We've all journeyed through the seemingly endless realm of childhood .
---that time in our lives when every elevator button must be pushed, when .
every furry creature showing any sign of life must be touched, when freckles .
are faeries' kisses, rain---God's tears, and stars---Heaven's street lights. It is .
that age when our minds soak in every aspect of life around us like a sponge. .
Though not all of life's curious mysteries were to be revealed to the starry .
eyes of a toddler---for wisdom grows with each second of our lives---the .
magnitude of what we perceived in our youth remains unchanged to this very .
day. The essences of truth, honor, compassion, allegiance, humility, grace, .
and integrity were first exposed to us as children, and are no differently .
exposed to us now. In reading the drama Beckett, by Jean Anouilh, the .
childhood song "This Little Light of Mine" reverberates in the mind's eye .
with a renewed strength, a force not totally perceived by the young tike who .
bellows the song in childrens' choir. It is a song devoted to the most .
honorable quality in man, a song in praise of what Thomas Beckett prized .
and cherished as his own adamant quality---integrity.
Beckett was a righteous man from the very start. Brought into life as a .
Saxon in a time in which Saxons were despised and confounded by the .
conquering Normans, he was not exactly born with a silver spoon in his .
mouth. He did however, in using his education and amiability of character as .
his chief avenue, win the affection of the Norman ruler, King Henry II. He.
and Henry became inseparable friends; it would almost be safe to say they .
became attached at their sides, for they ruled together, battled side by side, .
fell into drunken revelry together, and even shared the same woman .
afterwards. Though pasttimes such as these were not the most praiseworthy .
and saintly among actions, Beckett was still a righteous man. He was, .
Becket said, "Honor is a private matter. ... Becket is very right with this quote because everybody's opinion about a situation is very different and honor is nothing but an opinion. ... Becket was in a struggle with this dilemma for most of the movie. ... Where is Becket's honor?" This quote from Becket himself tells us that all, like death, will confront this issue in our lifetime. ...
In Jean Anouilh's play, Becket, Thomas Becket is a Saxon who is the advisor to the king and the Chancellor of England. ... To an outsider, this kind of life would seem attractive. ... The king cries out to Becket's tomb, "You, rotting in this tomb- (1). ... Comparing himself to a pawn, Becket suggests that he is an instrument in God's plan, "just a little grain of san in the machine" (114). ... If while with the king, Becket wonders "where is Becket's honor" (37), then on the opposite side, with God, Becket must have his honor. ...
Perhaps Becket feels he lives his life in vain because his privileges are subject to the mercurial King's demands; whenever he objects to the King's latest whim, he is coldly told, "That's an order, little Saxon- (Anouilh 29). ... Becket's internal struggle, so apparent to others, intensifies "this man who "adores honor- (Anouilh 5) "is tormented by the prospect that he will never discover his genuine self, wondering, "Where is Becket's honor?... Becket is a man true to his word. ... It is clear that by that point, on the fateful day of Becket's death, h...
Becket, with this wealthy background of a father who was even sheriff for some time, was well educated at Merton Priory, and Paris. ... He had done this in his studiousness as Archdeacon and he did this as a self-created celebrity as chancellor. ... As a result of this war, Becket adamantly defended the high imposition of scuttage on the church. ... It was this constant and loyal friend whom Henry appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury. ... This was the England William I conquered. ...
Since the three characteristics of purpose, passion, and perception can be applied, this play can be considered a tragedy. In the beginning of the movie, Becket's purpose is to find honor. ... Thomas does this because "it is for divine service" (question 41). Henry and Becket cannot coexist in one world and one must die. Becket chose himself. ...
Even though the man receives respect from people around him andis inaplace of exbit these characteristics are King Henry II in Becket by Jean Anouilh and Atticus in To Kill a Mocking Bird by Lee Harper. In Becket, King Henry II is the most powerful man in England but he feels lonely. ... Ironically, King believed this would strengthen their friendship but it lead to his loneliness. ... Both Becket and To Kill a Mocking Bird, demonstrate what Ibsen said in his quote. ...
Light was important to medieval theologians. ... The use of stained glass windows transformed ordinary light into something divine. Gothic architecture developed out of a desire to build churches with larger windows so that God's light could shine throughout the building(www.newyorkcarver.com). ... The most notable saint being Thomas Becket. Becket's casket is decorated with scenes of martyrdom, against a blue enamel background, with details picked out in gold and the faces raised up in relief. ...
The statement foreshadows Becket's death because the way that Becket interprets honor is by living. ... Becket answering to the King when the King asks him how he combines, honor and collaboration foreshadows Becket's death. Becket answers ."... Honor is illustrated throughout this film by the way that Becket decides not to follow the King, but instead he follows his heart. ... Becket lives by God, and honor God. ...
Leadership in the Godfather "Leadership Analysis- In this paper I will attempt to compare the leadership traits and styles of the leading character in both the movies of the Godfather and Becket. ... Staring Richard Burton as the character of Becket and Peter O'Toole as Henry II the film is a bout the lifelong friendship of Henry II and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. ... This attitude directly relates the behavior of the Godfather to that of a transitional leader. The character of Becket on the other hand, displays leadership on some what other trends. To begin wi...
