r a c io u s m a ste r —
K ing H, Get th e e h e n c e , A rch b ish o p .
I am th y l i e g e j y e t mock me n o t t o sa y s o ,
Or I may tu r n an d , l i k e a b a ite d b e a r ,
Rend th e e and gnaw t h e e , t e a r th e e lim b from
l i m b - . . . .1 * 5
^ I b l d . . p. 28 ( I I . i v ) .
1^ I b i d . , p. 21 ( I I . 1 1 ).
l 45I b ld . . pp. 33-3* ( I I . v ) .
209
The E a r l o f C ornw all d e s c r ib e d th e in c o n s ta n c y o f K ing
H enry and h i s w i l l i n g n e s s to p e r ju r e h im s e lf i n o r d e r to
w in h i s f i g h t w ith B e c k e ti
. . .B y b o l t o r b a i t ,
The K ing i s sworn t o p u l l him down, and s t i c k s
For t h i s , m ost f o u l l y t o fo r sw e a r h im s e lf .
Ah me I how so o n th e w ind o f fa v o u r v e e r s !
How many a la u g h h a th made an end i n t e a r s !
To what a r o t t e n sp a r th e p oor w r etch c l i n g s
W ho t r u s t e t h in th e c o n s ta n c y o f k in g s
When B eck et e sc a p e d t o s e l f - e x i l e in F r a n c e, th e K ing
became so a n g ry a t th e m essen g er who b ro u g h t th e new s t h a t
he c u rsed him and s tr u c k him w ith h i s w h ip , f u r t h e r sw e a r - 1
in g , ", . . I f he (BecketJ e s c a p e s I ' l l h ave a t o l l o f
h e a d s. . . , ”1^7
H ow ever, th e m ost t e l l i n g p a ssa g e in th e e s ta b lis h m e n t |
o f th e K in g 's H e r o d -lik e c h a r a c te r d e s c r ib e d th e h avoc and
s u f f e r in g o f th e f r ie n d s and r e l a t i v e s o f B e c k e t, who w ere
e x i l e d from E ngland o r e x e c u te d by o r d e r o f th e K in g. T h is
:was d e s c r ib e d in th e f o llo w in g sp e e ch o f S ir A. M e rlv a le to
B ec k et a t th e Abbey a t P o n tig n y :
. . .To t e l l i t r o u n d ly , i t i s tr e a s o n now
To h e lp th e e any w ay. Thy k i t h and k in .
Thy s e r v a n ts and t h e c l e r i c s o f th y h o u s e h o ld ,
A ll o f t h e i r b lo o d , and a l l t h a t g a v e th e e s h e l t e r
When from N ortham pton th o u d i d s t ta k e th y f l i g h t —
A ll i n one sw eep in g s e n te n c e a r e condemned
To l i f e - l o n g b a n ish m en t, w ith l o s s o f la n d s ,
And l i f e t o b o o t i f e v e r th e y r e t u r n ,
And w ith th e s t i p u l a t i o n un d er o a th
l 46I b l d . . p. 53 ( I I I . v ) .
^ I b l d . . p. 65 ( I I I . 1c ) .
n o t , !
i
i
i
I 210
!
They s h a l l n o t r e s t two n ig h t s upon th e road
Under one r o o f , b u t, l i k e a r o y a l p o s t ,
E v er p r e s s onward t i l l th e y f in d you r G race, ,
And t e l l th e e th e y a r e o u tla w ed f o r th y l o v e . l ^ 8
T h is w as o n ly one o f th e many s c e n e s w h ich d e s c r ib e d th e
K in g 's w i l l i n g n e s s t o go t o an y le n g t h s , t o make any number
o f p e o p le s u f f e r , In o r d e r t o w in h i s f i g h t w ith B e c k e t,
P erh ap s th e m ost p o ig n a n t o f a l l was th e sc e n e i n w h ich j
S ir A, M e r iv a le was c a p tu r ed and hung a s he a tte m p te d t o
i
r e tu r n t o h i s home i n E ngland t o s e e h i s w if e and newborn
c h i l d , i
F i n a l l y , K ing H enry summed up h i s own c h a r a c te r when
h e s a id , ” , . .B y e v e r y s a in t i n h ea v en ! I w i l l have
v e n g e a n c e , th o u g h , t o come a t i t , I pawn my s o u l to
S a ta n . . . N ever b e fo r e had H enry I I b een p o r tr a y e d
I
w ith such a c o m p le te ly daem onic n a tu r e .
Henry d id n o t ev en r e p e n t h a v in g spok en th e w ords
w h ich u l t i m a t e ly s e n t th e fo u r k n ig h ts t o m urder B e c k e t.
He w as p ic tu r e d a s a th o r o u g h ly e v i l man surrou nd ed by
|
o t h e r e v i l men; th e p la y w r ig h t a tta c k e d th e c h a r a c t e r o f
H enry and th e b is h o p s i n o r d e r t o fo c u s more s h a r p ly on
th e M e ssia n ic f ig u r e o f h i s S t , Thomas,
L ik e s e v e r a l o f h i s p r e d e c e s s o r s , Barraud u sed B i b l i c a l
a l l u s i o n s t o add t o th e s a i n t l i n e s s o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c t e r .
l 48I b l d . , p. 73 (IV. i l l ) ,
i 1^9I b i d . , p. 8^ (IV. v l l i ) .
The f o llo w in g l i s t r e p r e s e n t s o n ly th e s m a lle s t c r o s s
s e c t i o n o f th o s e u se d t
(1 ) . . ,A man may p r iz e h i s l i f e — a s w hat man
d o th n o t?
D earer th a n a l l th e t r e a s u r e s o f th e w o rld j
And s t i l l — o r r a t h e r , by th e good c o n se q u e n c e ,
T h e re fo re i t f o llo w e t h he can g iv e h i s Maker
No g r e a t e r g lo r y , th ough he w ere an a n g e l,
Than when f o r H is sa k e h e l a y s down t h a t l i f e , 1 ™
(Joh n 1 2 * 2 4 -2 8 )
(2 ) In t r u t h , I am n o t sprun g o f r o y a l r a c e t
N e ith e r was P e t e r , p r in c e o f th e A p o s t le s ,
I n t o w hose hand C h r is t gave th e k e y s o f h e a v e n .
Making him th e head and t e a c h e r o f H is C h u r c h .151
(M at. 1 6 :1 8 )
( 3 ) . . .E dw ard, c a l l my p e n s io n e r s t o g e t h e r ,
Soon a s you r i s e , t h a t I may wash t h e i r f e e t
And e a s e t h e i r h a r d s h ip s w ith a h e a r t y m e a l. 1 -> /£
(Joh n 1 3 * 1 -1 6 )
(4 ) . . .T h ey may burn o u t t h e s e e y e s t h a t g a ze
upon T h ee,
Hack o f f t h e s e hands t h a t h o ld Theej b u t t h i s h e a r t
They ca n n o t w rench Thee from t h i s h e a r t t h a t l o v e s
T h e e .153
(R. 8 .3 5 - 3 9 )
( 5 ) Go th y w ays.
Thou s a v o u r e s t n o t th e t h in g s t h a t be o f G od,1 54'
(M at. 1 6 * 2 3 )
(6 ) . . .Y e A n g e ls b r ig h t
W ho s e e o u r F a t h e r 's f a c e I k eep w atch upon him,.
L e s t he sh o u ld d a sh h i s f o o t a g a in s t a s t o n e , 155
15° I b i d . .
P. 31 ( I I . v ) .
1 5 l I b i d . .
P. 33 ( I I . v ) .
152I b l d . .
PP.
, 40 -4 1 ( i l l . i i )
153I b l d . .
P.
58 ( I I I . v i i )•
1^ I b i d . .
P.
60 ( I I I . v i i ) .
l5 5 I b i d . .
P.
66 ( I l l , i x ) .
| 212
(7 ) . . .T h in k n o t a l l m a rty rs come t o m artyrdom
S a in t s from th e c r a d le . Some h ave b een p e r s e c u to r s *
L ik e b le s s e d P a u l, and tra m p led down G od 's w h ea t.
( 8 ) A d ay w i l l come e r e lo n g
When th o u w i l t lo v e me b e t t e r j f o r my b lo o d
S h a ll wash th y w rath aw ay, le a v in g rem orse
To p ra y upon th y s o u l. J e s u s f o r g iv e th e e 5
So s h a l l my d e a th w in th e e e t e r n a l l i f e . 157
T hese few s p e e c h e s o f B e o k e t, ta k e n o u t o f c o n t e x t , w ere
i n d i c a t i v e o f th e way i n w h ich Barraud l i t e r a l l y f i l l e d h i s
p la y w ith a l l u s i o n s t o B i b l i c a l p a s s a g e s , p a r t ic u l a r l y
th o s e r e l a t i n g t o th e l i f e o f C h r is t. He e f f e c t i v e l y u sed
them t o em p h a size th e C h r i s t l i n e s s o f B ec k et w h ich was th e
m ost im p o r ta n t a s p e c t o f B arrau d *s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f S t .
Thomas. L ik e De V e r e , he was i n t e n t on j u s t i f y i n g and
g l o r i f y i n g th e l i f e o f h i s f a v o r i t e s a i n t .
One sh o u ld n o t o v e r lo o k th e f a c t t h a t th e p la y w r ig h t
a l s o c h a r a c t e r iz e d B ec k et a s l o v i n g and b e in g lo v e d by th e
common p e o p le . Prom th e e a r l i e s t p a r t o f th e p la y th e
com m oners, su ch a s W ill Saw yer, Hugh C lo u th e sh o o n , and S ir
Andrew M e r iv a le , spoke i n p r a ise w o r th y to n e s a b o u t th e
A r c h b ish o p . P erh ap s t h i s was b e s t summed up i n th e sc e n e
w h ich to o k p la c e upon B e c k e t 's r e tu r n from h i s se v e n y e a r s
o f e x i l e i n P r a n ce, The s ta g e d i r e c t i o n s i l l u s t r a t e d th e
p o in t i
1^6I b l d . . p. 86 (IV. i x ) .
157I b l d . , p. 95 (V. i l l ) .
B eo k et i s le d away i n trium ph* th e Monks s in g in g and
th e crowd sp r e a d in g b ra n c h e s and garm en ts in th e way and
c r y in g i 'B le s s e d i s h e t h a t com eth i n th e name o f th e
L o r d .'1 5 8
T h is c l e a r l y resem b led th e v a r io u s d e s c r i p t i o n s o f C h r is t 's
I triu m p h a n t e n tr y in t o J e r u s a le m . I t was a p p a r e n t t h a t
B a r r a u d 's d r a m a tiz a tio n o f B e o k e t 's r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith th e 1
' j
icommon p e o p le w as J u st a n o th e r way o f p ic t u r in g him a s a |
! |
M e s sia n ic f ig u r e . j
I
The f i n a l l i n e o f th e p la y c l e a r l y s t a t e d th e p u rp ose
o f th e p la y w r ig h ti i t w as th e w ords o f th e P r io r o f C a n ter- I
|b u ry C a th e d r a l* who s a id i 1
L et a l l men know !
How g r e a t a s a in t i s E n g la n d 's l a t e s t m a r ty r .1
i
i
158I b l d . . p. 96 (V. i v ) .
! 159I b l d . . p. 108 (V. i x ) .
I
CHAPTER V
BECKET METAPHYSICA (1 9 3 5 -1 9 6 1 )
The them es and s t y l e s o f th e th r e e tw e n tie th c en tu ry j
p la y s about B ecket were c o n sid e r a b ly d i f f e r e n t than th e
fo u r te e n which had been w r itte n p r e v io u s ly . The modern j
i
d r a m a tiz a tio n s o f B ecket were l e s s concerned w ith h is to r y
than w ith th e m eta p h y sic a l problem s o f tw e n tie th c en tu ry
man, and th e c h a r a c te r s In th e s e p la y s became sym bols o f
th e v a r io u s la w s, c a u se s and elem en ts which form th e b a s is
and e x p la in s a l l n a tu r a l phenomena. They were m eta p h o rica l >
sta te m e n ts about th e c o n d itio n o f contem porary man, th e
l
s c ie n c e o f God, im m o r ta lity , and freedom . A lso , a l l th r ee
p la y s had been d iv o r ce d from th e n eo-S h ak esp earean s t y l e j
w hich was to be found in a l l o f th e p r e v io u s d r a m a tiz a tio n s
o f B eck et. Each tw e n tie th c en tu ry p la y was d ev elo p ed in
i t s own unique s t y l e . For exam ple, T. S. E l io t had a s h is
p la y 's p o in t o f r e fe r e n c e
. . .t h e lit u r g y o f th e Church, w hich th e c h o ru ses
resem b le. The m ystery and m ir a c le p la y s o f th e m edi
e v a l Church. The m o r a lity p la y , w ith I t s te m p ta tio n s.
The Greek drama, Samson A g o n ls te s , whom B ecket r e c a l l s
d u rin g h i s own te m p ta tio n . P a ra d ise R egain ed , th e in
s p ir a t io n fo r B e c k e t's te m p ta tio n s much more than th e
B ib le I t s e l f . The Book o f Job and B ib lic a l s t y l e in
g e n e r a l. F in a lly , th e sym bolism o f th e h is t o r y and
t r a d it io n o f B ecket w hich e n a b le s one to d efen d th e
work a lo n g th e l i n e s o f E l i o t ' s own sta tem en t about
21*f
215
The D iv in e Comedyi ’ The w h ole poem* . . I s , I f you
l i k e , on e v a s t m e ta p h o r .'1
S e d u cin g t h i s s ta te m e n t t o s im p le r te r m s, on e c o u ld sa y
t h a t E l i o t had made up h i s own s t y l e f o r Murder In th e
C a th ed ra l (1 9 3 5 ) o u t o f h i s v a s t u n d e r sta n d in g o f p r im it iv e
r i t u a l , c l a s s i c a l dram a, Church Mass and m e d ie v a l dram a.
I t was a co n g lo m e ra te s t y l e w h ich had a lm o s t no r e l a t i o n -
j s h ip to th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y p la y s .
A n o u ilh a l s o w ro te B ec k et (1 9 5 9 ) In h i s own u n iq u e
s t y l e .
T h ea tre f o r Jean A n o u ilh m eans t h e o p e n in g o f a
b ig red c u r t a in j and when th e c u r t a in h a s o p en ed , th e
f a c e s o f t h e a t r ic a l! s m w i l l be v a r ie d . Over th e y e a r s
th e y h ave In c lu d e d th e u se o f a ch o r u s ( A n tig o n e ) .
s p e c t a c le ( Le B a l d e s v o l e u r s ) . d i s t o r t i o n o f tim e s e
q u e n c e s ( L 'A lo u e t t e ) . d i s t o r t e d h i s t o r y (a n a c h r o n ism s,
th e Saxon B e c k e t) , v i s i b l e f a n t a s y ( t h e m a k e -b e lie v e
h o r s e -b a c k r id in g in L 'A lo u e t t e ) , w i l d l y I n c r e d ib le
s to c k s i t u a t i o n s ( I d e n t i c a l t w in s , l o n g - l o s t s o n s ) , ,
th e p la y w it h in th e p la y (w h ereb y th e a r t i f i c i a l i t y
o f th e se co n d a ry p la y I s l e g i t i m i z e d ) , o r ev en a rc h
rem in d ers t o th e a u d ie n c e t h a t th e y a r e w it n e s s in g a
show. But t h e s e a r e a n ly t h e tr a p p in g s o f A n o u ilh 's
t h e a t r l c a l i s m . T here i s f a r more b eh in d th e m .2
Leonard Pronko a l s o p o in te d o u t th e t h e a t r l c a l i s m o f
A n o u ilh 's p la y s . He showed how A n o u ilh had b rok en w ith th e
" r a t i o n a l - r e a l i s t i c ” t r a d i t i o n o f p la y w r ig h tin g , w h ich was
I n h e r it e d from th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y i a l s o , he in d ic a t e d
t h a t A n o u ilh 's p la y s la c k e d th e c o n v e n tio n s o f la n g u a g e and
1L o u is L. M artz, "The W heel and th e P o in t ," Sewanee
R ev iew . XXXXXV (W in ter , 19**7). P. 1^ 5.
2John H arvey, A n o u ilh (New H avent Y ale U n iv e r s it y
P r e s s , 1 9 6 * 0 , PP. 9 -1 0 .
; 216
'rhythm w h ich w ere an im p o rta n t p a r t o f th e c l a s s i c a l and
E liz a b e th a n p la y s . R a th e r , a s Dr. Pronko s a id t
H is drama i s d l s t l n g u l s e d in s t e a d by th e same con
v e n t io n t h a t one f in d s in P ir a n d e llo — th e s ta g e a s a
s t a g e , and l i f e i t s e l f a s a t h e a t r e i n w h ich a l l men
a r e a c t o r s . 3
O th er c r i t i c s r e f e r r e d to A n o u ilh 's s t y l e a s M o lierea n ,j
o r h ave a tte m p te d to show t h a t he was in d e b te d to th e com- |
i
m edia d e l l a r t e f o r many o f h i s c o n v e n tio n s ! a lth o u g h h i s
s t y l e may h ave been r e m in is c e n t o f many t h in g s , i t was
u n iq u e . j
Of th e th r e e t w e n tie t h c e n tu r y p la y w r ig h ts , C h ristop h er!
P r y 's p la y s w ere m ost c l o s e l y r e la t e d to th e s t y l e , i f n o t ;
|
th e c o n t e n t , o f t h e i r n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y p r e d e c e s s o r s . j
H ow ever, a s Derek S ta n fo rd h a s p o in te d ou t*
F ry , u n lik e th e p la y w r ig h ts o f th e ' r e v i v a l , ' m anages
to p o e t i c i s e th e drama w ith l i t t l e l o s s o f sp eed o r a c
t i o n . B e s id e s b e in g th e m s e lv e s a c t i v e , h i s w ords r e f e r
t o a c t i o n s ta k in g p la c e o u t s id e o f th e drama o f s y l l a
b l e s ! . th e y a r e u r g e n t s lg n - p o s t s o f c r i s i s and move
m en t.^
Pry d id n o t sim p ly w r it e h i s p o e t io drama f o r th e a e s t h e t i c
b e a u ty o f th e la n g u a g e , n e g l e c t i n g p l o t and c h a r a c t e r iz a
t i o n , a lth o u g h t h a t i s p r e c i s e l y w hat many c r i t i c s have
a c c u se d him o f d o in g .
Fry had b een compared to a lo n g l i s t o f o t h e r p o e t ic
3Leonard C a b e ll P ronko, The World o f Jean A n o u ilh
(B e r k e le y * U n iv e r s it y o f C a lif o r n ia P r e s s , 1 9 6 1 ), p . 1 3 2 .
