Murder in the Cathedral

by

T. S. Eliot

Though King Henry II never makes a physical appearance in the play, his presence certainly asserts itself in the characters who do. Challenged by Becket’s spiritual extremism, Henry II’s political power represents the secular, even anti-religious dimension in the play. For Henry II, Becket and the Pope’s condemnation of his rule is merely a rebellious attempt to discount and restrict his power—he does not understand or accept that Becket’s disagreements with his political policies could be sourced in a power higher and more powerful than his own office. Henry II does not comprehend the Church’s criticisms of his power as potential insights into how he can achieve a closer relationship to God, or how he could reframe his political role to better reflect God’s will and power. Ultimately unwilling to concede to the demands of the Church, Henry II (likely, though it’s never explicitly said or confirmed in the play) sends the four knights to coerce Becket into political compliance with his rule. But, shunning the crown in favor of a higher power, Becket doesn’t comply. It’s ultimately uncertain whether T.S. Eliot intends Becket’s murder to be read as a direct order of the king, or a decision made by the knights themselves.

King Henry II Quotes in Murder in the Cathedral

The Murder in the Cathedral quotes below are all either spoken by King Henry II or refer to King Henry II. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Worldly Power vs. Spiritual Power Theme Icon
).
Part 1 Quotes

Temporal power, to build a good world
To keep order, as the world knows order.
Those who put their faith in worldly order
Not controlled by the order of God,
In confident ignorance, but arrest disorder,
Make it fast, breed fatal disease,
Degrade what they exalt. Power with the King—
I was the King, his arm, his better reason.
But what was once exaltation
Would now be only mean descent.

Related Characters: Thomas Becket (speaker), Second Tempter, King Henry II
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2 Quotes

It is not I who insult the King. . .
It is not against me, Becket, that you strive.
It is not Becket who pronounces doom,
But the Law of Christ’s Church, the judgement of Rome.

Related Characters: Thomas Becket (speaker), First Knight (Reginald Fitz Urse), Second Knight (William de Traci), Third Knight (Hugh de Morville), Fourth Knight (Richard Brito), King Henry II
Page Number: 65
Explanation and Analysis:
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Murder in the Cathedral PDF

King Henry II Quotes in Murder in the Cathedral

The Murder in the Cathedral quotes below are all either spoken by King Henry II or refer to King Henry II. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Worldly Power vs. Spiritual Power Theme Icon
).
Part 1 Quotes

Temporal power, to build a good world
To keep order, as the world knows order.
Those who put their faith in worldly order
Not controlled by the order of God,
In confident ignorance, but arrest disorder,
Make it fast, breed fatal disease,
Degrade what they exalt. Power with the King—
I was the King, his arm, his better reason.
But what was once exaltation
Would now be only mean descent.

Related Characters: Thomas Becket (speaker), Second Tempter, King Henry II
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2 Quotes

It is not I who insult the King. . .
It is not against me, Becket, that you strive.
It is not Becket who pronounces doom,
But the Law of Christ’s Church, the judgement of Rome.

Related Characters: Thomas Becket (speaker), First Knight (Reginald Fitz Urse), Second Knight (William de Traci), Third Knight (Hugh de Morville), Fourth Knight (Richard Brito), King Henry II
Page Number: 65
Explanation and Analysis: