Thomas' Temptations in T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral

Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral is, in part, a play about the dangers of temptations on the way to sainthood.  The following are the ways in which Thomas á Becket is tempted.  Note how they structure so many of the concerns of the play:

Political

• Becket is offered a return to political power (185-187).
• He is tempted to operate through physical/political force (77).
• He is threatened with political danger (183).
• He is accused of a lack of national loyalty (204).

[Compare with the knights' rationalizations for their behavior (cf. 215ff.)]

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Pastoral

• He has the safety of his congregation to be concerned about (180-181, 195).
• He has his congregation's guidance to be concerned with (208).
• He has an ecclesiastical power/office to maintain (206, 211).

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Historical

• He is tempted with a return to his past successes (184-185).
• He is tempted to return to a younger, "Spring" of life (184).
• He is tempted with the fear of being forgotten (192-193).

[Note: The wheel motif (179-180, 193).]

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Sainthood

• He could do the right thing in the wrong way (18-189, 192-193).
• He is tempted with despair (194).
• He must abide by the way of suffering (182, 212-213).
• His life must be a testimony to God's purpose for humanity and God's ultimate control (176-177, 188, 199-200, 208, 211, 220-221).

[Admittedly, this is less a temptation than the larger theological underpining of the play.]