^Derek S ta n fo rd , C h ristop h er Fry (London* P e te r
N e v ill L t d ., 1 9 5 1 )» P .“ 1 7 ^
d r a m a tis ts I n c lu d in g ! Marlowe and Chapman among th e E l i z a
b e th a n s , th e R e s to r a t io n w i t s , th e v e r s e d r a m a tis ts o f th e
V ic t o r ia n and Edw ardian p e r io d s , and su ch modern p la y w r ig h ts
a s O scar W ild e, Shaw, Chekhov, and P ir a n d e llo . In f a c t ,
P r y 's s t y l e in C u rtm an tle ( 1 9 6 1 ) had many o f th e e le m e n ts
i
w h ich we o b se r v e d in th e n e o -S h a k e sp e a r e a n B ec k et dram as o f j
th e V ic t o r ia n p la y w r ig h ts , o r more a c c u r a t e ly , a s E m il Roy
• |
s a id t 1
In h i s a tte m p t to Im pose a u n it y upon th e 'i n t e r p l a y
o f d i f f e r e n t la w s i c i v i l , ca n o n , m o r a l, a e s t h e t i c and
th e la w s o f G od ,' F ry m e n tio n s in th e ' P r e f a c e ,' Henry
i s op p osed by Thomas, th e n by E le a n o r , and f i n a l l y ,
m ost d l s a s t e r o u s l y by h i s r e b e l l i o u s s o n s . T h is theme
i s worked o u t by th e fo rm a l o u t e r movement o f th e p la y ,
w h ich had th e fo rm a l p a t t e r n in g o f th e E liz a b e th a n and
J acob ean r e v e n g e t r a g e d i e s , a b s t r a c t l y c o n c e i v e d .*
The C h a ra cter A n a ly se s
I
1
S t . Thomas S a n c t if ie d !
i
i
One o f th e b e s t d e s c r i p t i o n s o f E l i o t ' s c h a r a c t e r iz a
t io n o f B eo k et was from t h a t o f L o u is M artz, who s t a t e d
t h a t " B eck et i s th e C h r is t o f h i s a g e , who by s u f f e r i n g
h e a ls th o s e who a l s o s u f f e r , a s he e x p la in s j u s t b e fo r e
h i s m artyrdom ."^ The p a ss a g e t o w h ich M artz w as r e f e r r i n g
o c c u r r e d J u st a s th e p r i e s t s w ere b a r r in g th e d o o r s o f th e
C a th ed ra l a g a in s t th e fo u r K n ig h ts , In r e s p o n s e t o t h i s
B ec k et s a ld i
^Emil R oy, C h r isto p h e r Fry (C a rb o n d a le , I l l i n o i s !
S o u th ern I l l i n o i s U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 6 8 ) , p . 1 2 5 .
^Martz, op. o l t . . pp. 127-128.
218
Unbar th e d oor! unbar th e d oor!
W e a re n o t h ere to trium ph by f i g h t i n g , by stra ta g em ,
o r by r e s is t a n c e ,
Not to f i g h t w ith b e a s ts a s men. W e have fo u g h t th e
b e a st
And have oonquered. W e have o n ly to conquer j
Now, by s u f f e r in g . T h is i s th e e a s ie r v ic t o r y .
Now i s th e trium ph o f th e C ross. . . j
D e sp ite t h i s sta tem en t by Martz th e r e was rea so n to
b e lie v e th a t E l io t was a ls o th in k in g in term s o f th e c y c l i c j
f e r t i l i t y r i t e s and r i t u a l s , a s w e ll a s th e C h r istia n m yth, j
i
when he w rote Murder in th e C a th ed ra l. T h is id e a was c e r
t a i n l y n o t o r ig i n a l . E l io t r e v e a le d in h i s S e le c te d E ssa y s •
th a t he was a cq u a in ted w ith th e a n th r o p o lo g ic a l s t u d ie s o f j
drama done by H arrison and C om ford . David Jon es sta te d *
A th e o ry o f th e o r ig in o f tra g ed y w hich was much 1
d is c u s s e d in th e e a r l i e r p a rt o f th e c en tu r y was th a t
o f th e Cambridge a n t h r o p o lo g is t s , who th ou gh t th e y had
d isc o v e r e d i t in th e r i t e s o f m ystery r e l ig i o n s r e p r e - i
s e n tln g th e p a ssio n o f a god, h i s d e a th and r e b ir t h ,
by w hich th e y e a r ly c y c le o f th e d isa p p ea ra n ce o f th e
seed in t o th e ground and i t s re-em ergen ce a s new l i f e
in th e sp r in g was a ssu r e d . E lio t had a lr e a d y used a
se a so n a l myth a s th e b a s is o f The Waste Land and shown
h i s aw aren ess o f th e p a r a l le l w ith th e C h r istia n s to r y
o f E a s te r . I t may, how ever, have been th e work o f th e
Cambridge a n th r o p o lo g is ts w hich su g g e ste d to him th e
p o s s i b i l i t y o f r e in f o r c in g th e t h e o lo g ic a l p a tte r n by
th e p a tte r n o f myth in Murder in th e C a th ed ra l. 8
Of c o u r se , a s w ith any n o ta b le contem porary drama,
th e r e was a w ide d i v e r s i t y o f c r i t i c a l o p in io n co n cern in g
E lio t * s p la y and about th e meaning o f B e c k e t' s c h a r a c te r
?T. S. E l i o t , Murder in th e C a th ed ra l (New York*
H a rco u rt, B race and C o ., 1 9 3 5 )» P. 7 2 .
O
D avid E. J o n e s , The P la y s o f T. S . E l i o t (T oron to*
U n iv e r s it y o f T oron to P r e s s , i 9 6 0 ) , pp. 5 3 -5 ^ .
: 219
i
iw ith in I t . C r it ic a l Judgment had to be e x e r c is e d in s e
l e c t i n g o n ly th o se m a te r ia ls which appeared to c o n ta in th e
m ost u s e f u l a n a ly s e s o f th e p la y s .
One o f th e c le a r e s t sta te m e n ts o f th e p la y ’ s o r g a n i
s a t i o n and B e c k e t's sym b olic meaning w ith in i t was found in i
S i s t e r A q u in 's sta tem en t: j
I i
In r e l a t in g h i s d e s t in y to G od's w i l l , Thomas i s '
ev o k in g n o t o n ly th e C h r istia n in t e r p r e t a tio n but th e
c l a s s i c a l se n se o f m an's f a t e in r e la t io n s h ip to some
o r d e r in g f o r c e . In t h i s se n se th e p la y i s r e la te d to
th e s p i r i t o f tr a g e d y . . . .
In a n o th e r s e n s e , th e w h ole p la y f o ll o w s th e r i t u a l
p a t te r n o f M ass. The Chorus and th e P r i e s t a r e bound j
up w ith Thomas in th e O ffe r to r y o f P a r t I . The sermon
m akes t h i s more c l e a r and b ecom es, in I t s e l f , l i k e p a r t
o f th e M ass. The r i t u a l k i l l i n g o f Thomas b e a r s a
marked c o r r e sp o n d e n c e t o th e C o n s e c r e a tio n , w h ile th e
new p e r c e p t io n sh ared by th e Chorus a t th e end o f th e
p la y c o r r e sp o n d s somewhat t o th e id e a o f Communion.9
E l i o t u sed th e H e r a ld 's d e s c r ip t io n o f B e c k e t 's r e tu r n
to E ngland t o draw a p a r a l l e l to C h r i s t ' s triu m p h a l e n tr y
in t o Jeru salem ^ th u s s u g g e s t in g a c l o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een
B eck et and C h r is t.
He com es in p r id e and so rro w , a f f ir m in g a l l h i s
c la im s ,
A ssu r e d , beyond d o u b t, o f th e d e v o t io n o f th e p e o p le ,
Who r e c e i v e him w ith s c e n e s o f f r e n z ie d e n th u sia sm ,
L in in g th e road and th ro w in g down t h e i r c a p e s ,
S tr e w in g th e way w ith l e a v e s and l a t e f lo w e r s o f th e
s e a s o n .
9 s i s t e r Mary A q u ln , "A C om parative S tu d y o f F iv e P la y s
o f th e B eck e t S to r y : By T en n yson , B in y o n , E l i o t , A n o u ilh
and F ry ," U n iv e r s it y o f N o tre Dame, I& .D ., 19^3f Language
and Modem L it e r a t u r e , p. 1 4 6 .
1 The s t r e e t s o f th e c i t y w i l l be packed to s u f f o c a t io n ,
And I th in k thfct h i s h orse w i l l be d ep riv ed o f i t s
tan,
A s in g le h a ir o f w hich becomes a p r e c io u s r e l i c .
The f o c a l p o in t , how ever, o f B eck et* s c h a r a o te r in
P art I was found in Thomas' op en in g sp ee ch . The scen e had
been s e t by a Chorus o f Canterbury Women who can ted t h e i r !
f e a r s co n cern in g th e t r o u b le s which would r e s u l t from i
!
B e c k e t's r etu r n t th e Second P r ie s t c h a s tis e d them fo r i t a s
j
B ecket e n te r e d . He spoke to th e P r ie s t*
P ea ce. And l e t them b e, in t h e ir e x a lt a t io n .
They speak b e t t e r than th e y know, and beyond jrtjfdrr
u n d ersta n d in g .
They know and do n o t know, what i t i s to a c t or
s u f f e r .
They know and do n ot know, th a t a c t in g i s s u f f e r in g
And s u f f e r in g i s a c t io n . N e ith e r d o e s th e a c to r
s u f f e r
Nor th e p a tie n t a c t . But both a r e fix e d
In an e te r n a l a c t io n , an e te r n a l p a tie n c e |
To w hich a l l must co n sen t th a t i t may be w ille d
And w hich a l l must s u f f e r th a t th e y may w i l l i t , !
That th e p a tte r n may s u b s is t , f o r th e p a tte r n i s |
th e a c tio n |
And th e s u f f e r in g , th a t th e w heel may tu rn and s t i l l {
Be fo r e v e r s t i l l . H
The c r i t i c s have w r itte n p r o l i f i c a l l y about th e so u rc es
from w hich E l io t had d e r iv e d such sym bols a s th e "wheel" and
th e " s t i l l " p o in t w hich he d ev elo p ed in t h i s and o th e r
p a ssa g e s o f h i s p la y s and p o e tr y . Not th e l e a s t I n t e r e s t in g
o f th e s e w ere th e id e a s o f Stephen Spender and Leonard
Unger, who c o l l e c t i v e l y a ss ig n e d them a la r g e number o f
10E l i o t , op. o l t . . p. 15.
11I b i d . , p. 21.
| 221
i
s o u r c e s I n c lu d in g Che G osp el A cco rd in g t o J o h n , D a n te 's
P a r a d lso and th e rem ain s o f th e p h ilo s o p h ie s o f H e r a c lit u s .
Y e t, t h e r e a p p ea red t o he on e so u r c e w h ich a l l o f E l i o t ' s
c r i t i c s had o v e r lo o k e d .
One sh o u ld n o t ic e th e s t r i k i n g s i m i l a r i t y b etw een th e
f o llo w in g p a s s a g e s o f th e E c c l e s i a s t e s and th e l i n e s from
Murder In th e C a th ed ra l w h ich w ere q u o te d a b o v e .
One g e n e r a tio n p a s s e t h aw ay, and a n o th e r g e n e r a tio n
com eth: b u t th e w a rth a b ld e th f o r e v e r . *2
The t h in g t h a t h a th b e e n , I t I s t h a t w h ich s h a l l b ej >
and t h a t w h ich I s done I s t h a t w h ich s h a l l be d o n e i and j
th e r e I s no new t h in g un d er th e s u n .*3
I know t h a t , w h a tso e v e r God d o e t h , I t s h a l l be f o r
e v e n n o th in g can be p u t t o I t , n o r an y t h in g ta k e n
from I t i and God d o e th i t , t h a t men sh o u ld f e a r b e
f o r e him .
That w h ich h a th a lr e a d y been I s nowj and t h a t w h ich
I s t o be h a th a lr e a d y b een : and God r e q u lr e t h t h a t
w h ich I s p a s t . 1^
C o n sid er th e work o f God: f o r who can make t h a t
s t r a i g h t , w h ich he h a th made crooked?
In th e d a y o f p r o s p e r it y be J o y f u l, b u t i n th e d ay
o f a d v e r s it y c o n s id e r : God a l s o h a th s e t th e one o v e r
a g a in s t th e o t h e r . . . .* 5
One sh o u ld n o t e , t o o , t h i s s ta te m e n t from E c c l e s i a s t e s on
" p a tie n t" and i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p to E l i o t ' s id e a o f " p a tie n t"
and " e te r n a l p a tie n c e " :
1 2 E c c le s l a s t e s , 1 : 4 . ^-^I b l d . . 1 : 9 .
l 4 I b l d . , 3 * 1 4 -1 5 . 1 ^ I b l d ., 6 : 1 4 -1 5 .
222 !
B e t t e r i s th e end o f a t h in g th a n th e b e g in n in g
th e r e o f* and th e p a t ie n t i n s p i r i t i s b e t t e r th a n
th e proud in s p i r i t . 1&
A ls o , th e r e w ere s e v e r a l im p o rta n t p a s s a g e s c o n c e r n in g th e
n e c e s s i t y o f s u f f e r i n g a s w e l l a s to "know and n o t know"*
Whoso k e e p e th th e commandment s h a l l f e e l no e v i l
th in g * and a w is e m an 's h e a r t d i s c e r n e s t b o th tim e
and Judgm ent.
B eca u se t o e v e r y p u rp ose th e r e i s tim e and ju dgm en t,
t h e r e f o r e th e m ise r y o f man i s g r e a t upon him .
For he know eth n o t t h a t w h ich s h a l l be* f o r who can
t e l l him when i t s h a l l b e? 1?
Then I b e h e ld a l l th e work o f God, t h a t a man ca n n o t
f in d o u t th e work t h a t i s done un d er th e sun* b ec a u se
th o u g h a man la b o u r to s e e k i t o u t , y e t he s h a l l n o t
f in d i t i y ea f u r th e r j th ou gh a w is e man th in k t o know
i t , y e t s h a l l he n o t be a b le t o f in d i t . 1 ®
F i n a l l y , th e them e o f E c c l e s i a s t e s and th e them e o f Murder
i n th e C a th ed ra l w ere c l e a r l y s t a t e d i n t h i s q u o t a t io n from
th e E c c le s i a s t e s *
Remember now th y C rea to r in th e d a y s o f th y y o u th ,
w h ile th e e v i l d a y s come n o t , n o r th e y e a r s draw n ig h ,
when th o u s h a l t s a y , I h ave no p le a s u r e in them . . . , * 9
A lso when th e y s h a l l be a f r a id o f t h a t w h ich i s h ig h ,
and f e a r s s h a l l be in th e w ay, and th e alm ond t r e e s h a l l
f l o u r i s h , and th e g r a ssh o p p e r s h a l l be a b u rd en , and d e
s i r e s h a l l f a i l * b ec a u se man g o e th t o h i s lo n g home,
and th e m ourners go a b o u t th e s t r e e t s . , . .2 0
l 6I b l d . . 6 *8.
l 8I b l d . . 8 *17.
20I b ld . . 12*5.
1?I b l d . . 8 *5- 7.
19l b l d . . 12*1 .
223
!
1 Then s h a ll th e d u st retu rn to th e e a r th a s I t was*
and th e s p i r i t retu r n unto God who gave I t .
V an ity o f v a n i t i e s , s a lt h th e p rea ch eri a l l I s
v a n i t y .21
Of c o u r se , I t would have been b rash to I n s i s t th a t
E c c l e s ia s t e s was th e sou rce o f E l i o t ’ s in s p ir a t io n fo r
Murder In th e C athedral and th e c h a r a c te r iz a tio n o f Thomas j
I
B e c k e t» we w i l l n ev er be a b le to know p r e c is e ly what was a t j
th e r o o t o f E l i o t ' s c r e a t iv e a c t . U ndoubtedly, th e r e were I
many f a c t o r s w hich In flu en ce d him . B a th er, and what i s
more Im portant to u s , E c c le s ia s t e s d id h e lp to c l a r i f y th e
m eaning o f B e o k e t's op en in g sp eech and h i s e n t ir e ch a ra cter.;
T h is p assage c le a r ly showed B ecket s t r i v in g f o r th e a c t o f
c o n tr ib u tio n which he knew was n e c e ss a r y to f u l f i l l h i s
l i f e . What B ecket u n d erstood a t th a t moment o f th e p la y
cou ld be summed up b e s t in th e f i n a l sta tem en t o f
E c c le s ia s t e s *
j
L et u s h ear th e c o n c lu sio n o f th e w hole m atter*
fe a r God, and keep h is commandments* f o r t h i s i s th e
d u ty o f man.
For God s h a ll b r in g ev ery work in to judgm ent, w ith
e v ery s e c r e t th in g , w hether i t be good, o r w hether i t
be e v i l . 22
However, B e c k e t's knowledge o f th e n e o e s s it y o f
h u m ility and c o n tr ib u tio n d id n o t v o u c h sa fe h i s a c t io n s .
In d eed , th a t was th e theme o f th e p la y — th e fo u r th tem pta
t i o n , w hich n e a r ly ensnared Thomas, "To do th e r ig h t deed
21I b i d . , 12*7- 8.
22I b id . , 12*13- 1^.
224
f o r th e wrong r e a s o n ." 23 I t w as o n ly a f t e r B eck e t reco g n ized
and overcam e t h i s u n e x p ec te d v i s i t o r ( t h e F o u rth Tem pter)
t h a t he w as f u l l y s a n c t i f i e d and p rep a red f o r m artyrdom . j
T here w as an o b v io u s r e l a t i o n s h i p b etw een th e fo u r j
T em pters o f Murder in th e C a th ed ra l and C h r is t ’ s T em pta- j
t i o n s in th e W ild e r n e ss a s d e s c r ib e d by M atthew . H ow ever, j
th e r e was so m eth in g v e r y s i g n i f i c a n t in th e f a c t t h a t E l i o t j
c h o se t o u se fo u r , n o t t h r e e , T em p ters. For th o s e h a v in g a j
i
k n ow led ge o f th e B ib le th e F ou rth T em pter com es a s a sh o c k ,
j
and t h a t was p r e c i s e l y why E l i o t u sed him . He w anted to
shock th e a u d ie n c e in t o an a w a ren ess o f th e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f
l
B e c k e t's fo u r th te m p ta tio n . T h is w as th e n u c le u s o f
B e c k e t* s ( t h e m a r ty r 's ) c h a r a c te r and th e p l a y ’ s th em e.
One o f th e b e s t d i s c u s s i o n s o f t h i s w as found i n The ,
P la y s o f T. S . E l i o t by Dalrid J o n e s . In sp e a k in g o f
B e c k e t 's t e m p t a tio n s , h e sa id *
. . .T e m p ta tio n s o f th e p a s t r e v iv e s th e a p p e a l t o
th e s e n s e w h ich he p a r t ly in d u lg e d i n h i s d a y s o f I
w o r ld ly p r o s p e r it y , th e lu r e o f tem p o ra l pow er such
a s he h a s w ie ld e d d u r in g h i s C h a n c e llo r s h ip , th e p r o s
p e c t o f b e a t in g H enry a t h i s p o l i t i c a l game by a c c e p t in g
th e p r o f fe r e d a l l i a n c e w ith th e d is c o n t e n t b a ro n s— t h e s e
a r e te m p ta tio n s w h ich he h a s known b e fo r e and can th e
more e a s i l y m a ster a g a in . But th e fo u r th te m p ta tio n i s
o f th e p r e s e n t and u n e x p e c te d — th e te m p ta tio n ' t o do th e
r ig h t d eed f o r th e wrong r e a s o n ', t o become a m artyr f o r
th e g lo r y o f b e in g o n e . I n h i s a g o n y , Thomas a ck n o w l
e d g e s th e s p i r i t u a l P r id e w it h in him and hum bles h i s
w i l l , em erg in g w ith th e hardwon k n ow led ge t h a t , a s he
s a y s in th e serm on, th e tr u e m artyr i s he who h a s
23E l i o t , op. o l t . , p. 44.
