Why Is Becket Considered A Martyr
Position: Because Becket believes being a martyr will bring him honor; because he anticipates his death; and because he offers no resistance to his murder, it is clear Becket actively seeks to become a martyr.
Thomas’s naturally ambitious and driven character leads him to desire the fame, glory, and honor of being a martyr, feelings in which he has never felt before. King Henry appoints Thomas to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury so that the power of the state would strengthen, and the kind would face no opposition. Much unexpected by King Henry, Becket’s loyalty shifts from the king to god and the Church after he assumes his new position, therefore true loyalty could never have existed in the first place if it is so easily broken. The reason behind Thomas’s change is …show more content…
He states, “I love doing what I have to and doing it well” (Becket). The only position of higher honor than that of the archbishop is that of a martyr. Becket acknowledges when he says, “Where honor should be in me, there is only a void” (Becket), that he lacks and has never had honor in his life before. Due to his lack of honor when the fourth tempter states, “seek the way of martyrdom and make yourself the lowest on earth to be high in heaven” (Eliot 39), Becket understands that martyrdom is what will, in fact, bring him glory and honor. Once Thomas realizes the effect his own martyrdom could have on his name, he makes it his duty to obtain this for himself. The character of the Fourth Tempter opens a window into the mind of Tomas Becket, as he acts as his subconscious and brings to light his innermost thoughts. The first three tempters offered only material things which were not difficult to reject, but the intangible concept of martyrdom was quite ‘tempting” indeed. The Fourth Tempter says to Thomas, “What can compare with glory of saints dwelling forever in presence of God? What earthly glory, of king or emperor, what
Thomas’s naturally ambitious and driven character leads him to desire the fame, glory, and honor of being a martyr, feelings in which he has never felt before. King Henry appoints Thomas to the position of Archbishop of Canterbury so that the power of the state would strengthen, and the kind would face no opposition. Much unexpected by King Henry, Becket’s loyalty shifts from the king to god and the Church after he assumes his new position, therefore true loyalty could never have existed in the first place if it is so easily broken. The reason behind Thomas’s change is …show more content…
He states, “I love doing what I have to and doing it well” (Becket). The only position of higher honor than that of the archbishop is that of a martyr. Becket acknowledges when he says, “Where honor should be in me, there is only a void” (Becket), that he lacks and has never had honor in his life before. Due to his lack of honor when the fourth tempter states, “seek the way of martyrdom and make yourself the lowest on earth to be high in heaven” (Eliot 39), Becket understands that martyrdom is what will, in fact, bring him glory and honor. Once Thomas realizes the effect his own martyrdom could have on his name, he makes it his duty to obtain this for himself. The character of the Fourth Tempter opens a window into the mind of Tomas Becket, as he acts as his subconscious and brings to light his innermost thoughts. The first three tempters offered only material things which were not difficult to reject, but the intangible concept of martyrdom was quite ‘tempting” indeed. The Fourth Tempter says to Thomas, “What can compare with glory of saints dwelling forever in presence of God? What earthly glory, of king or emperor, what