Literary Analysis Essay on Murder in the Cathedral & A Man for All Seasons

Introduction

From any angle that one wants to look at the Murder in the Cathedral and A Man for All Seasons, the aspect of morality cannot escape one's mind. Starting with the Murder in the Cathedral that brings forth a moral struggle of the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Beckett who stood his ground against King Henry 11. The archbishop showed no mercy when it came to excommunicating morally corrupt bishops that the kind had appointed. In return, the king had his chancellorship stripped. The events start unfolding when Thomas Becket, who was in exile, now returns to face the king. This event soon ensured the aspect of a moral rebuttal eventuality. But what stands out during the plays is how four characters go out of their ways to try and convince the archbishop to go against his conscience. But Becket stood his ground representing what a moral person has to do amidst all temptations. In the A Man for All Season, the position of Becket is assumed by Thomas More who was the Lord Chancellor refused to annul King Henry VII to his bride Catherine as well as refusing to issue him of the Oath of Supremacy that the King wanted so much.

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The moral rebuttal ensured when the king wanted Becket to accept the Constitutions of Clarendon which was a series of 16 articles that attempted to curb the power of the church as well as restricting the ecclesiastical privileges. Becket views the move by the king as being an attack on the freedom and independence of the church. But while he was willing to relent on some of the stands, he made the move of excommunicating two bishops. In return, four knights came forth demanding that he offer them absolution. Becket refuses. At this time, it then becomes the confrontation of who is right and who is not, who will give in and who will not. In A Man for All Season, the one Moral Rebuttal that ensured was other people trying to persuade More to change his position and do what the king aspired. But More implored them to follow the stipulated principles arguing that no one was above the law. But other people were so loyal and fearful to the king that they did what he wanted of them but not More. The moral rebuttal in this play was very insignificant as More was able to showcase what was wrong with their thinking. At no point where they close to make him change his mind.

But it is perhaps the moral rebuttal of Becket being given the opportunity to work against the king by joining the barons in the Murder in the Cathedral was very effective. This is the case as if there was one thing that Becket would have love, was to see the king out of his way. Buthowever much how tempting the offer was, Becket could not go against his moral principle to do exactly that. He was even offered the chance of supplanting the king, but he refused. This moral rebuttals all worked but to prove that standing by one's principle is one of the daunting tasks that one could ever ask for. But the offer of him going down as a martyr was one moral rebuttal that was very successful. This was the case as it was the one thing that Becket wished for and here it was. But if he took it just because he had a desire for immortality, will he not be committing treason against God who he serves? At least, this moral rebuttal showcased him as a normal human being.

The moral rebuttals in both the plays were not very successful except for one that made both Becket and More realize the peril of their souls. In all the other moral rebuttals, the two characters were very successful in standing their position, but when confronted with the aspect of death and the option of martyrdom, their principles were questioned.