225
I
become th e in stru m en t o f God, and who h as l o s t h is w i l l
in th e w i l l o f God, and who no lo n g e r d e s ir e s a n y th in g
fo r h im s e lf, n o t even th e g lo r y o f b e in g a m a r ty r .2^
R e fe r r in g back to Chapter I I I , i t was ap p aren t th a t
i
th e fo u r te m p ta tio n s o f E l i o t ' s B ecket form th e b a s is fo r
th e daem onic q u a lit y o f B eck et* s c h a r a c te r s in th e s i x
e a r l i e r p la y s in which he ap p eared , in th e s e p la y s he was I
damned by h i s overp ow ering d e s ir e fo r tem poral power. Even j
h i s martyrdom was n ot a su b m issio n to th e w i l l o f God, but j
B ecket was e x e r tin g h is own a rro g a n t w i l l in a l a s t e f f o r t
i
to fin d v ic t o r y in a m a r ty r 's d e a th . A lthough h i s e ig h t
c h a r a c te r iz a tio n s o f th e l a t t e r p a r t o f th e n in e te e n th
cen tu ry d id n ot p o r tra y him a s a s e l f i s h man, in a l l o f
them he gave in to what E l io t had c h a r a c te r iz e d a s th e
Fourth Tem pter. In th e f i n a l a n a ly s is B eck et appeared a s i
an a rro g a n t hero by E l i o t ' s sta n d a rd s.
: I
T. S. E l i o t ' s c h a r a c te r iz a tio n o f B eck et was unique j
b ecau se i t fo cu se d a t t e n t io n e n t i r e l y on one f a c e t o f h i s I
I
I
p e r s o n a lit y . Thomas' a c t o f c o n t r it io n and h is com p lete i
su rren d er to th e w i l l o f God became th e f o c a l p o in t o f th e
e n t ir e p la y , E l io t c r e a te d him a s an exam ple o f th e tr u e
m artyr, and in so d o in g , he p ortrayed him a s a r e in c a r n a tio n
o f th e p rotom artyr, J e su s C h r is t, in o rd er th a t th e a u d ien ce
m ight e x p e r ie n c e th e reenactm ent o f C h r is t 's P a ssio n .
Murder in th e C athedral i s a p la y w hich i s a lm o st
2^ Jon es, op. c l t . , p . 6 3 .
! 226
i t o t a l l y fo cu sed on c h a r a c te r .
I t I s n o t an h i s t o r i c a l p la y a t a l l in th e s e n s e
o f th e fo u r p la y s we have been c o n s id e r in g . I t i s
r a t h e r a p s y c h o lo g ic a l drama w hich e x p lo r e s th e co n
s c io u s n e s s o f a man s t r u g g lin g toward s a n c t i t y . The
s e t o f e v e n t s w hich le a d up to and in c lu d e th e mar
tyrdom p r o v id e th e o b j e c t i v e c o r r e l a t i v e f o r B e c k e t's
i n t e r i o r c o n f l i c t . ^5
P erh a p s, more th a n a n y th in g e l s e , i t was a reen a ctm e n t o f
th e p a s s io n o f a g o d , h i s d e a th and r e b ir t h , w hich h a s
been b a s ic t o m an 's u n d e r sta n d in g and a c c e p ta n c e o f l i f e
s in c e lo n g b e fo r e th e f i r s t r i t u a l s o f i t w ere r e c o r d e d .
; B e c k e t 's Honor
Thomas B eck et was a p e r f e c t c h o ic e f o r Jean A n o u ilh 's
dram a. Thomas was a man who refu sed , to com prom ise, and
t h a t kind o f c h a r a c te r had a lw a y s f a s c in a t e d A n o u ilh .
Edward Owen Marsh f e e l s t h a t th e k ey to th e m eaning o f
i
A n o u ilh 's dram as can be found in th e id e a t h a t , "A c h i l d ' s
n a tu r e i s p u re , b u t a s a c h ild ca n n o t bloom u n seen in th e j
d e s e r t and must grow up a member o f a com m unity, i t s p u r ity
i s bound th e r e b y to be s p o ile d ." A n o u ilh appeared to
f e e l t h a t modern man i s shaped and. m olded by p a r e n t s , by
s c h o o ls , by g o v ern m en ts, and by ch u rch es to f i t t h e i r n e ed s
and. to f u l f i l l a u s e f u l p u rp o se in s o c i e t y . P r id e , s e l f i s h
n e s s , h a tr e d , v i o l e n c e , m is t r u s t , r e v e n g e — a l l o f th e
2^ S is t e r A quin, op . o l t . . p . 1 2 0 .
2 ^Edward Owen M arsh, Jean A n o u ilh , P oet o f P ie r r o t and
P a n ta llo o n (London* W . H. A lle n , 1953)» p. 7.
p la g u e s o f P andora’ s b ox— seem to em anate from man when h i s
b a s ic p u r ity I s s a c r i f i c e d , o r a t l e a s t com prom ised, to h i s
g r e a t e r d e s ir e to l i v e . Most o f u s ou tgrow th e d e s ir e to
be o u r s e lv e s , and r a t i o n a l i z e th e Image In w hich o u r p a r
t i c u l a r c u ltu r e h a s c a s t u s a s b e in g o u r r e a l s e l v e s . W e
l i v e o u t ou r e x is t e n c e f a i t h f u l to t h i s d i s t o r t e d d e lu s io n .
T here a r e t h o s e , h o w ev er, who r e b e l r a th e r th an subm it t o
th e s e l f - c r e a t e d l i e , b u t th e y m ust pay th e supreme s a c r i
f i c e , f o r one m ust l i v e a l i e o r d i e . L if e w i l l n o t bend
to s u i t th e in d iv id u a l. T hese id e a s ap p eared to be a t th e
r o o t o f a l l o f A n o u ilh 's t r a g i c h e r o e s . I t was e s p e c i a l l y
tr u e in A n tig o n e , w h ich h a s o f t e n been c a l l e d A n o u ilh 's
s t r o n g e s t p la y , and in th e c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f Thomas
B e c k e t.
In a r e a l s e n s e , A n o u ilh showed, u s th e t r a g i c f ig u r e
a s one who was a s l o s t a s th e r e s t o f u s . H ow ever, u n lik e
m ost o f u s , he r e j e c t e d w an d erin g a i m l e s s l y in a w orld o f
i l l u s i o n . T h e r e fo r e , h i s " tr a g ic " p la y s showed th e h e r o e s
in s e a r c h o f t h e m s e lv e s . They had a d e s ir e to r e tu r n to
th e v i r g i n i t y o f t h e i r y o u th , t o th e i d e a l m oral p o s t u r e ,
t o hon or a s we f in d i t i n B e c k e t.
Clem ent B o rg a l d e s c r ib e d th e d ev elo p m en t o f A n o u ilh 's
B eck et a s c o n s is t in g o f two p a r t s :
228
The p la y i s c o n s tr u c te d l i k e a d ip t y c h , and th e
d i f f e r e n c e b etw een i t s two p a r t s r e s u l t s , f i r s t , from
th e two p e r s o n a l i t i e s o f B e c k e t, who a r e p r e s e n te d
s u c c e s s i v e l y on th e two s id e s o f th e d ip ty c h . Who,
in e f f e c t , i s Thomas in th e f i r s t a c t s . . . ? E sse n
t i a l l y , he i s a man who i s fo r c e d to a ssu m e, a s com
p l e t e l y a s p o s s i b l e , th e human c o n d it io n , b u t w ith a
l u c i d i t y w h ich r e v e a ls t h a t i t i s o n ly an i l l u s i o n . 2?
B o rg a l c o n tin u e d t o e x p la in t h a t tow ard th e end o f A ct I I
th e secon d v o l e t was r e v e a le d t o u s . I t o c cu rr ed a t th e
moment when B eck et had b een fo r c e d by th e K ing in t o
a c c e p t in g th e a p p o in tm en t a s A rch b ish op o f C an terb u ry.
In th e t r a d i t i o n a l m anner, he warned Henry t h a t he sh o u ld
bew are o f m aking him A rch b ish o p , s a y in g , "T his i s m ad ness,
my l o r d . D o n 't do i t . I c o u ld n o t s e r v e b o th God and
y o u ." 2®
In th e sc e n e t h a t f o llo w e d , A n o u ilh u sed th e h i s
t o r i c a l e v e n t o f B eck et i n v i t i n g th e b e g g a r s in t o h i s
p a la c e f o r a b anquet t o s e t th e sc e n e f o r h i s sh e d d in g h i s
o ld s e l f and a ssu m in g a new r o l e in l i f e . B eck e t ended
: t h i s sc e n e w ith
F a r e w e ll, B e c k e t. I w ish ed th e r e had been so m eth in g
I r e g r e t t e d p a r t in g w it h , so I o o u ld o f f e r i t t o You.
(He p ic k s up th e o r u c i f i x and lo o k s a t i t . ) (S im p ly )
L ord, a r e You su r e You a r e n o t te m p tin g me? I t a l l
seem s f a r to o e a s y . 2 ?
2?C lem ent B o r g a l, A n o u ilh , t r a n s la t e d by th e a u th o r
( P a r ls t E d it io n s d e C e n tu r io n s, 1 9 6 6 ) , pp. 1*K)-1*H.
2®Jean A n o u ilh , B e c k e t. o r th e Honor o f God (New York*
Samuel F ren ch , 1 9 6 1 ) , p . * 4 -0 ( I I ) .
29I b l d . . p. ( I I ) .
| 229
As B o rg a l s a y s o f t h i s change In B e c k e t, "L 'honneur
d e D leu n e f e r a p in s q u 'u n d e so r m a is a v e c l'h o n n e u r de
B e c k e t ."3° One m ight w e ll be in c l i n e d to go somewhat
f u r t h e r th a n t h a t , and sa y t h a t th e h on or o f God i s th e
hon or o f B e c k e t. A n o u ilh 's h ero no lo n g e r had t o im p r o v ise !
: i
h i s h on or such a s he had ta lk e d ab ou t a t th e end o f A ct I , j
j
:when he s a id t j
. . .1 c h e a te d my way i n . An a l i e n , a b a s ta r d , j
and s t o l e my p la c e among th e c o n q u e r o r s. You can s le e p
p e a c e f u l ly , th o u g h , my p r in c e . So lo n g a s B eck et i s
o b lig e d to im p r o v ise h i s h on ou r, he w i l l s e r v e y o u .
And i f one d a y , he m ee ts i t fa c e t o f a c e . , . (He
p a u se s b r i e f l y ) But w here i s B e c k e t's h o n ou r?3l
I t i s o b v io u s t h a t he found i t in God. Not in th e
t r a d i t i o n a l s e n s e , a s B o rg a l p o in t s o u t , but in th e id e a
t h a t , "L 'honneur v e r i t a b l e , s e lo n 1 ' ad age l a t i n , e s t un
fa r d e a u . I I a s p ir e a en tr o u v e r un a sa t a i l l e . " ^ 2 T hat
i s , he a s p ir e d t o f in d w it h in h i s new s t a t u r e o r s e l f a
burden o r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w h ich w ould mean t h a t he had
found h i s h o n o r. He found i t in th e d e f e n s e o f God and
th e Church.
Hugh D ic k in so n d e s c r ib e s th e two d ip t y c h e s o r move
m en ts o f th e p la y a s d e g r a d a tio n and r e p a r a t io n .
3 ° B o r g a l, o p . o l t . . p . 14 4 .
^ A n o u ilh , o p . c l t . . p . 26 ( I ) .
3 2 B o r g a l, o p . c l t . . p . 1 4 4 .
I 230
O utw ardly, th e f i r s t movement show s th e Saxon
B e c k e t* s r i s e to w o r ld ly power a s th e Norman K in g 's
f r ie n d and a s c h a n c e llo r o f th e realm » in w a r d ly , i t
d e v e lo p s h i s in c r e a s in g d e g r a d a tio n a s a c o lla b o r a t o r ,
b e tr a y in g h i s own and h i s c o u n t r y 's h o n o r.
The secon d m ovem ent. . .sh o w s how B ec k e t l i b e r a t e s j
h im s e lf from h i s sham e. He f in d s h i s i d e n t i t y and r e
s t o r e s h i s i n t e g r i t y by d e fe n d in g th e h on or o f God a t
th e c o s t o f h i s l i f e . 33 !
S in c e th e id e a s o f t h e s e two c r i t i c s p a r a l l e l ea ch
i
o t h e r v e r y c l o s e l y , l e t ’ s i n v e s t i g a t e th e p la y t o s e e i f
th e y a r e t r u e . In th e f i r s t p la c e , was th e r e a d eq u a te j
(
e v id e n c e t h a t B eck et f e l t d egrad ed in h i s p o s i t i o n a s a
" c o lla b o r a to r " ? The an sw er was y e s . 1
; 1
In th e f i r s t p la c e , A n o u ilh had gone t o g r e a t le n g t h s
t o em p h asize B e c k e t* s Saxon h e r i t a g e . For ex a m p le, th e
K ing m e n tio n s i t in th e o p e n in g sc e n e o f th e p la y a t
B e c k e t's tom b, and a g a in in A ct I , S cen e I I , i n th e K in g 's :
room.
K in g. . . .H ow ever d id you come t o sp eak French
w ith o u t a t r a c e o f an E n g lis h a c c e n t?
B e c k e t. M y p a r e n ts w ere a b le to k eep t h e i r
la n d s by a g r e e in g t o ' c o l l a b o r a t e , ' a s th e y s a y ,
w ith th e K ing you r f a t h e r . They s e n t me t o France
a s a boy t o a c q u ir e a good F rench a c c e n t .
K in g. To France? Not t o Normandy?
B e c k e t. ( s m ilin g ) That was t h e i r one
p a t r i o t i c c o n c e i t . They lo a th e d th e Norman a c c e n t .
(B e c k e t a s s i s t s th e k in g t o p u t on
h i s c o a t)
3^Hugh D ic k in s o n , " F a s c in a tin g 'B e c k e t' D eb u ts H ere,"
The New W orld. November 2 , 1 9 6 2 , P. 7 .
231
I
K in g. ( d i s t i n c t l y ) O nly th e a c c e n t?
B e c k e t. ( l i g h t l y and in s c r u t a b ly ) M y f a t h e r
was a v e r y s e v e r e man. I w ould n e v e r have ta k en th e
l i b e r t y o f q u e s t io n in g him on h i s p e r s o n a l c o n v ic t io n s .
He m anaged, by c o ll a b o r a t i n g , t o am ass a c o n s id e r a b le
fo r tu n e . As he w as a l s o a man o f r i g i d p r i n c i p l e s , I
im a g in e he c o n tr iv e d to do i t i n a cc o r d a n c e w ith h i s
c o n s c ie n c e . T h a t 's a l i t t l e p ie c e o f s l e i g h t o f hand
t h a t men o f p r i n c i p l e a r e v e r y a d e p t a t i n tr o u b le d j
t im e s .3^
One s u r e ly ca n n o t m is s th e n o te o f I r o n ic b i t t e r n e s s i n th e
l a s t l i n e s o f B e c k e t, when h e sp e a k s a b o u t h i s f a t h e r ' s i
c o lla b o r a t io n . He m ust h ave been t h in k in g o f h im s e lf a l s o
I
when he spok e th e l a s t l i n e , " T h a t's a l i t t l e p ie c e o f
I
s l e i g h t o f hand t h a t men o f p r i n c i p l e a r e v e r y a d e p t a t in
i
tr o u b le d t i m e s ."35 of c o u r s e , th e b a s ic d i f f e r e n c e b etw een
h im s e lf and h i s f a t h e r was t h a t B ec k e t d id n o t d e lu d e him
s e l f in t o t h in k in g t h a t h i s a c t i o n s w ere b a sed on h ig h
I
1
p r i n c i p l e s . T h is was a f a c t w h ich we had a lr e a d y b orn e o u t j
: |
w ith h i s sp e e c h a t th e end o f A ct I , when he a d m itte d t h a t
he w as " o b lig e d t o im p r o v is e h i s h on ou r. • . ," 3 6 ^ t t h i s
p o in t in th e p la y , B ec k e t had o n ly one p r i n c i p l e by w hich
t o l i v e . I t was th e p r i n c i p l e o f th e a e s t h e t e . T h is was
r e v e a le d i n A ct I by b o th B eck et and h i s param our, Gwen
d o le n . B e c k e t s a id t o h e r , "The o n ly t h in g I lo v e i s com ing
t o y o u . B eau ty i d th e one t h in g w h ich d o e s n 't sh ak e o n e 's
f a i t h in G od ."37 Somewhat l a t e r in th e same s c e n e , a f t e r
3 ^ A n o u ilh , o p . c l t . , P . ^ ( I ) . 3 5 x b id ,
36I b l d . . p. 26 ( I ) . 3 ? r b id ., p. 19 ( i ) .
232
th e K ing h a s ta k en Gwendolen away from B e c k e t, he s a id to
Thomas t
K in g. ( s i t t i n g on th e u p sta g e s id e o f th e cou ch )
T h a t's what I mean. As on e f r ie n d to a n o th e r , I t ' s
th e t h in g to d o . (He p a u s e s , s m ile s m a lic io u s ly and
c a r e s s e s G w endolen)
(G w endolen c o w e r s, t e r r i f i e d )
!
You do c a r e a b o u t h er? Can you c a r e f o r som eth in g?
Go o n , t e l l me I f you c a r e a b o u t h er? j
(B e c k e t I s s i l e n t ) j
(h e s m ile s ) You c a n 't t e l l a l i e . I know y o u . Not
b e c a u se y o u 'r e a f r a id o f l i e s — I t h in k you m ust be
th e o n ly man I know who I s n ' t a f r a id o f a n y th in g — !
n o t ev en H eaven— b u t b e c a u se i t ' s d i s t a s t e f u l t o y o u . j
You c o n s id e r I t I n e le g a n t . What lo o k s l i k e m o r a lity
in you i s n o th in g more th a n a e s t h e t i c s . I s t h a t tr u e
o r i s n ' t i t ?
i
Thomas r e p l i e s i
I t ' s t r u e , by L o r d . 38
I
B ec k et was d e d ic a te d t o th e a e s t h e t i c p r i n c i p l e s in c e
he c o u ld n o t f in d a n o th e r In w h ich he c o u ld b e l i e v e .
I
T h e r e fo r e , he d e d ic a te d h im s e lf t o p e r f e c t i o n and e le g a n c e
In w h a te v e r r o l e he happened t o be p la y in g a t th e moment.
He had no I d e n t i t y i n h im s e lf , o n ly i n w hat he was d o in g .
T h is w as c l e a r l y r e v e a le d i n th e f o llo w in g s h o r t s c e n e t
K in g. (s u d d e n ly , a s he r e i n s h i s h o r s e ) Do you
lo v e me, B eck et?
B e c k e t. I am y o u r s e r v a n t , my p r in c e .
K in g. Did you lo v e me when I made you C h a n cello r?
I w onder so m etim es i f y o u 'r e c a p a b le o f l o v e . Do you
lo v e Gwendolen?
38I b l d . , p. 23 ( I ) .
233
B e c k e t. She i s my m is t r e s s , my p r in c e .
K in g. Why do you p u t l a b e l s on t o e v e r y t h in g
t o J u s t i f y y o u r f e e l i n g s ?
B e c k e t. B e c a u se , w ith o u t l a b e l s , th e w orld would
have no sh a p e , my p r in c e .
K in g. I s i t so im p o rta n t f o r th e w orld t o have j
shape? !
|
B e c k e t. I t ' s e s s e n t i a l , my g r in c e , o th e r w is e we
c a n 't know w hat w e 'r e d o i n g . 3 9
T h is c l a r i f i e d two im p o rta n t f a c e t s o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r .
F i r s t , he showed h im s e lf in c a p a b le o f lo v e o r a l l e g i a n c e
t o anyone o r a n y th in g i n th e u s u a l s e n s e o f th e w ord. Y e t,
he had a g r e a t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o th o s e p e r so n s who f i t t e d
i
in t o h i s p la n o f l i f e a t t h a t moment i n tim e . He ap p eared
h ere a s th e u ltim a te p r a g m a tis t. S e c o n d ly , t h i s p a ssa g e
showed h i s a e s t h e t i c i s m , a g a in , by h i s s ta te m e n t t h a t j
shape was n e c e s s a r y in t h i s w o rld .
