soupjhhs's Full Review: Jean Anouilh et al - Becket or the Honor of God Bo...
Jean Anouilh’s (1910-1987) Becket or Honor of God at 104 pages is a historical tale of friendship, honor and the incredible change of St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury.
Honor of God follows the incredible relationship between King Henry II and St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury, friends who became enemies. Despite being a Saxon, Becket was close friends with the young King. Their friendship takes new forms as Henry soon nominates Becket for Chancellor, to which he complies, and then as the new archbishop of Canterbury, which strains the relationship to the point of hatred and then a slip of words that cost Becket his life.
Part of the brilliance of this play is the incredible range of emotions that both Becket and Henry portray and the questions they leave in the reader’s mind. Was their relationship that of friendship or that of a master and a pet? Did Henry mean those fateful words? The reader is left with a sense of wonder and understanding, all while having several remaining questions. Becket or Honor of God leaves a lasting impression on those who read it.
Several themes are laid throughout Becket or Honor of God, including Saxon vs. Norman, Secular rule vs. Divine Rule and the childish greed of Henry vs. the apathetic agreeability of Becket, which make this book a brilliant set of contrasts and comparisons. Although Becket or Honor of God is only 104 pages, it is a deep play that, at times, calls for several glances over the same line.
Becket or Honor of God isn’t the only play about the odd relationship between Becket and King Henry II, there is also Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot. Personally, I think that Becket is the better of the two, mainly because it follows more of their intriguing history and emotional roller coaster, while Eliot’s focuses more on the murder.
Translators: Frederic Raphael and Stephen Raphael
Publisher: Methuen Publishing Limited
ISBN #: 0413 77492 9
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