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The Chorus
The priests—three in number—represent the clergy of the Church of Canterbury who are under the religious authority of Archbishop Thomas Becket. They begin the play, opposite the Chorus, in high anticipation of Becket’s return, and are fully ready to welcome him back to England. They are confident that his presence will be good for the church-going public and the country as a whole. Yet this does not mean that they do not have their fair share of disagreement with the Archbishop. They are wary about his commitment to martyrdom, fearing that his death will spell spiritual ruin for themselves and the congregation. While not as dramatic as the Chorus, they nonetheless worry about losing their religious leader, since the Archbishop is the highest office of the Canterbury Cathedral and responsible for directing the lower clergy. After Becket dies—an event which the priests forcefully try to prevent—however, they come to see his martyrdom as destined by God, and comprehend it as something that should, in fact, have happened, even if they cannot explain “why” in terms which satisfy human thought.
The Priests Quotes in Murder in the Cathedral
The Murder in the Cathedral quotes below are all either spoken by The Priests or refer to The Priests. 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:
).
Part 2
Quotes
You think me reckless, desperate and mad.
You argue by results, as this world does,
To settle if an act be good or bad.
You defer to the fact. For every life and every act
Consequence of good and evil can be shown.
And as in time results of many deeds are blended
So good and evil in the end become confounded.
It is not in time that my death shall be known;
It is out of time that my decision is taken
If you call that decision
To which my whole being gives entire consent
I give my life
To the Law of God above the Law of Man.
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No. For the Church is stronger for this action,
Triumphant in adversity. It is fortified
By persecution: supreme, so long as men will die for it.
Go, weak sad men, lost erring souls, homeless in earth or heaven.
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The Priests Quotes in Murder in the Cathedral
The Murder in the Cathedral quotes below are all either spoken by The Priests or refer to The Priests. 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:
).
Part 2
Quotes
You think me reckless, desperate and mad.
You argue by results, as this world does,
To settle if an act be good or bad.
You defer to the fact. For every life and every act
Consequence of good and evil can be shown.
And as in time results of many deeds are blended
So good and evil in the end become confounded.
It is not in time that my death shall be known;
It is out of time that my decision is taken
If you call that decision
To which my whole being gives entire consent
I give my life
To the Law of God above the Law of Man.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
No. For the Church is stronger for this action,
Triumphant in adversity. It is fortified
By persecution: supreme, so long as men will die for it.
Go, weak sad men, lost erring souls, homeless in earth or heaven.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