F i n a l l y , th e r e i s one o t h e r t h in g from A ct I w h ich i s
e v id e n c e o f B e c k e t 's a e s t h e t ic is m j a l s o , i t w as th e c e n t r a l
problem o f th e p la y , around w h ich th e e n t ir e d ev elo p m en t o f
B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r r e v o lv e d . A f te r B eck et had l o s t Gwen
d o le n t o th e K ing b e ca u se o f an u n s u s p e c tin g p rom ise w h ich
h e had made t o him , th e r e was a sc e n e i n w hich Gwendolen
p rep ared t o go t o th e K in g 's bedcham ber a s she had b een
o rd ered t o d o . J u s t b e fo r e sh e l e f t , sh e tu rn ed t o B eck et
and a s k e d i
39i b l d . . pp. 12-13 ( I ) .
23^
. . .My lo r d c a r e s f o r n o th in g in th e w h o le w o r ld ,
d o e s he?
B eck et g ave th e e x p e c te d answ er*
No. |
i
I
G w endolen, who lo v e d B ec k e t v e r y d e e p ly , moved t o him and !
i
: I
g e n t ly s a id i
i
You b e lo n g to a con q u ered r a c e , t o o . But th ro u g h j
t a s t i n g to o much o f th e honey o f l i f e , you *ve f o r g o t t e n j
t h a t ev en th o s e who have b een robbed o f e v e r y t h in g have
one t h in g l e f t t o c a l l t h e i r own.
To w h ich B ec k e t r e p lie d *
Y es, I d a re sa y y o u 'r e r ig h t* I had f o r g o t t e n . There i
i s a gap i n me w here honour o u g h t t o b e .^ °
T h is w as a r e c o g n it io n s c e n e , one w h ich s t a r t e d th e
r e v e r s a l o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r . I t w as th e f i r s t sc e n e in
w h ich Thomas se n se d t h a t he n o t o n ly la c k e d h o n o r , b u t h i s
la c k o f i t gave him a s e n s e o f sham e.
H ow ever, i t was a sc e n e i n th e Second A ct w h ich r e a l l y
fo c u se d a t t e n t i o n on t h i s c e n t r a l p rob lem o f Thomas' c h a r -
i
a c t e r . B eck et was in Prance w ith Henry and h i s arm y. Some
s o l d i e r s had b ro u g h t a young Monk t o B e c k e t* s t e n t . The
Monk was c a r r y in g a k n if e and fo u g h t d e s p e r a t e ly a g a in s t
th e s o l d i e r s . When B eck et q u e s tio n e d him a b o u t w hat he had
in te n d e d t o do w ith th e k n i f e , he r e f u s e d t o a n sw e r. Then,
B eck et s a id t o him*
. . . I f you m eant i t f o r th e K in g , th e r e was no s e n s e
i n t h a t , my l a d . He h a s th r e e s o n s . K in gs s p r in g up
a g a in l i k e w eed s. Did you im a g in e you c o u ld l i b e r a t e
y o u r r a c e s in g le -h a n d e d ?
______ f o l b l d . . p. Zk ( I ) . ^ ________
| 235
i
The s h o r t sc e n e w h ich fo llo w e d c l e a r l y r e v e a le d how B eck et
began t o s e n s e th e shame o f h i s la c k o f honors
Monk, No. ( d u lly ) N ot f o r my r a c e . M y s e lf.
B e c k e t. L ib e r a te y o u r s e lf from what?
Monk* M y shame.
B e c k e t. (w ith sudden g r a v it y ) How o ld a r e you?
I
Monk. S ix t e e n .
B e c k e t. ( q u i e t l y ) The Normans have o c c u p ie d th e
is l a n d f o r a hundred y e a r s . Shame i s a s t a l e v i n
t a g e . Your f a t h e r and y o u r g r a n d fa th e r d rank i t to
th e d r e g s . The cup i s em pty now.
Monk. (s h a k in g h i s h ead ) No.
(A shadow seem s t o o r o s s B e c k e t 's e y e s )
B e o k e t. ( q u i e t l y ) S o , one f i n e m o rn in g , you woke
i n y o u r c e l l t o th e b e l l o f th e f i r s t o f f i c e s , w h ile
i t was s t i l l d a r k . And i t w as th e b e l l s t h a t t o ld
y o u , a boy o f s ix t e e n , t o ta k e th e w h ole burden o f
shame on t o y o u r s e lf ?
Monk, (w ith th e c r y o f a c o r n e r e d a n im a l) W ho
t o ld you th a t?
B e c k e t. ( i n d i f f e r e n t l y ) I'm a Saxon t o o , d id you
know th a t?
Monk. ( s t o n i l y ) Y es.
B e c k e t. ( s m ilin g ) Go o n . S p i t , Y ou 're d y in g t o .
(The Monk lo o k s a t B e c k e t, a l i t t l e d a z e d , and th e n
s p i t s )
(h e s m ile s ) T hat f e l t good d i d n ' t i t ? ( t e r s e l y )
The K ing i s w a it in g . And t h i s c o n v e r s a tio n c o u ld
go on I n d e f i n i t e l y . But I w ant t o k eep you a l i v e ,
so we can c o n tin u e i t on e o f t h e s e d a y s , ( l i g h t l y )
I t ' s pure s e l f i s h n e s s , you know. Your l i f e h a s n 't
i 236
i
any s o r t o f im p o rta n ce f o r me, o b v io u s ly , b u t i t ’ s
v e r y r a r e f o r P a te t o b r in g one f a c e t o f a c e w ith
o n e ’ s own g h o s t , when y o u n g .41
For a moment, B eo k et was a s he s a id , b rou gh t " fa c e t o fa c e "
w ith h i s own c o n s c ie n c e , w h ich had b een b u r ie d d e e p ly
b e n e a th h i s p ra g m a tic a p p roach t o l i f e . T h is was th e
i
tu r n in g p o in t i n B e c k e t 's p e r s o n a li t y , a lth o u g h th e a c t u a l
i
change d id n o t o c c u r u n t i l th e end o f th e A ct when th e K ing j
in fo rm ed him t h a t he w as t o become th e A rch b ish o p o f C an ter
b u ry . N e v e r t h e le s s , th e se ed had b een sown by th e young
Monk, who r e f l e c t e d B e c k e t* s y o u th fu l id e a lis m , f o r c in g him
t o lo o k back upon h im s e lf w ith some d eep r e se n tm e n t o f what
I
he had becom e. T h is was th e end o f th e f i r s t movement o r
" v o le t ," and th e end o f B e c k e t* s d e g r a d a tio n . At th e end
o f A ct I I B eck et had found h i s , o r God’ s , h o n o r, and A c ts j
I I I and IV became a p r o c e s s o f w o rk in g o u t h i s r e p a r a tio n
by d e fe n d in g " th e hon or o f God."
i
The co u ra g e w h ich B ec k et d is p la y e d d u r in g th e secon d
p a r t o f th e p la y was s im ila r t o t h a t w h ich P au l T i l l i c h ,
t h e l a t e C h r is tia n e x i s t e n t i a l i s t , c a l l e d " th e co u ra g e t o
i
b e ." A lth o u g h an e x t e n s iv e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f T i l l i c h ' s
c o n c e p t w ould be im p r a c tic a l h e r e , a b r i e f e x a m in a tio n o f
h i s t h e o l o g i c a l th e o r y w ould be h e l p f u l i n u n d e r sta n d in g
i
B e c k e t’ s c h a r a c te r !
^ I b l d . . pp. 33-3^ ( I I ) .
23 7
! Courage p a r t i c i p a t e s i n th e s e l f - a f f i r m a t i o n o f b e in g
i t s e l f . . . .
Man i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y aw are o f t h i s s o u r c e . In
s i t u a t i o n s o f c y n lo lsm and I n d if f e r e n c e he i s n o t '
aw are o f i t . But i t w orks i n him a s lo n g a s he m ain
t a i n s th e co u ra g e t o ta k e h i s a n x ie t y upon h im s e lf .
In th e a c t o f th e co u ra g e t o be th e pow er o f b e in g i s
e f f e c t i v e i n u s , w h eth er we r e c o g n iz e i t o r n o t . . . .
N ot argu m en ts b u t th e co u ra g e t o be r e v e a l s th e tr u e j
n a tu r e o f b e i n g - i t s e l f . By a f f ir m in g o u r b e in g we
p a r t ic ip a t e i n th e s e l f - a f f i r m a t i o n o f b e i n g - i t s e l f .
T here a r e no v a l i d argu m en ts f o r th e ’ e x i s t e n c e ' o f
God, b u t t h e r e a r e a c t s o f cou ra g e i n w h ich we a f f ir m j
th e pow er o f b e in g , w h eth er we knww i t o r n o t . I f we !
know i t , we a c c e p t a c c e p ta n c e c o n s c io u s ly . I f we do
n o t know i t , we n e v e r t h e le s s a c c e p t i t and p a r t ic ip a t e
i n i t . ^2
In o th e r w o rd s, o u r co u ra g e t o e x i s t i s an a f fir m a tio n ,!
n o t o n ly o f o u r own e x i s t e n c e , b u t o f th e e x i s t e n c e o f w hat j
T i l l i c h h a s ch o sen t o c a l l "God ab ove God" in o r d e r t o
a v o id c o n fu s io n w ith th e o rth o d o x t h e i s t i c God. T h is was
a p p a r e n tly th e m eaning A n o u ilh in te n d e d when Henry a sk e d j
B e c k e t, "Did you s t a r t t o lo v e God?" t o w h ich B ec k e t r e - J
p l i e d , "I s t a r t e d t o lo v e th e honour o f G od ."^3 T h is i s
h a r d ly p r o o f enough t o sa y t h a t A n o u ilh In te n d e d Thomas t o
sy m b o liz e th e I d e a ls o f a C h r is tia n e x i s t e n t i a l h e r o , b u t
i t d id p o in t v e r y s t r o n g ly i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n . A lth o u g h
A n o u ilh had r e fu s e d t o r e v e a l a n y th in g a b o u t h i s p e r s o n a l
b e l i e f s o t h e r th a n i n h i s c r e a t iv e w r i t i n g s , he had l e f t
c o n s id e r a b le e v id e n c e i n h i s p la y s o f an u n o rth o d o x b e l i e f
A?
^Paul T i l l i c h , The Courage t o Be (New Haven: Y ale
U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 5 2 ) , p . 1 8 1 .
^ A n o u ilh , o p . c l t . . p. 64 (IV ).
! 238
in God. A ls o , th e r e was c o n sid e r a b le testim o n y to A n o u ilh 's
r e j e c t io n o f orth odoxy and th e Church in B eo k et.
Throughout h h is second p a rt o f th e p la y th e p la y w r ig h t j
had surrounded Thomas w ith c o r r u p tio n . King Henry was I
: i
p ic tu r e d a s corru p t and s e lf - in d u lg e n t to th e p o in t o f j
b e in g c h ild is h . When B ecket l e f t him , he l o s t a l l se n se o f
s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e becau se B eck et had been h i s d i s c i p l i n e . |
Henry r e v e a le d t h i s to B eck et when th e y met on th e p la in o f !
La Fert<3 Bernard in an a ttem p t to end t h e i r lo n g q u a r r e l.
I t was ex trem ely c o ld and th e King was com p lain in g about
th e w eath er. B ecket a d v ise d him , "I a lw a y s t o ld you , my
p r in c e , th a t one must f ig h t th e c o ld w ith th e c o ld 's own
i
w eapons. S tr ip naked and sp la sh y o u r s e lf w ith c o ld w ater
e v er y m orning." Henry r e p lie d , "I used t o , when you were ,
th e r e to fo r c e me in to i t . I n ev er wash now. I s t in k ." 44
There were o th e r exam p les, such a s S cen es I I and I I I In j
Act I I , w hich c le a r ly showed how th e p la y w r ig h t in te n d ed |
to make B ecket th e s tr e n g th and c o n sc ie n c e o f th e K ing.
That was why Henry was d e e p ly h u rt when B eck et tu r n e d to -
ward God and away from him. H is s tr e n g th was gone. As
he sa id a t th e end o f Act IV , "I can do n o th in g ! N oth in g!
I'm a s lim p and u s e le s s a s a g i r l ! " 4 ^ The lo v e w hich Henry
showed fo r B eck et was a c t u a lly h i s dependence on B e c k e t's
44I b l d . , p. 62 (IV ).
45I b i d . , p. 69 (IV ).
; 239
l
s t r e n g t h , a s e l f i s h , J e a lo u s p o s s e s s i v e n e s s , r a t h e r th a n
th e h om osexu al lo v e upon w h ich some c r i t i c s have i n s i s t e d .
F u r th e r , th e K ing w as surrou nd ed by c o r r u p tio n . B oth
th e Queen and th e Queen M other w ere J e a lo u s , b i t t e r women, !
who w ish ed t o be r id o f B e c k e t b e c a u se he had had to o much |
i
in f lu e n c e o v e r H enry. They fe a r e d B e c k e t and w ould do
a n y th in g t o g e t r id o f him . The B a ro n s, who f i n a l l y d id j
k i l l B e c k e t, a tte m p te d in e v e r y way t o s e t th e K ing a g a in s t i
him b e c a u se th e y fe a r e d B e o k e t* s p o l i t i c a l pow er, and
b e c a u se th e y f e l t he w as from an i n f e r i o r r a c e . The o th e r
b is h o p s w ere J e a lo u s o f him . T hat o ld M ep h isto p h elea n
f i g u r e , G ilb e r t F o l l l o t , w as e s p e c i a l l y J e a lo u s and showed
i n th e f o llo w in g sc e n e how f a r he w as w i l l i n g t o go t o
a p p ea se h i s J e a lo u s y . j
K in g. W hat's h ap p en in g? J
F o l l i o t . L eg a l p ro ced u re i s t a k in g i t s c o u r s e , y o u r j
H ig h n e ss. The t h ir d summons h a s b een d e l i v e r e d . |
B ec k et h a s n o t a p p e a r ed . (He c r o s s e s t o 1 o f th e |
K ing) In a moment he w i l l be condemned i n a b s e n t i a . i
I s h a l l th e n , a s B ish o p o f London, s t e p forw ard and
p u b lic ly a c c u s e B e c k e t o f h a v in g c e le b r a t e d , i n con
tem pt o f th e K in g , a s a c r i l i g i o u s Mass a t th e i n s t i
g a t io n o f th e E v i l S p i r i t .
K in g. ( a n x io u s ly ) I s n ' t t h i t g o in g r a t h e r fa r ?
F o l l l o t . Of c o u r s e . I t w o n 't f o o l a n y o n e , b u t i t
a lw a y s w ork s. The a sse m b ly w i l l th e n go o u t t o a
v o t e and r e tu r n a v e r d i c t o f im p riso n m en t. The
s e n te n c e i s a lr e a d y drawn up.
K in g. U nanim ously?
240
! F o l l l o t . W e a r e a l l Normans. The r e s t I s y o u r
H ig h n e s s 's c o n c e r n . I t w i l l m e r e ly be a m a tte r
o f c a r r y in g o u t th e s e n te n c e .
Not o n ly d id I t show th e e v l l n e s s o f G ilb e r t F o l l l o t , b u t
i t im p lie d t h a t th e r e s t o f th e b is h o p s w ere i n c o l l u s i o n
i
w ith him and w ere w i l l i n g t o p e r ju r e th e m s e lv e s t o p r o s e
c u te B e c k e t.
The f a c t t h a t A n o u ilh w as a n t a g o n i s t i c tow ard th e
I
Church w as e v id e n t i n th e way i n w h ich he c h a r a c t e r iz e d th e
Pope and th e C a r d in a ls. In th e f i r s t p la c e , K ing L o u is o f
!
F rance warned B e c k e t, ", . .B ew are th e P op e. H e ' l l s e l l
:you f o r t h i r t y p i e c e s o f s i l v e r . " ^ T h is a l l u s i o n t o Ju d a s j
had g r e a t d ra m a tic v a lu e i n p r e p a r in g u s f o r th e sc e n e
w h ich f o llo w e d , i n w h ich th e Pope and h i s C a r d in a ls w ere
shown t o be th e w o r st k in d o f s c o u n d r e ls . For e x a m p le, th e
P o p e, who had k e p t B ec k e t w a it in g i n th e an tech am b er f o r a
m onth, s a id to h i s C a r d in a l, "I d o n 't w ant t o r e c e iv e him
|a t a l l . I g a th e r t h a t he i s a s in c e r e man. I am a lw a y s
d is c o n c e r t e d by p e o p le o f t h a t s o r t . They le a v e me w ith a
bad t a s t e i n my m o u t h . T h e r e fo llo w e d a parody o f th e
i n t r i g u e s o f th e P a p a l C ou rt, w h ich g a v e u s a th o r o u g h ly
lu d ic r o u s v ie w o f th e governm ent o f th e Church.
E veryone was p o r tr a y e d a s b e in g c o r r u p t, in c lu d in g
^ 6 I b l d . . p . 4 9 ( I I I ) .
I 4 7 I b l d . , p . 54 ( I I I ) .
! 48I b l d . . p. 55 ( I I I ) .
| 2*H
i
L o u is, who r ev ea led th a t he p r o te c te d B ecket o n ly fo r
p o l i t i c a l advantage and was w i l li n g to tu rn him o u t when
th r ea te n e d by a tta c k from both th e Roman Empire and Henry.
i
i
B ecket a lo n e was a man w ith honor* e x ce p t th e young Monk* j
whom B ecket had f i r s t b e frie n d ed in th e b a t t le encampment !
j
in P rance, and who l a t e r became B e c k e t's f a i t h f u l fo llo w e r i
and se r v a n t, I
Even B ecket began to q u e s tio n h is own m o tiv e s. P er- !
haps th e y to o were s e l f i s h . In a scen e which was r e m in is
c e n t o f th e one w ith Thomas and th e Fourth Tempter in
Murder in th e C a th ed ra l. Thomas came to th e r e a l iz a t i o n
th a t ". . .S a n c t it y i s a te m p ta tio n , to o . Oh how d i f f i c u l t
i t i s to g e t an answ er from You, L o r d ." ^ Than, a s answ er
to h i s q u e s tio n in g o f th e r e a l m eaning o f t h i s , he s a id :
i
. . .Your Scheme o f T h in gs, w hich we m ista k e n ly c a l l j
J u s t ic e , i s s e c r e t and profound and You plumb th e i
hidden d e p th s o f poor m en's puny fram es a s c a r e f u lly
a s th o se o f K in gs. And beneath th o se outward d i f f e r
e n c e s , which b lin d u s , but w hich to You a r e b a r e ly
n o t ic e a b le i b en eath th e diadem o r th e grim e, You j
d is o e r n th e same p r id e , th e same v a n it y , th e same |
p e t t y , com placent p reo ccu p a tio n w ith o n e s e lf . Lord, j
I am c e r ta in now th a t You meant to tempt me w ith
t h i s h a i r - s h i r t , o b je c t o f so much s e lf - c o n g r a t u la -
tlo n j t h i s bare c e l l , t h i s s o lit u d e , t h i s a b su r d ly
endured w in te r c o ld — and th e co n v e n ien ce s o f p ra y er.
I s h a ll le a v e t h i s co n v en t, where so many p r e c a u tio n s
hem You round. I s h a ll tak e up th e M itre and th e
g o ld en Cape a g a in , and th e g r e a t s i l v e r c r o s s and I
s h a ll go back and f ig h t in th e p la c e and w ith th e
weapons i t has p le a se d You to g iv e to me. I t has
p le a se d You to make me th e A rchbishop and to s e t me,
**9I b l d . , p. 57 ( I I I ) .
j 2k2
\ l i k e a s o l i t a r y pawn, fa c e to fa c e w ith th e K ing, upon
th e ch essb o a rd . I s h a ll go back to my p la o e , humbly,
and l e t th e w orld a ccu se me o f p r id e so th a t I may do
what I b e lie v e i s my l i f e ' s work. For th e r e s t , Your
w i l l be d on e. *0
Even in h is a c t o f su b m ission to th e " w ill o f God," !
j
B ecket took an e x i s t e n t i a l p o s it io n , fo r he su bm itted o f !
h i s own fr e e w i l l . T h is was a c o n sid e r a b ly d if f e r e n t
a t t it u d e than th e one he assumed in th e f i n a l sc e n e s o f
Murder in th e C ath ed ral. !
