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Honor versus Friendship in Becket
Anouilh's Becket offers the story of the relationship between Thomas Becket and Henry II, King of England. The relationship begins with the two being fun-loving and teasing friends, develops into a rough-and-tumble relationship, and then ends in cold hatred. Because he will not give in to his demands Henry has Becket executed in Canterbury Cathedral. Becket had been Henry's friend and loyal supporter until he became Archbishop of Canterbury. At that point, he was determined his first loyalty was due God and not Henry even though he had supported Henry against the church previously. Becket fled to France in exile before returning to Canterbury where Henry had four barons murder him. It was a decision which Henry would regret and pay penance for the rest of his life. As Anouilh (8) notes in his introduction, this drama remains above all a tale of two friends "...for this drama of friendship between two men, between king and his friend, his companion in pleasure and work (and this is what had gripped me about the story), this friend whom he could not cease to love though he became his worst enemy the night he was named archbishop...."
The play is tragic in the sense that the inability of Becket to serve both God and King equally results in his murder at the hand of his friend. Becket is well aware that he cannot be loyal to both Henry and God on the same lev...
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...les with amusement, Becket develops a higher spirituality than Henry ever possessed in his new position. However, though he knows he must remove Becket in order to have control, Henry cannot forgive himself for murdering his old companion. He has himself whipped by monks after Becket's murder "Are you satisfied now, Becket? Does this settle our account? Has the honor of God been washed clean?" (Anouilh 126). Becket admits at his death how heavy it is to carry the honor of God, but despite the consequences of doing so it was an honor he held in higher esteem than friendship.
WORKS CITED
Anouilh, J. Becket: Or The Honor Of God. Hill, L. (trans.). New York, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1960.
...onnects his audience to the characters and although the play is written for the Elizabethan era, it remains pertinent by invoking the notion of human nature. He implements themes of love, anger, and impulsiveness and demonstrates the influence these emotions have on human behavior. It is evident that because human nature is constant, people have and will continue to be affected by these emotions.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is widely regarded as one of the greatest tragedies in English literature. Written near the turn of the 17th century, there were new branches of Christianity appearing and the traditional Roman Catholic hold on power was waning, throwing the whole of Europe was in religious chaos. Nonetheless, the existence of a supreme being known as God was recognized in any branches, and strict adherence to religion was necessary for all the people of that age. It is important to examine the historical setting to fully understand some of the play’s subtler connotations. The protagonist of the play, Hamlet, is one of the most famous tragic heroes in existence, but the character’s fatal flaw is that he does not believe in God sufficiently.
The “domestic” scenes of Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I ground the battles, plots, and displays of knavery. The women—Lady Percy and Lady Mortimer—give the actions of territorial, cockfighting men consequence. In II.iv, we see Hotspur at home with his playful wife, and we can for a moment forget his arrogance and excessive language as he assumes the mantle of husband and even shows a slight bent toward uxoriousness. Kate leads the activity in the scene, however, and she is the one who closes it; by an examination of the play between the Percys, we see that Kate is a reflection of her husband and that she likewise reflects—but does not mimic or represent—his fate at the play’s end.
Though perfection often seems distant, in Plato’s Republic Socrates builds an argument claiming that justice overall is better than injustice. Though ideal, but nearly impossible, Socrates claims that the perfectly just contains a duality between political and individual justice. Furthermore, the perfectly just city contains different caste systems, different types of rulers, and a different societal setting. Socrates deepens his argument in Book V by presenting three reforms that contain elements of seriousness and ridiculousness however; these reforms reveal juxtaposition as they present permanent problems that could only be overcome by changing human nature.
The movie of Thomas becket is about how to close friends grew apart and went separate ways. It was about how a man that had no purpose in life or no goals actually died doing something that he loved. In the movie King Henry has no respect for anyone including God. Then there's Thomas becket and humble intelligent man who helps assist the king.
Traditionally justice was regarded as one of the cardinal virtues; to avoid injustices and to deal equitable with both equals and inferiors was seen as what was expected of the good man, but it was not clear how the benefits of justice were to be reaped. Socrates wants to persuade from his audience to adopt a way of estimating the benefits of this virtue. From his perspective, it is the quality of the mind, the psyche organization which enables a person to act virtuously. It is this opposition between the two types of assessment of virtue that is the major theme explored in Socrates’ examination of the various positions towards justice. Thus the role of Book I is to turn the minds from the customary evaluation of justice towards this new vision. Through the discourse between Cephalus, Polemarchus and Thrasymachus, Socaretes’ thoughts and actions towards justice are exemplified. Though their views are different and even opposed, the way all three discourse about justice and power reveal that they assume the relation between the two to be separate. They find it impossible to understand the idea that being just is an exercise of power and that true human power must include the ability to act justly. And that is exactly what Socrates seeks to refute.
