First Tempter Character Analysis

A former friend of both Becket and the king, the first “tempter” encourages Becket to remember the “good old days” before his exile, when there was no political strife yet with Henry II. Essentially, the first tempter wants Becket to fix his broken relationship with King Henry II and renew their former friendship. Becket doesn’t buy it, saying that what’s past is in the past, and the future cannot be guaranteed—implying that he feels unable to unhesitatingly commit to restoring his past friendships, even though he remembers them with fondness. Disappointed with Becket, the first tempter departs saying that he will leave Becket to the “pleasures of [his] higher vices,” slightly condescending to Becket’s devotion to a higher, spiritual order. The tempter adds that, if Becket decides to change his mind, he’ll be waiting to resume their friendship—that he’ll remember Becket “at kissing-time below the stairs.”