F in a lly , i t should be p o in ted o u t th a t B ecket had a
f l e e t i n g moment o f doubt even a f t e r he had prepared h im s e lf I
fo r martyrdom and was a w a itin g th e a r r iv a l o f h i s m urderers.
At l e a s t , he asked o f th e Lord, "Do n o t, in t h i s in t e r v a l
o f w a itin g , l e t one l a s t doubt e n te r my s o u l." ^ 1 With t h i s
he en tered in t o th e scen e o f h is martyrdom, w hich was b r i e f ;
in com parison to th e same scen e in th e f i f t e e n p r e ced in g j
i
p la y s , and th e a c tio n o f th e Barons gave i t a kind o f j
v is u a l b r u t a lit y and b e s t i a l i t y .
The f i n a l ir o n y o f th e p la y was co n ta in ed in th e l a s t
scen e which r e v e r te d back to th e t h e a t r i c a l p r e s e n t. King
Henry was s u f f e r in g penance a t th e tomb o f B ecket by b e in g
b ea ten by th e Monks o f Canterbury C ath ed ral, and a f t e r th ey
had f in is h e d f l a g e l l a t i n g him , he s a id i
50I b id . . p. 58 ( I I I ) .
51I b i d . . p. 71 (IV ).
I —
! 243
!
The honour o f God, g e n tle m e n , i s a v e r y good t h in g ,
and ta k e n a l l i n a l l , one g a in s by h a v in g i t on o n e 's
s i d e , Thomas B e c k e t, who w as o u r f r i e n d , u sed t o sa y
s o . E ngland w i l l owe h e r u lt im a t e v i c t o r y o v e r ch a o s
t o him and i t i s o u r w ish t h a t h en c efo r w a r d , he sh o u ld
be honoured and prayed to i n t h i s Kingdom a s a S a in t .
(The B arons k n e e l)
(He c r o s s e s t o C) Come g e n tle m e n . W e w i l l d e te r m in e ,
t o n ig h t , in th e C o u n c il, what posthum ous h on ou rs to
r e n d e r him and w hat p unishm ent t o d e a l o u t t o h i s
m u rd erers.
1 s t . B aron, (im p e r tu r b a b ly ) S i r e , th e y a r e unknown.
K in g. Our J u s t ic e w i l l s e e k them o u t , B aron , and you
w i l l be s p e c i a l l y e n tr u s te d w ith t h i s in q u ir y , so th a t
no one w i l l be in any d o u b t a s t o o u r R oyal d e s i r e to
d e fe n d th e honour o f God and th e memory o f o u r f r ie n d
from t h i s d ay fo r w a r d .52
T h is was th e u lt im a t e f o u ln e s s o f c h a r a c t e r , s in c e th e
Baron k n e e lin g a t B e c k e t 's g r a v e s id e who th e K ing had
ch arged w ith f in d in g Thomas' m u rd erers, w as one o f th e
men who had k i l l e d B e c k e t. Henry was w e ll aw are o f t h i s ,
and i t m ust have b een w r it t e n t o show how much th e K ing
w as a p o l i t i c a l o p p o r t u n is t , a c o r r u p t le a d e r . P e rh a p s,
i n th e mind o f th e p la y w r ig h t Henry was a sym bol o f w o rld
w id e p o l i t i c a l c o r r u p tio n .
The c h a r a c te r o f A n o u ilh 's B eck e t was b e s t summed up
in th e w ords o f L eonard P ronk o, who w ro te one o f th e f i r s t
co m p reh en siv e s t u d i e s o f A n o u ilh 's work*
52I b l d . . p. 73 (IV ).
! 244
A lthough b oth A nouilh and th e e x i s t e n t i a l i s t are
u lt im a t e ly o p t im is t ic in t h e i r p la c in g man a t th e
c e n te r o f th e u n iv e r se and in t h e ir c o n c e p tio n o f
man a s a fr e e b e in g , t h e ir u n d erstan d in g o f th a t
freedom d i f f e r s . For th e e x i s t e n t i a l i s t s , man i s
n ot a c r e a tu r e , fo r he h as n o t been c r e a te d ; God i s
d ead , and man i s an e x is t e n t who i s c o n s ta n tly c r e a t
in g h im s e lf by h is own f r e e c h o ic e . H is b ir t h and
d ea th were w ille d by no one and governed by no law
save th a t o f a b s u r d ity . The h e r o ic ra ce o f A nouilh
i s fr e e to choose a l s o , but o n ly w ith in th e bounds
o f t h e i r p a r ts , fo r th e y are c r e a tu r e s and owe t h e ir
b e in g s to a God o r d e s t in y , however v a g u e ly th a t fo r c e
may be c o n c e iv e d . In th e chaos o f th e u n iv e r se th e r e
i s a t l e a s t a s u f f i c i e n t p la n fo r u s to r e a l iz e th a t
each man h as h is p la c e , w hether th a t p la c e h a s any
meaning o r n o t. And u lt im a t e ly i t cannot have m eaning
u n le s s th e c r e a tu r e a s s e r t s h is l i b e r t y by l i v i n g to
th e v e r y d ep th s o f h i s b e in g . I t i s a kind o f l i b e r t y
through s e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n , a k in to th e l i b e r t y a tta in e d
by th e w i l l o f God and r e s ig n in g o n e 's s e l f to a c tin g
w ith in th a t w i l l . But A n o u ilh 's h e r o ic l i b e r t y i s n o t
a r e s ig n a t io n . On th e c o n tr a r y , i t i s a r e v o lt a g a in s t
human sta n d a rd s and a r e f u s a l to ta k e a p la c e in a
s o l i d i f i e d u n iv erse* a r e f u s a l to l o s e o n e 's p l a s t i
c i t y and become caught in th e v l s c o s l t e . to u se
S a r t r e 's word, o f th e b o u rg e o is i d e a l s . 53
A n o u ilh 's B eck et, th e n , was th e hero in sea rch o f
h im s e lf. L ike E l i o t ' s drama A n o u ilh 's was in t r o s p e c t iv e ,
exam ining th e In d iv id u a l playw rightfes d e e p e s t p h ilo s o p h ic a l
c o n c e p ts. The su r fa c e a c t io n s o f th e p la y s were o n ly th e re
t o illu m in a te and fo c u s a t t e n t io n on th e c h a r a c te r o f th e
h ero— th e way in which th e hero d e a lt w ith th e c e n tr a l
problem o f th e p la y — and on th e moral d e c is io n s which th e
hero made.
I n tr o s p e c t iv e h e r o es have been m ost pop u lar d u rin g th e
tw e n tie th c en tu r y . B ecause o f th e g r e a t ad van ces w hich
53pronko, op. c l t . . p. 73.
'have b een made i n m ethods and d e v ic e s f o r a n a ly z in g o u r
s e l v e s , we h ave had a g r e a t e r te n d e n c y to tu r n inw ard f o r
th e s o lu t i o n o f p ro b lem s. A n o u ilh 's Thomas B e c k e t, a t
l e a s t , h a s t u ld u s t h a t th e an sw er had to be found w it h in
: i
ea ch m an 's h o n o r, i f i t w ere t o be fou nd a t a l l . Of c o u r se ,;
t h i s id e a was n o t n e c e s s a r i l y co n tem p o ra ry . For ex a m p le,
th e c h a r a c te r o f A n o u ilh 's B ec k et was b e s t d e s c r ib e d by |
th e w ords o f S h a k e sp e a r e 's P o lo n iu s , who s a id , " T h is ab ove |
a l l — t o t h in e own s e l f be t r u e , / And i t m ust f o llo w , a s th e ;
n ig h t th e d a y ,/ Thou c a n s t n o t th e n be f a l s e t o an y m a n . "5^ ;
The C o n te st o f Laws
In th e m ost r e c e n t ly p u b lish e d c r i t i c a l s tu d y o f
C h r isto p h e r F r y 's drama we found t h i s s ta te m e n t c o n c e r n in g
th e th r e e t w e n t ie t h c e n tu r y p la y w r ig h ts ' r e s p e c t i v e drama
t i z a t i o n s o f th e B eck e t s to r y *
I t c o u ld be s a id t h a t E l i o t ' s c o n s t r u c t io n i s
fo c u s e d and r i t u a l i s t i c , F r y 's i s panoram ic and h i s
t o r i c a l , and A n o u ilh 's m u sic a l and c h o r e o g r a p h ic .
T h is c o n v e n ie n t sch em e, w hioh i s u s e f u l i f n o t a p
p lie d to o a r b i t r a r i l y , w ould p la c e Murder in a
't h e a t r e o f i d e a s , ' C u rtm an tle i n a 't h e a t r e o f ch a r
a c t e r s ' and B eck et in a 't h e a t r e o f s i t u a t i o n s . ' 5 5
C e r t a in ly , one d o e s n o t want t o u se t h i s "scheme" to o i
a r b i t r a r i l y , f o r i t c o u ld g iv e some q u it e e r r o n e o u s id e a s
a b o u t th e th r e e p la y s i n q u e s t io n . For ex a m p le, t o c a l l
^ H a m le t I , i l l , ? 8 -8 0 .
55E m il R oy, C h r isto p h e r Fry (C a rb o n d a le, I l l i n o i s *
S o u th er n I l l i n o i s U n iv e r s it y P r e s s , 1 9 6 8 ) , p . 1 2 3 .
; 246
i C urtm antle a " th e a tr e o f c h a r a c te r " w ould be q u it e m is
le a d in g . C urtm antle was c l o s e l y r e la t e d t o th e p la y s o f
E l i o t and .A nouilh. For ex a m p le, P r o n k o 's rem arks a b o u t
[
th e p la y s o f A n o u ilh c o u ld have b een a p p lie d a s e a s i l y to
iF r y 's C u rtm a n tlet
S e r io u s d r a m a tis ts o f F rance to d a y , l i k e S a r t r e ,
Camus, and A n o u ilh , seem no lo n g e r t o r eg a rd c h a r a c te r
a s th e k e r n a l o f th e dram a. They p r e s e n t n o t so much !
a p s y c h o lo g ic a l stu d y a s th e y do a p ic t u r e o f m an 's j
p r e d ic a m e n t, i n w h ich th e p e r so n a g e s a r e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e
o f v a r io u s a s p e c t s o f man and o f l i f e i t s e l f . 5 «
Somewhat l a t e r i n th e same d i s c u s s i o n Pronko u se d R en e-
M a r ill A lb e r e s ' d e f i n i t i o n o f " p h ilo s o p h ic a l drama" to
c l a r i f y h i s co n c e p t o f A n o u ilh 's p la y s*
L ik e o t h e r modern w r i t e r s , h o w ev er, A n o u ilh h a s g iv e n
up p a in t in g human p a s s io n s i n o r d e r to p a in t th e human
c o n d it io n . One m igh t th u s fjhnd i n a l l h i s work t h a t
p h ilo s o p h ic a l drama w h ich he c o n s t a n t ly a v o id e d b e fo r e
w r it in g A n tig o n e . 57 j
C e r t a in ly , one w ould be more c o r r e c t t o p la c e C u rtm an tle j
i n t h i s c a t e g o r y , th a n t o c a l l i t a " th e a tr e o f c h a r a c t e r ." !
As a m a t t e r - o f - f a c t , ev en Roy e v e n t u a lly g ave an
e x p la n a tio n o f F r y 's pl a y w hich r e s e m b le s w hat Pronko and
A lb eresh a d s a id ab o u t A n o u ilh 's*
Y et Fry h a s b een h e a v ily I n flu e n c e d by B e r g so n ,
R ilk e (who was adm ired by H eid e g g er and S a r t r e , among
o t h e r s ) , and K afka, and he h a s many a f f i n i t i e s w ith
G iraudoux and A n o u ilh , w hose p la y s he t r a n s la t e d and
^ P r o n k o , o p . o l t . . p . 1 6 5 .
57i b i d . . p . 1 6 6 , c i t i n g R en C -M arill A lb e r e s , La r e v o l t e
d e s t s c r lv a ln s d 'a u .lo u r d 'h u l (P a r is * Ed. C o rrea , 1 9 4 9 ) ,
P. l 4 l .
2^7
o c c a s i o n a l l y borrow ed from . L ik e h i s e x i s t e n t i a l i s t
c o n te m p o r a r ie s , Fry i s co n cern ed w ith m eaning i n a
c h a o t ic s o c i e t y and a p p a r e n tly i n d i f f e r e n t w o r l d . 58
A lth o u g h i t had b een le a r n e d th ro u g h th e e x p e r ie n c e o f
t h i s s tu d y t h a t th e rem arks o f p la y w r ig h ts w ere n o t e n t i r e l y
a c c u r a te i n d e l i n e a t i n g t h e i r i n t e n t i o n s i n t h e i r p la y s ,
F r y ’ s rem arks i n th e P r e fa c e o f C u rtm an tle w ere a n a ly z e d
i n an a tte m p t t o f in d some h in t o f th e m eaning o f th e p la y , I
and o f Thomas B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r w it h in th e a c t i o n o f i t .
To b e g in w it h , Fry s t a t e d i
The p la y h a s two them es* one a p r o g r e s s io n to w a rd s
a p o r t r a i t o f H enry, a s e a r c h f o r h i s r e a l i t y , m oving
th ro u g h v e r s io n s o f 'W here i s th e K in g?' to th e un
r e s o lv e d c l o s e o f 'He was dead when th e y came to h im .' j
The o t h e r theme i s la w , o r r a t h e r th e I n t e r p la y o f
d i f f e r e n t law s* c i v i l , ca n o n , m o r a l, a e s t h e t i c , and
th e la w s o f God* and how th e y b e lo n g and do n o t b e
lo n g t o e a c h o t h e r . 59
T h is p a ssa g e r e v e a le d F r y 's i n t e n t i o n to w r it e a p la y w h ich
fo c u se d more on Henry th a n on B e c k e t. L ik e th e e a r l y -
n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y p la y s o f S ir A rth u r H elp s and G eorge
W igh tw ick , C u rtm an tle c o n tin u e d th e a c t i o n a f t e r th e d e a th
o f B ec k e tj th e secon d p a r t o f th e p la y showed how fa m ily
and S t a te p ro b lem s p la g u ed Henry I I u n t i l th e end o f h i s
l i f e . A ls o , Fry made t h i s s ta te m e n t, w h ich w ould le a d tie
t o b e l i e v e t h a t h i s a t t e n t i o n was p r im a r ily on Henry*
5®Roy, o p . c l t . , p . 12^ .
-^ C h r is to p h e r F r y , C u rtm an tle (London* O xford U n iv e r
s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 6 1 ) , pp. v i i i & i x .
1
2*f8
! I t a d d s up t o no more th a n a s k e tc h o f H enry. J u s t
a s th e t h i r t y - f i v e y e a r s o f h i s r e ig n c o n t a in s a con
c e n t r a t io n o f th e human c o n d it lo n f so h i s c h a r a c te r
c o v e r s a v a s t f i e l d o f human n a tu r e . He w as sim p le
and r o y a l ( h i s nicknam e o f 'C u rtm an tle* d e r iv e d from
th e p la in c lo a k h e w o r e ), d i r e c t and p a r a d o x ic a l,
c o m p a ssio n a te and h a r d , a man o f i n t e l l e c t , a man o f
a c t i o n , G o d -fe a r in g , s u p e r s t i t i o u s , b la sp h em o u s, f a r -
s e e i n g , s h o r t - s i g h t e d , a f f e c t i o n a t e , l u s t f u l , p a t i e n t ,
v o l c a n i c , hum ble, o v e r r id in g . I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o th in k
o f an y f a c e t o f man whifcch a t some tim e he d i d n ' t demon
s t r a t e , e x c e p t c h a s t i t y and s lo t h .® 0
T here was no m en tio n o f Thomas B ec k et i n th e P r e fa c e , o th e r
th a n in a h i s t o r i c a l n o te a b o u t K ing H enry. I t ap p eared
t h a t F r y ’ s i n t e n t i o n was t o form th e a c t i o n o f th e p la y
around H enry, u s in g B ec k e t o n ly a s a f o i l f o r th e K in g,
J u st a s he u se d Queen E le a n o r and H e n r y 's s o n s . N e v er th e
l e s s , th e c h a r a c te r o f B ec k e t was worked o u t i n s u f f i c i e n t
d e t a i l t o make h i s c o n s id e r a t io n w o r th w h ile t o t h i s s tu d y .
W illia m W ard. B e i l i s a g r e e d t h a t Henry was th e fo c u s
o f F r y 's a t t e n t i o n i n C u rtm a n tlet
I n C u rtm a n tle. Henry a tte m p ts t o s e c u r e p ea ce
th ro u g h th e human I n g e n u ity o f p o l i t i c s . The common
p e o p le , th e Q ueen, th e l e g i t i m a t e s o n s , and Thomas
B e ck et g iv e te s tim o n y t h a t th e r e i s more t o th e w orld
th a n th e a r t o f p o l i t i c s com prehends.
C urtm antle i s f i r s t o f a l l th e s t o r y o f a p o l i t i c a l
v is io n a r y .
T h is w as s im ila r t o w hat E le a n o r had t o ld Henry i n A ct I I I .
Moments b e fo r e th e s o l d i e r s had ta k e n h e r away t o be lo c k e d
6° I b id . , p . i x .
^ W illia m Ward B e i l i s , "Thomas B e c k e tt An Em erging
M yth," (u n p u b lish e d D o c t o r 's d i s s e r t a t i o n . U n iv e r s it y o f
I n d ia n a , 1 9 6 * 0 , P. 1 8 8 .
I 2^9
up by ord er o f th e K ing, she had sa id to him*
. . .You can a c c u se me o f n o th in g , e x c e p t fo llo w in g
The fr e e cou rse o f e v e n ts , th e new o rd er o f th in g s
Which i s grow ing up round u s . You b r in g n o th in g to
an end.
For what p a rt o f B eck et, a f t e r a l l , h as been done
away w ith?
Only h i s human f a l l i n g s . Now he i s r id o f them.
H is argument h as become pure sta te m e n t,
Absorbed in to th e p e r su a sio n w hich men c a l l
p ro v id e n c e.
P urpose, however w is e , i s h a r d ly b le s s e d .
God t h r iv e s on chance and c h a n g e . ° 2
To t h i s Henry made th e p a t h e tic rep ly*
God u se h i s e y e s on me, t h i s i s s o p h is tr y !
I f B ecket had wanted peace he cou ld have had i t .
W hat's my crim e? A secu re P la n ta g e n e t em pire j
And a governm ent o f j u s t i c e . A m I to be
The o n ly man who g o es b eg g in g fo r J u s t ic e ? «3
At t h i s p o in t in th e p la y Henry had fa ced two o f h i s
g r e a t e s t d e t e r r e n t s , Thomas B ecket and Queen E lea n o r, and,
in a s e n s e , he had overcome them. However, a s th e Queen
p r e d ic te d , th e s p i r i t u a l " essen ce" o f b oth h er and B ecket
lin g e r e d in th e h e a r ts and minds o f o th e r s , who o ffe r e d a s j
much r e s is ta n c e to H en ry's p lan fo r a P la n ta g e n e t em pire
j
a s i f th e Queen and th e A rchbishop s t i l l opposed him. A
g r e a t o p p o s itio n to H en ry's scheme o f th in g s was c r e a te d by
B e c k e t's martyrdom. Even a f t e r th e King had done penance
a t B e c k e t's s h r in e , th e A rch b ish o p 's argum ents rem ained a s
an o b s ta c le to H en ry's p la n s. E lean or was c e r ta in th a t h er
scheme o f th in g s would be c a r r ie d o u t, d e s p ite Henry sen d in g
62Fry, op. c l t . . p. 82 ( I I I ) . 63Ib id .