Henry’s relationship with the Bishops and his soldiers uncover a contrast between his piety and utilitarian rule. When
My analysis of Hamlet’s fascination and fear of death has led me to think that William Shakespeare created this play for the people of England. The play was used as a podium that allowed for the concerns of the common English people to be seen and heard. It is not a coincident that Hamlet was written after the Reformation. It is not a coincident that the fears that Hamlet had of death could have been eased with Catholic traditions. Finally it is not a coincident that they all die in the end of the play, because in the end the Catholic traditions died in
In the first meditation, Descartes makes a conscious decision to search for “in each of them [his opinions] at least some reason for doubt”(12). Descartes rejects anything and everything that can be doubted and quests for something that is undeniably certain. The foundation of his doubt is that his opinions are largely established by his senses, yet “from time to time I [Descartes] have found that the senses deceive, and it is prudent never to trust completely those who have deceived us even once”(12). First, Descartes establishes that error is possible, employing the example of the straight stick that appears bent when partially submerged in water, as mentioned in the Sixth Replies (64-65). Secondly, he proves that at any given time he could be deceived, such is the case with realistic dreams. Further, Descartes is able to doubt absolutely everything since it cannot be ruled out that “some malicious demon … has employed all his energies in order to deceive me” (15). The malicious demon not only causes Descartes to doubt God, but also sends him “unexpectedly into a deep whirlpool which tumbles me around so that I can neither stand on the bottom or swim on the top”(16). Descartes has reached the point where he must begin to rebuild by searching for certainty.
Kephalos defines justice as returning what one has received (Ten Essays, Leo Strauss, page 169). On the other hand, Kaphalos’ son, Polemarchus, states that justice is found in harming one’s enemies and helping ones’ friends (Republic, 332D). The final opinion in the discussion is given by Thrasymachus as he says: “justice is nothing else than the interest of the stronger” (Republic, 338C). However, the lack of knowledge to apply their definitions in reality creates a problem for Socrates. For example, Polemarchos’ view on justice requires a person to be able to distinguish between a friend and an enemy (History of political philosophy, Leo Strauss, 36). Socrates then refutes their definitions of justice and states that it is an advantage to be just and a disadvantage to be unjust. According to Socrates’ philosophy, “a just man will harm no man” and the application of justice becomes an art conjoined with philosophy, the medicine of the soul (History of political philosophy, Leo Strauss, 36). Therefore, the use of philosophy in ruling a city is necessary and the end goal of justice cannot be achieved unless the philosophers
The main objective of this essay is to show how well Richard fits the figure of vice character in the Shakespeare’s play. We are going to examine this aspect of Richard from two dimensions. First of all, through his expressed intentions, motivations and deeds. Secondly, through what other characters accuse him of and their attitudes towards him. It will not be possible for us to revisit each character and how he or she relates with Richard. However, Anne, Margaret, the Duchess of York, citizens, the ghosts and finally Richmond will be examined.
Within meditation one Descartes subjects all of his beliefs regarding sensory data and even existence to the strongest and most hyperbolic of doubts. He invokes the notion of the all powerful, malign demon who could be deceiving him regarding sensory experience and even his understanding of the simplest mathematical and logical truths in order to attain an indubitable premise that is epistemologically formidable. In meditation one Descartes has three areas of doubt, doubt of his own existence, doubt of the existence of God, and doubt of the existence of the external world. Descartes’ knowledge of these three areas are subjected to three types of scepticism the first where he believes that his senses are being deceived ‘these senses played me false, and it is prudent never to trust entirely those who have once deceived us’. The second of the forms of scepticism revolves around whether Descartes is dreaming or not ‘I see so clearly that there are no conclusive signs by means of which one can distinguish between being awake and being asleep’. The aforementioned malign demon was Descartes third method of doubt as he realised God would not deceive him.
In the beginning of the play, Becket’s desire is martyrdom. He thinks that it will bring him fame and sainthood, and is therefore proud of becoming a martyr. The fourth tempter expressed Becket’s
Rousseau's society has a very controlling government with a lot of power that could be damaging if given to the wrong p...
The revenge tragedy Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, uses the characterisation and interplay of certain characters to explore many universal themes such as corruption, love and action . Firstly, Hamlets tense relationship with King Claudius espouses the notion of corruption in a political state. Hamlet's relationships with the female characters of the play, Ophelia and Gertrude, offer insight into the nature of men and women, as well as their intrinsic differences. Finally, Hamlet's internal relationship, portrayed through his soliloquys and internal monologues, promote some of the most relevant philosophical themes of the play, such as life, death, action and inaction. These contrasting themes are able to be approached and examined through Hamlet's characterisation as a contrasting figure of the play. These relationships ultimately offer an endless amount of ideas and opinions to the reader. This is highlighted by the perspectives of many respected critics upon the play, such as those by T.S Eliot and Jonathan Bate . All of the explanations offered in this essay are examples of this authors personal understanding of the play.