Although materially appealing, Becket's relationship with the king leaves him empty because the comfort of his friendship with the king is entertaining, not life fulfilling. Becket says to himself concerning his job, "But I cheated my way, a twofold bastard, into the ranks, and found a place among the conquerors" (37). Becket is not proud of how he came to be the king's advisor and betrayed his people. He feels that he cheated his way, and "there is a gap in [him] where honor ought to be" (34). Around a campfire, one baron wonders who exactly Becket is, and the other frustrated baron blurts, "The Chancellor of England is the Chancellor of England" (38)! Becket's job, advising the king and Chancellor of England, is just that, a job. It does nothing to define who is as a man and does not challenge his character. Chancellor of England is what people use to describe Becket, so really Becket has no personal honor as a man. The Bishop of Oxford describes the king's fits of rages as "fires of straw" (14). Straw, when ignited, burns very fast. So when the description of the king's anger as fires of straw suggests that his emotions are unpredictable and constantly changing. Becket receives nothing worth living for from relying on and receiving honor from the king with ever changing emotions. Becket explains that the honor of England "has always been to succeed" (42). While success is enjoyable, it is not what matters at the end of the day. Becket feels out of place carrying England's honor because he is a Saxon, but he is also not fulfilled by success. Becket is looking for more than worldly victory in life. .
Once Becket becomes archbishop and begins to love the honor of God, he gains perspective and fulfillment in life, because protecting God's honor is a vocation that gives Becket security in the purpose of his life. Becket begins to love the honor of God, and explains to the king, "There's one thing I do love, my prince, and that I"m sure of.
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 lives by God, and honor God. ... If Becket goes against the King then they will be by him and honor him. ... But by a man who lives by God. ...
A great transformation occurs in Becket when he finally finds true honor in his "life's work- (Anouilh 94) defending God. ... Finally, Becket develops from a man who simply exists, devoid of any honor, to a man who will sacrifice anything for his duty in God. Although Becket finds self-purpose in simply serving God, Becket's true honor is realized when he states, "The kingdom of god must be defended like any other kingdom."" ... Louis speaks prophetically when he tells Becket the "honor of God is a very cumbersome thing- (Anouilh 96). ... Yet his honor to God stems even deeper, wor...
In the beginning of the movie, Becket's purpose is to find honor. ... During the middle of the movie, Becket's perception is to find his honor by defending the honor of God (question 25). ... Returning from France and Rome, Becket meets Henry and tells him that he will find his purpose when "the honor of God and the honor of the king become one" (question 35). ... Becket perceives that the only way "for the honor of god and the honor of the king to become one" is if he gives his life (question 42). ... Not in truth, not in God, but in death. ...
In the movie Becket, it is obvious that there is a conflict between church and state. ... The conflict between church and state in Becket is blatantly obvious. Early in the movie Thomas is portrayed as having no honor. ... It is only when he finds honor in God that the problem begins. ... Becket wanted the church and its people to be only subject to God's representative on earth, the Pope. ...
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. ... Beckett would not yield to the selfish ways of man, and fail to uphold God's Honor and Light; He would not "let Satan blow it out," as the childhood chant would express it. Beckett, as dearly and tightly as he was bound to Henry by love, was even more bound by his integrity to God's Honor, to "Right" over "Might"---and he would uphold this integrity in every form and fashion. ... ...
While priests are known to be honest to God and to themselves, they actually lie and do not abide by their vows at all. ... He swore to pursue Silversleeves" death until his men, sent to arrest Thomas Becket, the chancellor turned churchman, killed him instead. ... The death of Sir Thomas Becket is also the reason behind the pilgrimage to Canterbury in The Canterbury Tales. Although the point of the pilgrimage is to honor Becket , the motives of individual pilgrims range from religious to irreligious. ...
Thomas Becket, ex-Archbishop of Canterbury, current martyr. ... She lets us know she's entitled to make the first offering at church services, an honor carrying great social prestige. ... Her sexuality is in itself a kind of religious devotion, since it glorifies God by making good use of the tools He gave her. ...
The Canterbury Tale's Which book do you remember most having to read in high school? I bet it was Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". This book having 22 tales with in is a classic of the English literature. Written in the early 1300s it is unknown why it was never finished. For the past c...
Summary It is a dark time for England. Four generations after the Norman conquest of the island, the tensions between Saxons and Normans are at a peak; the two peoples even refuse to speak one another's languages. King Richard is in an Austrian prison after having been captured on his way home fr...