I 250
i
h er to p r is o n , through th e r e a c tio n s o f t h e i r r e b e llio u s
so n s. A gain, B e i l i s h a s summed t h i s up v e r y w e ll*
Henry means w e l l, but he d o es n o t u n d erstan d . T h is
i s th e su b stan ce o f F r y 's p o r t r a it . He d is p la y s com
p le t e p e r so n a l i n t e g r i t y and p a s s io n a te z e a l , but he
i s b lin d t o th e o b v io u s f e a tu r e s o f th e w orld . He
d o es n o t se e s e l f i s h s p e c ia l I n t e r e s t s se d u cin g a l l
o f h i s p eo p le on th e one hand and an i n f l e x i b l e tr a n
scen d en t i n t e r e s t op p o sin g him on th e o th e r . The
common p eo p le want w in d f a lls and th e g i f t o f i n d i
v id u a l fa v o r s r a th e r th an J u s tic e and la w . The
le g it im a t e son s want r o y a l pow ers and p r iv ile g e fo r
th e m se lv e s. Queen E lea n o r, r e p r e s e n ta tiv e o f th e
c u ltu r e d e l i t e , w ants l e i s u r e f o r r e fin e d enjoym en ts
r a th e r than th e r e s p o n s ib i li t y o f s e r v in g th e common
good. Thomas, th e one man who sh a re s H enry’ s v i s i o n
and th e a c tu a l r ig o r s o f b r in g in g i t in t o b e in g , knows
a la r g e r u n iv e r se than H en ry's p la n s su p p ose. Henry
may pronounce and la b o r , d e v is e and im p r o v ise , r e t r e a t
and rebound, s t i l l h i s work i s doomed to f a i l .
Henry was a v is io n a r y , who b e lie v e d th a t he cou ld a f f e c t
th e fu tu r e o f th e w orld by a c t in g upon i t . Of c o u r se ,
th a t had alw ays been w estern m an's dream. I t h as been
o f t e n th ou gh t o f in a la r g e r , more u n iv e r s a l s e n s e , a s
p r o g r e ss . However, p r o g r e ss o f t h i s kind can v e r y w e ll
c r e a te i t s own, and perhaps g r e a te r , problem s. F u rth er,
th e b e s t la id p la n s o ft e n f a i l b ecau se o f a c c id e n t s , w hich
was th e e sse n c e o f what E lean or sa id in th e l a s t two l i n e s
o f th e sta tem en t which was quoted ab ove.
One o f E le a n o r 's sp ee ch es e a r ly in Act I I was s i g n i f -
' le a n t in e s t a b lis h in g th e r e la t io n s h ip betw een Henry and
B eck et. As th e two men ended t h e i r f i n a l argument b e fo r e
^ B e i l i s , o p . o l t . . p . 128.
! 251
i
1 B e c k e t's esca p e In to s e l f - e x i l e , E lean or sa id
L et me say t h i s to th e man who makes th e w o r ld ~
And a ls o to th e man who makes h im s e lf th e Church.
C onsider th e c o m p le x ity , d e lig h t In d if f e r e n c e .
P ear, f o r G od's sa k e, your e x a c t w ords.
Do you th in k you can draw l i n e s on th e l i v i n g w ater?
T ogether we m ight have made a w orld o f p r o g r e ss .
Between u s , by our th r e e v a r ia n t s o f human n a tu r e ,
You and B ecket and me, we cou ld have been
The com p lete r e a c h in g forw ard. N e ith e r o f you
W ill d are to understand i t . 6 *
The 6com plete r ea c h in g forward" o f which she spoke was
P r y 's sy m b o liz a tio n o f r e a l , harm onious p r o g r e s s . T h is
was supported furbhur by th e r e s t o f th e scen e w hich spoke
o f th e need fo r harmony w ith in c o m p lex ity and d if f e r e n c e ,
but In d ic a te d th a t t h e i r v e n tu r e in h is t o r y was doomed to
f a ilu r e becau se th e r e was no harmony, no union o f I t s
e le m e n ts.
Henry would n ot understand th a t th e r e were many u n i
v e r s a l la w s, n o t j u s t o n e. He sa id t
E ith e r th e r e a r e la w s f o r e v er y man,
And he I s one* or th e r e a r e no la w s fo r any man.
The day I s v i t a l , and th e w orld c a n 't stan d s t i l l
To be c h e a te d , even under co v er o f G od,6®
He was sp eak in g o f h is la w s, th e la w s o f th e realm . He
was n o t w i l li n g to'jnake c o n c e s s io n s to B e c k e t's la w s (la w s
o f th e Church) in th e name o f harmony. L ik e w ise , B ecket
would n o t , o r could n o t , make c o n c e s s io n s to H en ry's la w s.
Fry p la n ted t h i s id e a e a r ly in th e p la y . For exam ple,
in th e f i r s t scen e In w hich b oth Henry and B eck et ap p eared ,
6^Pry, op. c l t .§ p. 47 ( I I ) . 66I b l d . .
j 252
■ th e K ing was t a lk i n g a b o u t th e good f o r t u n e s o f E ngland
when he s a ld t
. . .w h at we h ave g o t
I s n a t u r a l, b e c a u se I t was n e c e s s a r y .
And t h a t p u ts u s c l e a r l y In th e a s c e n d e n t
For a term o f good o r d e r , w h ile we do o u r w ork.
From th e A r c t ic c i r c l e t o th e P y r e n e e s
The K in g 's p ea ce i s h o ld in g s e c u r e .
B e c k e t. And G od 's p e a c e , t o o , no d o u b t .* > 7
;T h is r e v e r e n t i a l a t t i t u d e in th e s e c u la r B e c k e t had n o t
ap p eared i n an y o f th e o t h e r p la y s . E it h e r th e p la y s had
begun t h e i r a c t io n a f t e r B ec k e t had become th e A rch b ish o p
o f C a n terb u ry, o r th e y had p o r tr a y e d him a s a C h a n c e llo r
o f v a r y in g d e g r e e s o f a n ta g o n ism tow ard th e Church. In
F r y 's p la y when Henry co m p lain ed a b o u t th e Church p ro
t e c t i n g a f e l o n i o u s c le r k a t L in c o ln , C h a n c e llo r B ec k et
argu ed f o r th e d e c i s i o n o f th e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l c o u r t . In
e v e r y p r e v io u s p la y , B e c k e t, w h ile C h a n c e llo r , had b een
ir r e v o c a b ly op p osed t o t h i s k in d o f s e p a r a tio n o f th e la w s
o f Church and S t a t e . Fry s o ft e n e d th e chan ge in B e o k e t 's
a t t i t u d e and made h i s c h a r a c te r more c o n s i s t e n t .
One o f th e w e a k n e sse s o f F r y 's drama w as th e la c k o f
r e a d i l y a p p a r en t e m o tio n a l a c t i o n s and r e a c t io n s o f i t s
c h a r a c t e r s . P la y s u s u a lly ca n n o t a f f o r d t o be to o s u b t l e .
B eca u se o f th e ep h em eral n a tu r e o f th e t h e a t r e th e c o n c e p ts
!
o f a p la y m ust be e a s i l y g ra sp ed by th e a u d ie n c e . Fry had
67l b l d . . pp. 11-12 ( I ) .
! 253
jbeen s u b t le t o th e p o in t o f b e in g o b t u s e . For ex a m p le, In
th e sc e n e In w h ich th e K ing had t o ld B ec k e t t h a t he had
I
w anted him t o becom e th e n e x t A rch b ish o p o f C an terb u ry,
t h e r e was none o f th e pronounced e m o tio n a l r e a c t io n s w h ich
;had ap p eared i n th e p r e v io u s p la y s . The so en e c o n s is t e d o f
a c o o l and c a lc u la t e d d i s c u s s i o n b etw een B ec k e t and th e
i
jK lng. I t ended w ith B e c k e t* s a c c e p ta n c e o f th e new p o s i
t i o n , b u t n o t b e fo r e he had s e t f o r t h some v e r y im p o rta n t |
argu m en ts w h ich Henry sh o u ld h a v e , b u t d id n o t , ta k e i n t o !
i
c o n s id e r a t io n . For ex a m p le, when H enry a sk e d B e c k e t who
I
w ould make a b e t t e r A rch b ish o p , B ec k e t r e p lie d * j
I am n o t ,
Ask a n y hundred random men,
T hey*11 t e l l you s o . The Church i t s e l f
N e ith e r w a it s f o r me, n o r w a n ts me* r a t h e r
D e p lo r e s me th a n o t h e r w is e . And I'm n o t a man
Whose c o n fid e n c e t h r i v e s on I t s own. What I do
w e ll
I do b e c a u se men b e l i e v e I w i l l do i t w e ll
1 B e fo r e e v e r th e t h in g i s b egu n . . . .
I d ou b t i f I sh o u ld e v e r be
S u f f i c i e n t In m y s e lf , t o h o ld my c o u r se
W ithout a n y a p p r o v a l. No on e w ould sa y
I w as made o f th e s t u f f o f m a r ty r s. . . , 68
B e c k e t, a t l e a s t , f e l t t h a t he was b a s i c a l l y a f o ll o w e r ,
n o t a le a d e r w ith s tr o n g d i r e c t i o n and p u r p o se . I t w as
i i r o n i o t h a t he w ould e v e n t u a lly d is p r o v e t h i s a b o u t h im s e lf
I
j and t h a t h e w ould a l s o sub m it t o m artyrdom .
j
In th e s p e e c h e s w h ich f o llo w e d , B ec k e t co m p leted h i s
! argum ent a g a in s t b ecom ing th e A rch b ish o p o f C anterbury*
j
! - - . .
I 68I b l d . . p. 20 ( I ) .
25^
One th in g i s s im p le .
W hoever I s made A rch b ish op w i l l v e r y soon
O ffen d e i t h e r y o u , H enry, o r h i s God.
I ' l l t e l l you why. There i s a tr u e and l i v i n g
D i a l e c t i c b etw een th e Church and th e s t a t e
Which h a s t o be argu ed f o r e v e r in good p a r t .
I t c a n 't be broken o f f o r tu rn ed
I n to a c l e a r i s s u e t o be l o s t o r won.
I t ' s th e n a tu r e o f man t h a t a r g u e s i
The d eep r o o t s o f d is p u t a t io n
Which dug i n th e d u s t , and form ed Adam's b od y.
So I t ' s v e r y u n lik e ly ,!, b e c a u se y o u r f r ie n d ,
Becom es P rim ate o f E n g la n d , th e argum ent w i l l e n d .09
F i n a l l y , a s he was a b o u t t o c o n s e n t to th e K in g 's w is h e s ,
B ec k e t warded him t h a t th e y w ould be d iv id e d , and
. . .w h a t i s m ore, f o r c in g
Y o u r s e lf and me, in d e e d th e w h ole Kingdom,
I n to a k in d o f i n t r u s io n on th e human m y ste r y .
Where we may n o t know w hat i t i s w e 'r e d o in g ,
What pow ers we a r e s e r v in g , o r w hat i s b e in g made
o f u s ,
Or ev en u n d ersta n d th e c o n c lu s io n when i t com es.
D e liv e r in g u s u p , i n f a c t , t o u n iv e r s a l w o rk in g s
Which n e it h e r you n o r I w ish t o com ply w ith
Or e v e n t o c o n te m p la te .7 °
W ith t h i s a c t i o n th e d i e w as c a s t . One la w (G o d 's
la w a s r e p r e s e n te d by A rch b ish o p B e c k e t) was s e t a g a in s t
a n o th e r (m an 's la w a s r e p r e s e n te d by K ing H en ry ). The
r e s u l t , a s B eck e t p r e d ic te d i n th e p r e v io u s s p e e c h , was
u n fa th o m a b le. I t was n e v e r co n clu d ed w it h in th e a c t i o n o f
t h i s p la y . Ratherqi th e end o f B e c k e t 's l i f e w as th e b e
g in n in g o f a n o th e r s e r i e s o f a c t i o n s w hich w ere t o be s e t
o f f by h i s d e a th . F u r th e r , a t th e end o f th e p la y , t h e r e
was th e f e e l i n g t h a t t h i s was m e re ly th e b e g in n in g o f a
69I b ld . , p. 21 ( I ) . 7° I b ld . . p. 22 ( I ) .
i 255
I
!co sm ic drama w h ich w ould c o n tin u e on a s lo n g a s th e r e w as a
h i s t o r y o f man.
A n oth er f a c e t o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c te r w as r e v e a le d In
th e f o llo w in g argum ent w h ich B e ck e t u sed a g a in s t H en ry 's
sta te m e n t t h a t th e Church sh o u ld n o t have pow er c o n t r a d ic
t o r y t o th e Crown t
. . .Y ou , H enry, o f a l l men, who c r y o u t
For a d e m o n str a tio n o f o r d e r , f o r a h o u se o f men
So l u c i d and s tr o n g i t w i l l n e v e r be co n fo u n d ed .
See th e Church l i k e w i s e . I f sh e sh o u ld have
No d e f i n i t i o n i n term s o f th e w o r ld , no sheph erd
To guard h e r r u le and s u b s ta n c e , sh e w ould soon be
t h r u s t
I n to any c o r n e r t h a t man, tr a m p lin g forw ard
Towards h i s p la c e s o f p o s s e s s io n ,
Thought f i t t o le a v e o p en . What i s n o t se e n o r
h eard
But y e t en d u re s h a s t o be shown o r sp o k en .
How, th e n , w ith o u t r i c h form o f r i t u a l
And cerem on y, s h a l l we co n v ey
The m a je sty o f e t e r n a l governm ent
Or g iv e shap e t o th e m y stery r e v e a le d
Y et a s a m y ster y ? 71
i One sh o u ld n o t ic e how th e a t t i t u d e w h ich B ec k e t had had
tow ard r e l i g i o n b e fo r e he was a p p o in te d A rch b ish o p had
now m atured i n t o a l o g i c a l , I n t e l l e c t u a l s ta te m e n t o f th e
la w s o f God ( th e Church) i n o p p o s it io n to th e la w s o f man.
F i n a l l y , n e a r th e b e g in n in g o f A ct I I B eck e t made a
sp e e c h i n w h ich he s a ld i
What a man knows he h a s by e x p e r ie n c e
But what a man i s p r e c e d e s e x p e r ie n c e .
H is e x p e r ie n c e m e r e ly r e v e a l s h im , o r d e s t r o y s
him :
E it h e r d r i v e s him t o h i s own n e g a t io n ,
7 1 i b i d . , pp. 32-33 ( I ) .
256
Or p e r su a d e s him t o h i s a f f ir m a t io n , a s he c h o o s e s .
And t h i s t r u th I s n o t cu stom .
T h is I s n o t u n d er th e la w , b u t u n d er g r a c e .
What you s e e a s th e freed om o f th e S t a te
W ith in th e la w , I f e a r , a s th e e n sla v em en t
Of t h a t o t h e r s t a t e o f man, In w h ic h , and In
Which o n ly , he can know h i s p e r f e c t freed om .
So t h i s I s how I m ust a n sw er y o u i
W e o b ey you In e v e r y t h in g , u n le s s I t sh o u ld t h r e a te n i
The w i l l o f God, and th e la w s and d i g n i t y o f th e j
Church.72
i I
What h ave t h e s e s ta te m e n ts t o ld u s a b o u t th e c h a r a c te r o f
Thomas B ec k et In P r y 's C urtm antle? F i r s t o f a l l , we
I
n o t ic e d t h a t he was r e v e a le d a s a s i n c e r e l y r e l i g i o u s man
e v e n w h ile he w as s t i l l In th e o f f i c e o f C h a n c e llo r . He
spoke h o n e s t ly a b o u t h i s f a i t h In Godj he s i n c e r e l y d e
fen d ed th e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l la w s a s o p p osed t o H e n r y 's la w s .
T here w as a ca lm , r a t i o n a l p r e p a r a tio n o f h i s c h a r a c te r
f o r th e r o l e o f A rch b ish o p o f C an terb u ry. A lth o u g h H e n r y 's ;
i
announcem ent t h a t he w ish ed Thomas to assum e th e p o s i t i o n
o f A rch b ish o p came a b r u p tly , one I s h a r d ly s u r p r is e d when
B ec k e t f i n a l l y a o q u ie so e d b e c a u se Fry had a lr e a d y i n s t i l l e d
th e I d e a .
As t o th e d ev elo p m en t o f h i s c h a r a c t e r from t h i s
p o in t o n , one had t o a g r e e w ith E m il R oy, who sa id *
. . .A lm o st from th e moment he I s a p p o in te d A rc h b ish o p ,
F r y 's B ec k e t h a s c h o se n t o I d e n t i f y h i s l i f e so com
p l e t e l y w ith th e Church t h a t he i s l i t t l e more th a n an
in s tr u m e n t, I t s 'to n g u e ' t o be 'u se d i n argu m en t' b e
tw een th e S t a te and C hu rch .73
72I b l d . . p. 40 ( I I ) .
7^Roy, op. o l t . . p. 129.
! 2 57
!
(B ecause o f t h i s F r y 's B ec k e t la c k e d d im e n s io n . He w as
unhuman. T h is , o f c o u r s e , w as more o r l e s s tr u e o f a l l o f
th e c h a r a c t e r s i n th e p la y , w ith th e p o s s i b l e e x c e p t io n o f
i
H enry; i t gave th e p la y th e s t y l e and to n e o f a m e d ie v a l
m o r a lit y p la y .
B ec k e t ap p ea red a s an a b s t r a c t io n o f th e la w o f th e
;C hurch, p u r p o se ly p u t i n th e p la y t o h e lp d e f e a t th e la w
o f H enry, who ap p eared a s an a b s t r a c t io n o f " ev ery man"
who th in k s t h a t he can d i r e c t d e s t i n y . I n a n o th e r s e n s e ,
j t h i s p la y was l i k e a G reek tr a g e d y i n w h ich th e r e w as a
h ero (H e n r y ), who had a h a m a rtia (p r id e and a r r o g a n c e ) ,
and who was d e f e a te d by f a t e (B e c k e t, E le a n o r , th e l e g i t i
m ate s o n s , th e common p e o p le , and th e im m utable la w s o f
G od).
CHAPTER V I
SUM M ARY, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
j
Thomas B e c k e t, who was m artyred b e fo r e th e a l t a r In
: i
C an terb u ry C a th ed ra l on Decem ber 2 9 , 1 1 ? 0 , h a s e n jo y e d a
phenom enal p o p u la r ity In th e h i s t o r y and h a g io g ra p h y o f
E n glan d . He h a s e n jo y e d an e q u a lly u n u su a l p o p u la r ity In :
E n g lis h -la n g u a g e p la y s o f th e n in e t e e n t h and t w e n t ie t h i
c e n t u r i e s . i
C e r t a in ly , B e c k e t 's m a r ty r d o m --in d e e d , h i s e n t i r e
l i f e — had b een e s s e n t i a l l y d r a m a tic . Not o n ly w ere th e
e v e n t s o f h i s l i f e — h i s c o n f l i c t w ith Henry I I , h i s e sc a p e !
t o s e l f - e x i l e i n P r a n ce, and h i s r e tu r n t o E ngland am id th e
c h e e r s o f th e p e o p le — n a tu r a l d r a m a tic m a t e r ia ls , b u t th e
man h im s e lf ap p eared t o be a lw a y s c o n s c io u s o f th e r o l e
w h ich he was p la y in g i n l i f e . As th e C h a n c e llo r o f England
he was a m ost w o r ld ly and p o l i t i c manj a s th e A rch b ish o p o f
C an terb u ry he w as m ost m e d it a t iv e and a s c e t i c . P e r h a p s, a s
Jean A n ouilh su g g ested in B eck et (1 9 5 9 )» Thomas was a man
who l i t e r a l l y became th e r o l e t h a t he was p e r fo r m in g .
