"Murder in the Cathedral" (play)

"Murder in the Cathedral" is a poetic play by T.S. Eliot that dramatizes the 1170 martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. The play explores themes of faith, loyalty, authority, and moral conflict as Becket struggles with his conscience and his relationship to King Henry II. It delves into the tension between spiritual duty and worldly power, culminating in Becket’s martyrdom, which symbolizes the conflict between individual conscience and political necessity. The play combines historical events with poetic language to examine the nature of sacrifice and the impact of unwavering commitment to one's beliefs.