T hen, t o o , th e lo n g s t r u g g le b etw een th e A rch b ish o p and th e
K ing resem b led an a r c h e ty p a l s i t u a t i o n w h ich had b een a
p o p u la r s u b j e c t f o r p la y s e v e r s in c e A e sc h y lu s w ro te
jP rom etheus Bound and Sophofcfces A n tig o n e , i t w as t o p i c a l
258
! 259
f o r a u d ie n c e s o f e v e r y a g e .
An a r c h e ty p a l s it u a t io n and a h i s t r i o n i c p e r s o n a lit y
would appear to make B eck et* s s to r y such an o b v io u s c h o ic e
f o r d r a m a tiz a tio n th a t th e r e would be no need fo r fu r th e r
e x p la n a tio n . However, h is t o r y c o n ta in s many in t e r e s t in g
j
exam ples o f m artyrs who have n ot appeared in a lo n g sequ en ce
o f p la y s o f th e n in e te e n th and tw e n tie th c e n tu r ie s a s Becket;
, i
d id . W ithin a p erio d o f one hundred and s ix ty -tw o y e a r s |
(1 7 9 9 -1 9 6 1 ) he had been a m ajor c h a r a c te r in a t l e a s t
tw en ty p la y s , se v e n te e n o f w hich were e x ta n t. Three o f
them were w r itte n by famous tw e n tie th cen tu ry p la y w r ig h ts,
two by renowned E n g lish p o e ts o f th e n in e te e n th cen tu ry and j
th e rem ainder by l e s s e r l i t e r a r y l i g h t s o f th e p a st c e n tu r y /
T h is s tr o n g ly su g g ested th a t B e c k e t's h is t o r ic a l- le g e n d a r y
fig u r e sym b olized som ething which had g iv e n i t u n usual
a p p ea l a s a s u b je c t fo r d r a m a tiz a tio n . T h is was th e most
p la u s ib le e x p la n a tio n o f th e e x te n s iv e and d iv e r s e u se o f i
i
Thomas B ecket a s a dram atic c h a r a c te r .
The p r o c e ss o f fin d in g an e x p la n a tio n o f B e a k e t’ s
p o p u la r ity a s a d ram atic c h a r a c te r in v o lv e d s e v e r a l s te p s
o f r e se a r c h and a n a ly s is . F i r s t , th e p la y s had to be
in d iv id u a lly a n a ly zed to p ro v id e a c le a r p r o f i le o f th e
t r a i t s o f each o f th e se v e n te e n c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s . S ec
o n d ly , th e se v e n te e n p r o f i l e s had to be su b je c te d to a
I com parative a n a ly s is to d eterm in e i f and how th e y were
j in t e r r e la t e d . These s te p s were com pleted in th e b e l i e f
I 260
i
th a t any t r a i t s which ware common to a l l , o r n e a r ly a l l , o f
th e c h a r a c te r iz a tio n s must have been s e le c t e d b ecau se th e
p la y w r ig h ts c o n s c io u s ly or i n t u i t i v e l y f e l t th a t th e y r ep
r e se n te d th e most u n iv e r s a lly a p p e a lin g a s p e c t s o f B eck et* s
h is t o r ic a l- le g e n d a r y p e r s o n a lit y . The common t r a i t s o f
h i s dram atic c h a r a c te r ic a t io n s were e v e n tu a lly lim it e d to
o n ly th o se w hich had th e g r e a t e s t d eg ree o f i n t e r r e l a t io n
s h ip . Then, th e th ir d s te p o f th e stu d y was a com parison
o f th e is o l a t e d common c h a r a c te r t r a i t s to B eck et* s h i s
to r ic a l- le g e n d a r y fig u r e to d eterm in e i f , in f a c t , th e y
were in im it a t io n o f th e n a tu re o f th e man h im s e lf.
Summary
In d iv id u a l A n a ly ses
The f i r s t p la y i n w h ich B eck et a p p ea red w as a fo r g e r y
o f a S h a k esp ea rea n h i s t o r y , Henry I I . w r it t e n i n 1799 by
W illia m Henry I r e la n d . D e s p ite i t s n e o -S h a k e sp e a r e a n
s t y l e th e p la y was a p e r f e c t exam ple o f th e p a t r i o t i c m elo
dram as o f th e p e r io d . I t p o r tr a y e d B eck et a s a F a u s tia n
f ig u r e who had b een d r iv e n t o d e s p e r a te a c t s by h i s d e s ir e
f o r tem p o ra l pow er, e s p e c i a l l y th e d e s ir e t o be P op e. The
in f lu e n c e o f l a t e e ig h t e e n t h c e n tu r y E n g lis h a t t i t u d e s
tow ard N a p o le o n ic F rance and th e Roman C a t h o lic ch u rch
prom pted I r e la n d t o c r e a t e i n Thomas a sym bol o f th e hfcted
f o r e ig n p ow ers.
261
In Thomas a B eck et (1 8 2 9 ) D o u g la s J e r r o ld a g a in ch a r
a c t e r i z e d B eck et a s e v i l , but he was no lo n g e r a sym bol o f
h a te d f o r e ig n p ow ers. Thomas* d aem onic c h a r a c te r i n t h i s
p la y w as sim p ly a r e s u l t o f h i s g r e a t n e s s . J e r r o ld was
! I
o b v io u s ly more in t e r e s t e d i n i l l u s t r a t i n g th e r u t h le s s n e s s
i
and e v i l n e s s o f p o w erfu l men i n g e n e r a l th a n i n condem ning
any s p e c i f i c in d iv id u a l o r i n s t i t u t i o n . j
R ich ard C a tterm o le w ro te B e c k e t, An H i s t o r i c a l T ragedy !
i n 1 8 3 2 . He made Thomas a p p ea r more daem on ic th a n e i t h e r
i
o f th e tw o p r e v io u s ly d is c u s s e d p la y w r ig h ts . A gain B eck et
was p ic tu r e d a s a sym bol o f e v i l P a p a l pbwer who was t r y in g
t o u su rp th e r i g h t s o f E n g la n d ’ s K in g, and who was w i l l i n g
t o u se any means t o a c h ie v e th e g o a ls w h ich he b e lie v e d t o
be th e r ig h t e o u s aim s o f th e Church. C a tte r m o le * s B eck e t
was d r iv e n by th e f o r c e o f th e M ep h isto p h lea n Church, w h ile !
i n I r e l a n d ' s and J e r r o l d ' s p la y s he had b een d r iv e n by h i s
own d e s i r e s . The to n e o f th e p la y was q u it e n a tu r a l s in c e
R ich ard C a tterm o le was a z e a lo u s v i c a r o f th e A n g lic a n
Church.
G eorge D a r le y 's v e r s io n o f Thomas a B eck et was a con
s id e r a b ly d i f f e r e n t p o r tr a y a l o f Thomas, He s t i l l made
B ec k e t F a u s tia n , b u t he added a k in d o f s p le n d o r t o h i s
c h a r a c t e r . One c o u ld s e n s e an a d m ir a tio n w h ich th e p la y
w r ig h t had f o r B e c k e t, one w h ich resem b led th e a d m ir a tio n
w h ich M ilto n had f o r th e f a l l e n a r c h a n g e l, L u c if e r , in
Book I o f P a r a d is e L o s t . D a r le y 's p la y w as much more
! 262
!d e e p ly in v o lv e d in a p s y c h o lo g ic a l stu d y o f Thomas B ecket
than th o s e p r e v io u s ly d is c u s s e d , p rod u cin g, th e r e f o r e , a
much more complex c h a r a c te r iz a tio n o f B eck et.
I
Three y e a r s a f t e r D a r le y 's p la y was p u b lish ed S ir j
A rthur H elps fin is h e d King Henry th e Second. H is ch arac
t e r i z a t i o n o f B ecket c l o s e l y resem bled th a t o f D ouglas ;
J e r r o ld in i t s sym b olic m eaning. The p la y w rig h t d id n o t ap*j
pear to be a tta c k in g any p a r tic u la r I n d iv id u a l o r i n s t i t u - j
t io n through h i s sym b olic u se o f B eck et. R ath er, h i s
in t e n t a p p a r e n tly was t o e x p r e ss th e b e l i e f th a t j u s t ic e
and tr u th would alw ays r e ig n supreme among th e common man,
but g r e a tn e s s , o f te n le a d in g to an i n s a t i a b le a p p e t ite fo r
pow er, was dangerous and o f t e n e v i l . In t h i s p la y B ecket
was not d e lib e r a t e ly e v i l . L ike King Henry, he was a g r e a t j
man who was so a tta c h e d t o h i s p o in t o f v iew th a t he was
w i l l i n g to s a c r i f i c e anyon e, in c lu d in g h im s e lf , to a c h ie v e
h i s pu rp ose.
The l a s t p la y t o d e a l w ith B ecket a s a p u r e ly daem onic
c h a r a c te r was George W igh tw lck 's Henry th e Second (1 8 5 1 ).
The p la y had much o f th e same to n e a s I r e la n d ' s, and B ecket
was d r iv e n t o madness and, f i n a l l y , to martyrdom by h i s
u n co n sc io u s and unquenchable d r iv e f o r power.
I t sh ould be noted a t t h i s p o in t t h a t , a lth o u g h a l l
s i x o f th e p la y s which have been d is c u s s e d p ortrayed B ecket
la s a daem onic fig u r e who sym b olized v a r io u s form s o f e v i l ,
i
|e v e r y one o f them gave him h e r o ic q u a l i t i e s a s w e ll.
I 263
There was a sp len d o r In h i s r e b e l li o n , in h i s d a r in g , In
h i s s t e a d f a s t n e s s , w hich r e la t e d him to th e m y th ic a l fig u r e s
o f L u c ife r and Prom etheus.
An A m erican, A lex a n d er H a m ilto n , w ro te th e n e x t p la y
: ln w h ich B eck et a p p ea red . In I 863 he p u b lish e d Thomas si
B eck et w h ich was a co m p lete r e v e r s a l o f B e c k e t* s c h a r a c te r :
a s he ap p eared In th e f i r s t s i x p la y s . H a m ilto n , who was a j
g e n e r a l In th e U nion Army, p a tte r n e d h i s h ero a f t e r Abraham !
i
L in c o ln , whom he g r e a t ly adm ired. The c o n f l i c t betw een
B ecket and Henry I I became a sym b olic s tr u g g le betw een '
l
P r e s id e n t L in c o ln and th e s o u th e r n a r is t o c r a c y . I n h i s
p la y B eck et sy m b o lized th e ep ito m e o f a cham pion o f an j
o p p r e sse d p e o p le f i g h t i n g a g a in s t t h e i r d e s p o t ic r u l e r s .
O nly th r e e y e a r s l a t e r , i n 1 8 6 6 , a seco n d A m erican,
Hiram G ideon H o l l i s t e r , w ro te a n o th e r p la y t i t l e d Thomas a
B e c k e t. B eck et a l s o ap p eared a s a h ero i n t h i s p la y , b u t
h i s m o tiv e s w ere q u it e d i f f e r e n t . H o l l i s t e r ' s c h a r a c te r
w as a r e fo r m e r . He p a r t i c u l a r l y em p h asized B e c k e t* s f i g h t
a g a in s t th e c o r r u p t Church, a s w e ll a s h i s s t r u g g le a g a in s t
th e d e s p o t ic r u l e r s o f h i s c o u n tr y . H ere, he became a
r e v o lu t io n a r y f i g u r e , who d ie d f i g h t i n g f o r th e r i g h t s o f
h i s p e o p le .
In Aubrey De V e r e 's S t. Thomas o f Canterbury ( 1 8 7 6 )
B ecket was m od elled a f t e r th e p rotom artyr, J e su s C h r ist.
Through s e v e r a l d e v ic e s th e p la y w rig h t gave B ecket a
|m y s tic a l a i r and a p e r s o n a lit y o f p a s s iv e r e s is t a n c e which
264
|c h a r a c te r iz e d th e C h r is t f ig u r e . A g a in , he w as a le a d e r o f
th e p e o p le a g a in s t th e Norman r u l e r s , b u t a s t h e i r s p i r i t u a l
f a t h e r and head o f th e Church i n E n g la n d , n o t a s a s e c u la r
le a d e r .
A lth o u g h th e r e w ere s e v e r a l v a r i a t i o n s i n C, T. Win
t e r ’ s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B eck et i n h i s p la y o f th e same
t i t l e , th e r e was h a r d ly an y i n h i s sym b olism o f Thomas. j
A g a in , B eck et ap p eared a s th e C h r is t f i g u r e > h e w as m eek, j
m y s t ic a l and f i l l e d w ith lo v e f o r e v e r y o n e , in c lu d in g h i s
e n e m ie s. W in te r 's p la y , l i k e De V e r e 's , abounded i n B i b l i - !
c a l a l l u s i o n s , w h ich h e lp e d e s t a b l i s h Thomas' C h r is t llk e
c h a r a c t e r . W in te r 's B eck et was p u b lis h e d i n 1 8 7 9 .
E ig h ty c o p ie s o f Thomas B e k e ti o r th e M itre and th e
Crown w ere p r i v a t e ly p r in te d i n B o sto n i n 1882 f o r A lfr e d
W a ite s. L ik e H o l l i s t e r ' s , W aites* h e ro fo u g h t a g a in s t th e
c o r r u p t Church a s w e ll a s th e t y r a n n ic a l Norman r u l e r s . He
1
w as a r e v o l u t i o n i s t o f m o ra ls and g o vern m en t, and he w as J
made a tr u e P r o te s ta n t cham pion o f th e S a x o n s,
The f o llo w in g y e a r Dr. C h a r le s P. G rindrod w ro te K ing
H enry I I . In h i s p o r tr a y a l o f B ec k e t he c l o s e l y fo llo w e d
th e t r a i t s w h ich w ere g iv e n him by C. T. W in ter. I f a n y
t h in g h i s c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n was ev e n more p a s s iv e and hum ble.
The r e s u l t o f G rin d rod *s r e f u s a l t o show e i t h e r B eck e t o r
H enry I I a s th e a n t a g o n is t o f th e p la y i s r e m in is c e n t o f
S ir A rth u r H e lp s' K ing Henry th e S eco n d , and i t r e s u lt e d
i n a r a t h e r p a l l i d and u n in t e r e s t in g c h a r a c te r f o r b o th .
265
The o n ly p o p u la r d r a m a tiz a tio n o f th e B eck et s t o r y t o
be w r it t e n d u r in g th e n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y w as A lfr e d Lord
T en n y so n 's B eck et ( 1 8 8 4 ). A c t u a lly , th e f i r s t v e r s io n was
co m p leted and p r o o fs made In 1 8 7 9 , b u t T ennyson h e ld o f f
p u b lis h in g i t u n t i l f i v e y e a r s l a t e r , and th e b e s t known
v e r s io n was one w h ich d id n o t a p p e a r u n t i l 1 8 9 3 , a f t e r i t
had b een s e v e r e ly c u t and a l t e r e d f o r th e a c t i n g e d i t i o n I
w h ich was u sed by S ir Henry I r v in g . A g a in , th e r e w ere a l l j
o f th e in d i c a t i o n s t h a t B eck et sy m b o liz e d a r e fo r m e r . I t
was T en n y so n 's avowed i n t e n t i o n s t o show , th ro u g h t h i s
p la y , how E ngland b roke w ith th e p o w e r fu l I n f lu e n c e o f th e
Church and became a more d e m o c r a tic n a t io n . H ow ever, i t
was B e c k e t, n o t th e K in g , who w as in s tr u m e n ta l i n th e
r e fo r m a tio n . He r e f u s e d t o be c o n te n t w ith th e t r a d i t i o n a l ;
r i g h t s o f th e Church, e m p h a siz in g t h a t th e r e w as n eed f o r |
f u r t h e r p u r i f i c a t i o n . In t h i s , t h e r e was a f o r e c a s t o f
th e com ing o f P r o te s ta n t is m .
The l a s t n in e t e e n t h c e n tu r y d r a m a tiz a tio n o f th e
B eck et s t o r y was C. W . B a r r a u d 's S t . Thomas o f C an terb u ry
( 1 8 9 2 ). I t fo llo w e d v e r y c l o s e l y th e c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s o f
De V ere and W in ter i n i t s c o m p le te r e v e r e n c e o f Thomas a s
:a m artyr o f th e Church. In th e same w ays a s have b een
d is c u s s e d b e f o r e , Barraud made B ec k et a p p ea r a s a f ig u r e
i n th e t r a d i t i o n o f th e P r o to m a r ty r --J e s u s C h r is t.
There was a r a d ic a l change i n th e s t y l e o f th e B eck et
p la y s o f th e t w e n t ie t h c e n tu r y , b u t t h e i r s y m b o liz a tio n o f
i 266
'B ec k e t was o n ly s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t . For ex a m p le, T . S .
E l i o t ' s Murder I n th e C a th e d r a l (1 9 3 5 ) borrow ed I t s s t y l e
from s e v e r a l e a r l i e r d r a m a tic fo rm s. In some w ays I t was
r e l a t e d t o th e m e d ie v a l m o r a lit y p la y s and In o t h e r s t o a
1
G reek t r a g e d y . I t d id n o t , l i k e i t s n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y
p r e d e c e s s o r s , r e s e m b le a n E liz a b e t h a n c h r o n ic a l p la y .
E l i o t ' s p la y h a r d ly to u c h e d o n t h e h i s t o r i c a l s t r u g g l e j
o f B e c k e t a g a i n s t H enry— C hurch a g a i n s t S t a t e . R a th e r , he !
f o c u s e d a t t e n t i o n o n t h e s t r u g g l e w h ic h to o k p la c e w it h in
i
th e A r c h b is h o p . E l i o t ' s i n t e n t i o n w as t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e
■ i
m ea n in g o f m artyrdom t o m odern man, and B e c k e t s y m b o liz e d
a m o d ern -d a y M a rty r, a t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y C h r is t .
J e a n A n o u ilh 's p l a y , B e c k e t . o r The H onor o f God
(1 9 5 9 )* w as th e o n ly n o n -E n g lis h la n g u a g e p la y in c lu d e d in
1
t h i s s t u d y . I t w as c o n s id e r e d b e c a u s e i t had won su c h
p o p u la r it y i n i t s E n g lis h t r a n s l a t i o n ,, A n o u ilh w as no more
c o n c e r n e d w it h r e p r o d u c in g t h e b io g r a p h y and h a g io g r a p h y o f
B e c k e t th a n E l i o t . He e v e n made a c o n s id e r a b le p o in t o f
t e l l i n g u s s o i n t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n t o h i s p l a y . T hrough
B e c k e t , A n o u ilh w is h e d t o d e f i n e f o r u s t h e m ea n in g o f t h e
e x i s t e n t i a l h e r o — t h e m ea n in g o f h o n o r . G o d 's h o n o r , i n
t h i s c a s e , w as t h e h o n o r o f B e c k e t.
F i n a l l y , t h e l a s t p la y w h ic h w as a n a ly z e d f o r t h i s
s tu d y w as C h r is to p h e r F r y 's C u r tm a n tle . w h ic h w as p u b lis h e d
1
i n 1 9 6 1 . F ry d e c la r e d i n t h e P r e f a c e t o h i s p la y t h a t h e
w a n ted t o show t h e v a r i o u s la w s o f t h e u n iv e r s e i n c o n f l i c t .
! 267
i
I Of c o u r s e , B ec k e t sy m b o lize d th e s p i r i t u a l la w s , 3 u st a s
H enry I I r e p r e s e n te d th e la w s o f man. H ow ever, th e m eaning
o f P r y 's p la y w ent beyond t h a t o f a sim p le s t r u g g le b etw een
m an 's s p i r i t u a l and tem p o ra l la w s . I t was an a tte m p t,
th ro u g h a l l o f i t s c h a r a c t e r s , t o s t a t e t h a t r e a l p r o g r e s s
i n t h i s l i f e c o u ld o n ly be a c h ie v e d when th e r e was a com- ■
i :
p ro m ise among th e b a s ic la w s o f n a tu r e — th e la w s o f m e ta - i
i
p h y s ic s , !
i
C om parative a n a l y s i s |
i
H aving rea d th ro u g h th e s h o r t d e s c r i p t i o n s o f th e
in d iv id u a l c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s one can im m e d ia te ly s e n s e t h a t j
th e s e v e n te e n p la y s n a t u r a lly d iv id e d th e m s e lv e s in t o th r e e i
g r o u p in g s , w h ich w ere r e l a t e d th ro u g h t h e i r dom inant t r a i t s
and sy m b o lic m ea n in g s. A lth ou gh th e r e w as no a tte m p t t o
a t t a c h s p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e t o i t i n t h i s s tu d y , th e th r e e
g ro u p s o f p la y s a l s o f e l l in t o a p e r f e c t c h r o n o lo g ic a l
arran gem en t a c c o r d in g t o t h e i r sy m b o lic m ea n in g s;
The f i r s t group c o n s is t e d o f s i x p la y s w h ich w ere i
w r it t e n b etw een 1799 and 1 8 5 1 . D uring t h i s p e r io d B eck e t
c o n s i s t e n t l y ap p eared a s a daem onic f i g u r e . P r id e w as h i s
p a r t ic u l a r f a u l t , b u t a rr o g a n c e and s e l f i s h n e s s o f t e n
d i c t a t e d h i s a c t i o n s . E ven h i s m artyrdom w as m arred b e
c a u se o f h i s s e l f i s h d e s i r e t o f in d v i c t o r y o v e r h i s
e n e m ie s th ro u g h i t , when a l l e l s e f a i l e d . T h is was th e
s e l f i s h , a r r o g a n t m o tiv e o f " th e r i g h t a c t f o r th e wrong
i 268
r e a s o n ” w h ich form ed th e c e n t r a l prob lem o f T. S . E l i o t ’ s
Murder i n th e C a th e d r a l.
In s p i t e o f h i s b a s i c a l l y e v i l n a tu r e i n t h e s e p la y s ,
i
a l l s i x p la y w r ig h ts g e n e r o u s ly endowed B e ck et w ith h e r o ic !
j
q u a l i t i e s . As w as f u l l y d is c u s s e d i n C hapter I I I , he !
fo u g h t c o u r a g e o u s ly in th e f a c e o f h ea v y o d d s, and he was
d e s c r ib e d by one o f th e c h a r a c t e r s i n S ir A rth u r H elps*
p la y a s h a v in g t h a t n a t iv e e n e r g y w h ich i s a n e c e s s a r y p a r t j
o f g r e a t men. That i s , he had z e a l and p a s s io n . L ik e
o t h e r renowned daem onic f i g u r e s , such a s M arlow e’ s Dr.
F& ustus and M ilt o n 's L u c if e r , he p o s s e s s e d a l l o f th e
q u a l i t i e s w h ich w ould make him h e r o i c , b u t he f a i l e d t o
r e c e iv e th e a p p r o v a l o f th e com munity b e c a u se o f h i s m oral
d e c i s i o n s . H is m o tiv e s w ere e v i l b e c a u se th e y w ere s e l f -
i
is h * c o n s c io u s ly o r u n w it t in g ly , th e y w ere made i n th e I
i n t e r e s t o f B eck et and n o t t h a t o f th e com m unity. T h is
made him an o u t s i d e r , an u n d e s ir a b le member o f th e s o c i e t y ,
th e sym bol o f th e s e r p e n t. T h is e s t a b l i s h e d B e c k e t* s
c o u n te r p a r t, K ing H enry I I , a s th e s id e o f th e M anichean
sym bol w h ich r e p r e s e n te d g o o d n e ss , l i g h t and God. B e c k e t,
o f c o u r s e , was a s s ig n e d th e s id e o f e v i l , d a r k n e ss and
S a ta n .
The s i t u a t i o n was c o m p le te ly r e v e r s e d d u r in g th e n e x t
p e r io d i n th e d ev elo p m en t o f B e c k e t 's d r a m a tic c h a r a c t e r .
B etw een I 863 and 1892 he w as c h a r a c t e r iz e d a s e i g h t v a r i a
t i o n s o f th e p o s i t i v e h e r o — th e p o s i t i v e s id e o f th e
I 269 ;
: !
! i
M anichean im a g e. He w as e i t h e r a s e c u la r h ero f i g h t i n g t o
sa v e h i s p e o p le (th e S a x o n s) from th e Normans, o r he was a
g r e a t C h r is tia n m artyr who gave h i s l i f e t o p r o t e c t th e
Church and " C h r is t 's poor" from th e ty r a n n y o f E n g la n d 's
1
K ing and th e c o r r u p t o f f i c i a l s o f th e C hurch. In a l l o f |
i
th e p la y s he was m o tiv a te d by a co m p a ssio n and s e l f l e s s j
d e v o t io n t o h i s p e o p le , h i s Church and God. I n some p la y s j
he a p p ea red a s a Prom ethean d em iu rge o r a s a Jeh ovah who ;
was p rou d , d e f ia n t and e v en v e n g e f u l a t t im e s ; i n o t h e r s
i
he seem ed more l i k e th e S a v io r and R edeem er, who s a c r i f i c e d i
h im s e lf i n o r d e r t o d e l i v e r h i s p e o p le o u t o f th e hands o f
an e v i l K in g. H is ca u se w as a lw a y s j u s t .
The t h ir d and f i n a l group o f B e c k e t 's c h a r a c t e r iz a
t i o n s In c lu d e d th e th r e e p la y s o f t h i s c e n tu r y w h ich w ere j
r e a l l y an e x t e n s io n o f th e seco n d grou p i n t h e i r sy m b o lic
m ean in g. That i s , B eck et c o n tin u e d t o sy m b o liz e a h e r o ic
f ig u r e who r e p r e s e n te d th e p o s i t i v e s id e o f th e M anichean
im age.
H ow ever, Thomas had become a much more a b s t r a c t e d
c h a r a c te r ; he had become a s y m b o liz a tio n o f v a r io u s b a s ic
u n i v e r s a l , m e ta p h y s ic a l la w s . In E l i o t ' s p la y , f o r ex a m p le,
he r e p r e s e n te d th e m eaning o f m artyrdom t o modern man.
Through an e x a m in a tio n o f B e c k e t 's m o tiv e f o r s u b m ittin g
t o b e in g m a rty red , E l i o t a tte m p te d t o le a d h i s a u d ie n c e
i n t o a d e e p e r u n d e r sta n d in g o f th e m eaning o f l i f e , d e a th
and r e s u r r e c t io n , b u t i n th e s e n s e o f a l l men, n o t J u st th e
! 270
" ch osen fe w ." In a w ay, Murder In th e C a th ed ra l was a r e
en a ctm en t o f th e s a c r i f i c e o f C h r is t f o r th e e x p ia t io n o f
o u r s i n s . Prom a d i f f e r e n t p o in t o f v ie w A n o u ilh ’ s B eck et
sy m b o lize d th e c o n d it io n o f modern man. A lth o u g h A n o u ilh
h a s d e n ie d b e l i e v i n g i n e x i s t e n t i a l i s m , th e e x i s t e n t i a l
c o n c e p ts a lw a y s a p p ea r i n h i s p la y s . I n B e c k e t, f o r e x - j
a m p le, he c r e a te d a sym bol o f modern man who was d iv o r c e d j
from a l l o f th e t r a d i t i o n a l f a i t h s b e c a u se he c o u ld no i
|
lo n g e r b e l i e v e i n a n y th in g . B eck e t fou nd t h a t e v e r y t h in g ,
in c lu d in g God, w as im p e r fe c t . Y et d e s p e r a t e ly n e e d in g
f a i t h i n so m e th in g , B eck et (m odern man) tu rn ed inw ard and
i
found f a i t h i n h o n o r, B eck e t o a lle d i t G od 's h on orj i t
w as, i n f a c t , h i s own. T h is was th e u lt im a t e c o n c e p tio n
I
o f s e lf - d e t e r m in a t io n , and i t marked B ec k e t a s an e x i s t e n -
I
i
t i a l h e r o . F i n a l l y , i n C h r isto p h e r F r y ’ s p la y , C u r tm a n tle . j
i
we found th e l e a s t w e l l d e f in e d c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n o f B eck et
among th e th r e e modern p la y s . I t w as d i f f i c u l t t o f in d th e
sy m b o lic m eaning o f h i s c h a r a c te r b e c a u se Fry had m a in - i
I
t a ln e d a n e u t r a l i t y i n th e s t r u g g le b etw een B eck et and j
H enry I I ~ b e t w e e n th e s p i r i t u a l and tem p o ra l f o r c e s o f
th e w o r ld . The p la y spoke o f th e " g r e a t r e a c h in g forw ard"
o f m ankind, and i t im p lie d t h a t t h i s c o u ld o n ly happen
when th e r e w as b a la n c e among th e m e ta p h y s ic a l la w s o f th e
u n iv e r s e — a u n it y th ro u g h d i v e r s i t y . W ith in t h i s a b s t r a c t
s t r u g g le o f u n iv e r s a l f o r c e s B eck et and th e o t h e r c h a r a c -
i t e r s r e p r e s e n te d th e v a r io u s la w s . B e c k e t, o f c o u r s e , was
: 271 |
i I
m an's s p i r i t u a l f o r c e . Pry o ffe r e d no s o lu t io n to th e j
problem o f r e a c h in g a m e ta p h y sic a l b a la n c e .
C o n clu sio n s
A U n ifie d Image o f B e c k e t's C h aracter
The r e s u l t s o f th e com p arative a n a ly s is o f B eck et* s j
dom inant t r a i t s o r sym b olic m eanings reached beyond th e i
! |
d is c o v e r y o f th e th r e e d i s t i n c t p a tte r n s o f h i s ch a ra c-
i
t e r i z a t i o n s w hich were d is c u s s e d above and more f u l l y in
C hapters I I I , IV and V. A u n if ie d image o f B ecket em erged, ;
which resem bled th e a r c h e ty p a l f ig u r e s th a t were d e sc r ib e d j
by Bodkin, B r u ste in and Werblowsky in Chapter I . The
se v e n te e n c h a r a c te r iz a tio n s o f B ecket were r e la te d to th e s e
f ig u r e s in th r e e s i g n if i c a n t w ays.
One f a c t o r w hich u n if ie d B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r s and r e - j
la t e d them to th e a r c h e ty p a l p a tte r n s m entioned above was I
h is r e b e llio n a g a in s t e s t a b lis h e d a u t h o r ity . Throughout j
th e se v e n te e n p la y s he was c o n s i s t e n t l y p ic tu r e d a s a r e b e l,
an o u t c a s t . In th e s i x e a r l i e s t c h a r a c te r iz a t io n s he r e
b e lle d a g a in s t a b e n e v o len t King and h i s own secon d ary
p o s it io n in l i f e , whioh caused him to assume S a ta n ic char
a c t e r i s t i c s . In th e e ig h t p la y s o f th e l a t t e r h a l f o f th e
n in e te e n th cen tu ry h is r e b e l li o n was J u s t if ie d becau se h i s
a d v e r s a r ie s (th e e s t a b lis h e d la w s o f th e S ta te and Church)
were e v i l . In th e th r e e tw e n tie th cen tu ry p la y s h i s r e
b e llio n turned a g a in s t h is own d e s t in y — a g a in s t th e human
i 272
i
c o n d itio n . In a l l th r e e p la y s h i s q u e s tio n in g o f l i f e
r e p r e se n te d m an's fundam ental c h a lle n g e to f a t e , an a f f i r
m ation o f h i s w i l l and h i s p r e r o g a tiv e , and i t was r e m in is
c en t o f th e sta n c e o f th e Romantic h ero .
A nother elem en t o f B eokfct's c h a r a c t e r iz a tio n s w hich
u n if ie d them and made them resem b le th e a r c h e ty p a l p a tte r n s
I
|d e sc r ib e d in Chapter I was in th e c o n tin u ity o f h i s h e r o
ism . As was s ta te d a b ove, h i s tw e n tie th c en tu ry c h a r a c te r s
I
were in e v it a b ly h e r o ic b ecau se th e y a ffir m e d th e I n d iv id - J
u a l ' s w i l l in an era w hich te n d s to d isavow s e l f - d e t e r - j
m in a tio n . Of c o u r se , h i s e ig h t c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s o f th e j
1
|
l a t t e r p a r t o f th e n in e te e n th cen tu ry were a l l h e r o ic in
th e t r a d it io n o f th e Romantic h e r o , s in c e th e y p ortrayed
him a s op p o sin g th e e v i l o f a corru p t and u n ju st e s ta b
l i s h e d a u t h o r ity . The heroism o f h i s e a r l i e r p la y s was
s im ila r to th a t p o s se ss e d by M ilto n 's L u c ife r o r M arlow e's
i
Dr. P a u stu s. I t was a grandeur w hich r e s u lt e d from
B e c k e t's z e a l , h is p a s s io n , h i s en ergy and h i s a u d a c ity
to a tta c k in th e fa c e o f th e overw helm ing odds o f th e
e s t a b lis h e d a u t h o r ity . These q u a l i t i e s d id n o t make B ecket
r ig h te o u s , but th e y d id make him h e r o ic .
A lso , B e c k e t's se v e n te e n c h a r a c te r s were u n if ie d and
resem bled th e a r c h e ty p e s b ecau se o f t h e i r a m b ivalen ce.
1
T h is d u a lit y was made most ap p aren t by th e sudden and
|co m p lete change o f c h a r a c te r which took p la c e a f t e r th e
s i x e a r l i e s t p la y s . He was c o m p le te ly changed from a
! 273
i
F a u stia n o r S a ta n ic to a Promethean o r M essia n ic Image,
A lthough a l l o f th e p la y w r ig h ts had used e s s e n t i a l l y th e
same h i s t o r i c a l and h a g lo g r a p h ic a l m a te r ia ls* s i x made him j
: I
in t o a v i l l a i n o u s h ero and e le v e n In to a b e n if ic e n t on e.
F in a lly , th e r e was one o th e r elem en t o f B e c k e t's ,
i
c h a r a c te r iz a t io n s w hich needed to be m entioned a s a u n i
f y in g f a c t o r . Throughout a l l o f th e p la y s th e sc e n e s !
surrouA dlng B eck fet's martyrdom made th e a c t appear a s an ;
e x p ia tio n o f h i s own s in s a t tim e s , but alw ays a s an
atonem ent f o r th e s in s o f th e community. A lso , th e y alw ays
I
p ro p h esied th a t h i s s a c r i f i c e would r e s u l t in a b en iso n
i
fo r th e e n t ir e community. In t h i s se n se th e p la y s took
on th e to n e o f a s a c r i f i c i a l r i t u a l w ith B ecket a s th e
o f f e r in g , j
T h is , th e n , was th e u n if ie d image w hich emerged from
th e se v e n te e n c h a r a c t e r iz a t io n s . H is e id o lo n was th a t o f
an a m b iv a len t h e r o ic r e b e l whose d e a th was n o t o n ly a
martyrdom, but a s a c r i f i c e —a p r o p it ia t io n . The com bination
o f th e v a r io u s u n ify in g f a c t o r s gave B e c k e t's dram atic
c h a r a c te r an u n u su al and u n iv e r s a l a p p e a l, and no m atter
what theme th e p la y w r ig h t ch ose to u s e , B e c k e t's c h a r a c te r
cou ld be molded to f i t in t o i t w ith o u t d e s tr o y in g th e image
o f h i s p r o g e n ito r .
I 274
I
The R e la tio n o f H is D ram atic and H is t o r i c a l -
Legendary Im ages
The d is c u s s io n h a s le d d i r e c t l y to th e s o lu t io n o f n o t
o n ly th e f i r s t p a rt o f th e problem , w hich h as been answ ered
a b o v e, but to th e second p a r t o f I t a s w e ll. I t now became
t
o b v io u s th a t B e c k e t’ s h is t o r ic a l- le g e n d a r y image was an
I
u n u s a lly a p p e a lin g su b je c t fo r d r a m a tiz a tio n p r e c i s e ly b e - j
cau se i t p o s se ss e d a l l o f th e q u a l i t i e s w hich made up th e j
u n if ie d image o f h i s d ram atic c h a r a c te r . As was d is c u s s e d
in Chapter I I , b oth in h is t o r y and in h ag io g ra p h y , B ecket
was am b ivalen t (he h as been one o f th e m ost c o n tr o v e r s ia l
f ig u r e s in E n g lish h i s t o r y ) , he was r e b e l l i o u s , and he was
c e r t a in ly h e r o ic . There co u ld h a rd ly have been a man who
would have had b e t t e r q u a l if i c a t i o n s fo r th e c o n f l i c t w hich |
i s c e n tr a l to th e dram atic s it u a t io n . j
I
I m p lic a tio n s
T h is stu d y opened up s e v e r a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s fo r fu r th e r |
r e se a r c h on th e s u b je c t o f Thomas B eck et a s a d ram atic
c h a r a c te r . For exam ple, th e r e i s c e r t a in ly p le n ty o f
m a te r ia l a v a ila b le to conduct a stu d y o f what e f f e c t c u l
t u r a l -m a tr ix , a s w e ll a s th e background o f th e p la y w r ig h t,
had upon th e c h a r a c t e r lz a t lo n s o f B eck et in s e v e r a l o f th e
se v e n te e n p la y s .
A stu d y cou ld be done to d eterm in e why th e tw e n tie th
cen tu ry p la y s about B ecket r e c e iv e d so much g r e a te r c r i t i c a l
a c c la im than t h e ir n in e te e n th cen tu ry p r e d e c e s s o r s .
! 275
i
! A ls o , w ith th e h ig h d e g r e e o f i n t e r e s t i n f ilm to d a y ,
t h e r e c o u ld be a s tu d y con d u cted w h ich w ould com pare th e
s ta g e and cinem a v e r s io n s o f E l i o t ' s Murder i n th e C a th ed ra l
and A n o u ilh 's B e c k e t. T h is w ould g iv e u s a much g r e a t e r
a p p r e c ia t io n o f what hap p en s when a s ta g e p la y i s t r a n s
l a t e d i n t o f ilm .
I
There a r e a s many m y s t e r ie s a b o u t th e d r a m a tic c h a r
a c t e r o f B eck et a s th e r e a r e a b o u t th e e n ig m a tic m e d ie v a l
p e r s o n a li t y h im s e lf . T h is s tu d y h a s o n ly made a s m a ll
iIn ro a d i n t o o u r u n d e r sta n d in g o f e i t h e r . j
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A. DRAM AS
)
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Creator Chapman, Robert Edwin (author)

Core Title Becket's chameleon character: an analytical study of the universal appeal of Thomas Becket's dramatic character

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program Communication (Drama)

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag OAI-PMH Harvest,Theater

Format dissertations (aat)

Language English

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Advisor Stahl, Herbert M. (committee chair), Butler, James H. (committee member), McCoard, William B. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-483384

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Legacy Identifier 7221657.pdf

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Document Type Dissertation

Format dissertations (aat)

Rights Chapman, Robert Edwin

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