Jean anouilhs work becket, or the honor of god is a play about the relationship between a king and his spiritual advisor. Becket or the honour of god is a play written in french by jean anouilh. Becket or the honor of god audiobook by jean anouilh. Appointing becket as archbishop was the kings greatest mistake for becket finds his allegiance shifting from king and country to god and church. Becket serves his new master, god, with the same complete devotion that he served his prior master, henry. Becket or, the honor of god becket is an excellent script of an excellent play. This summary of becket includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. The main characters are king henry ii and thomas becket.
Becket, or the honor of god waiting to be punished for his part in becket s murder, king henry ii relives his deeply felt relationship with the saint, once his dearest friend and partner in unbridled decadence. The king talks about their time together as younger men, when they enjoyed a few fine summer evenings together with girls. French playwright jean anouilh claimed that the genesis of this play lay in his need for a book with a green binding. Becket is a terrific play with interesting ideas about the relationship between religion and the state, as well as about friendship in high places. Using a highly apropos line from the film becket, i will preface this work by stating that these are only the clumsy musings of a spiritual gatecrasher. Becket comes to realize that there is a difference between love of the honor of god and simply loving the honor towards god. He recognizes that his love for god is what is the honor. However, this cast does not have a clue about how to approach the authors lovely language. Becket or the honor of god by jean anouilh overdrive. Two sentries, followed by king henry ii of england enter the cathedral. May 25, 2016 comments off on the honor of god with kierekegaard.
Waiting to be punished for his part in beckets murder, king henry ii relives his deeply felt relationship with the saint, once his. Honor of several sorts is a recurring theme in this story of love and battling wills between henry timothy mccomb scott and becket, the kings appointed archbishop of. Becket or the honor of god by jean anouilh on free audio book. Review of jean anouilhs becket or the honor of god. Becket, or the honor of god one of frances most yahoo greetings birthday cards writers after world war ii, much of anouilhs work deals with themes of maintaining integrity in a world of moral compromise. It contains many historical inaccuracies, which the author acknowledged.
It is a depiction of the conflict between thomas becket and king henry ii of england leading to becket s assassination in 1170. He fights as a soldier in the kings wars, and offers advice to the. Becket or the honor of god 1995 edition open library. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Becket, or, the honor of god by anouilh, jean, 19101987. What does becket say exactly about the honor of god, and. After the war, anouilh turned to the life of joan of arc for his 1953 play, lalouette the lark in which he explored issues of honor and resistance. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. May 18, 2007 when becket finally does find his honor, henry, his love almost completely replaced with jealousy, feels betrayed and becomes enraged. Learn more about becket or the honor of god in the king county library system digital collection. Buy the film becket and the play becket or the honor of god at. Loving god is the actual act of loving god, as a perfect, loving, compassionate father. Apr 26, 2011 becket or the honor of god by anouilh, jean, 1995, riverhead books edition, in english 1st riverhead ed.
Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. What does becket say exactly about the honor of god. Becket should not have made this the ground upon which he staked his life. Set in europe in the twelfth century, it follows the beautiful life and death of.
Beckets increasingly cautious attitude toward the king is exacerbated when the king appoints becket to serve as the new archbishop of canterbury to replace the one who has just died. Becket, who cannot fathom serving both henry and god simultaneously, wants anything but to accept the position but feels he has no choice. Becket, or the honor of god by jean anouilh l summary. Becket begins to love the honor of god, which is different from loving god. Becket or the honor of god summary and analysis like.
Set in europe in the twelfth century, it follows the beautiful life and death of archbishop thomas becket and king henry ii. Becket, or the honour of god by jean anouilh translated by lucienne hill. Signifies the importance of doing what one is entrustedrequested to do well. Becket or the honor of god dramatized becket or the honor of god dramatized audiobook, by jean anouilh. Becket or the honor of god king county library system. Becket is a 1964 britishamerican film about the historic, tumultuous relationship between henry ii of england and his friendturnedbishop thomas becket. Hell be much more use to god than he ever was to me. Waiting to be punished for his part in beckets murder, king henry ii relives his deeply felt relationship with the saint, once his dearest friend and partner in. To appoint becket archbishop for becket finds his allegiance shifting from king and country to god and church. King henry ii of england comes to terms with his affection for his close friend and confidant thomas becket, who finds his true honor by observing gods divine will rather than the kings. Mar 25, 20 the final scene of this jean anouilh classic drama shows a naked king henry ii of england suffering flagellation at the tomb of thomas becket and crying out, is the honor of god washed clean. Aug 01, 2005 listen to becket, or the honor of god audiobook by jean anouilh. The english king was at first confused, then angry, and could not forgive beckets change of devotion. A kierkegaardian view of the play becket introduction.
The king says thomas becket taught him the slogan in all save the honor of the realm. New american library, 1960 great britain 128 pages. But, at the same time, he should not have been murdered for fighting this fight. King henry tries to rekindle his friendship with becket, but becket s new found attachment to religion gets in the way. Listen to becket, or the honor of god by jean anouilh at. This study guide consists of approximately 25 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of becket, or the honor of god. Becket or the honor of god king henry tries to rekindle his friendship with becket, but becket s new found attachment to religion gets in the way. Becket or, the honor of god jean anouilh portrays the conflict of loyalties to church and state as they influenced the lives of two powerful men in english history. He goes so far as to give away all his belongings to the poor, the kind of extravagant gesture which might be interpreted equally plausibly as the passion of a true believer or a bid for popularity with the mob. It is a depiction of the conflict between thomas becket and king henry ii of england. Becket says he answered to the king, all save the honor of god.
Anouilhs essential themethe portrayal of a life that ends by championing the honor of god, no matter what the costhas nobility and exaltation. As he waits to be scourged for his part in becket s murder, king henry ii retraces his entire relationship with the saint, once his dearest friend and mentor. Becket or the honor of god waiting to be punished for his part in beckets murder, king henry ii relives his deeply felt relationship with the saint, once his dearest friend and partner in unbridled decadence. The film becket follows the friendship and the conflict between the english king and the future saint.
Understanding nineteenth century philosopher soren kierkegaards stages. With richard burton, peter otoole, john gielgud, gino cervi. He is no less a martyr for the dubiousness of his cause. Loving the honor of god is different in that loving god s honor is loving the task of serving god wholeheartedly, of protecting god s honor. Get an answer for what does becket say exactly about the honor of god, and is it correctly stated in the movie. Portrays the conflict of loyalties to church and state. Before his appointment as archbishop of canterbury, thomas beckets loyalties are to the king. The celebrated play that draws from historical events in the norman conquest of england to create a profound portrait of a mans souland a transcendent vision of the human spirit from its powerful opening scene, of a naked king henry ii praying at the tomb of thomas becket, to the final wrenching act of ultimate selfsacrifice, jean anouilhs becket remains a towering achievement in the. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Resistance and honor also surfaced in his 1959 play becket, or the honor of god, first performed on october 1, 1959, in paris and subsequently in new york in 1960. Anouilh opens the play with background on the relationship between king henry ii and becket, who is the archbishop of canterbury.
King henry ii of england peter otoole comes to terms with his affection for his close friend and confidant thomas becket richard burton, who finds his true honor by observing god s divine will rather than the kings. To think that becket finally found his honor and it was not the kings honor but gods is more than henry can stand. Becket or, the honor of god jean anouilh portrays the conflict of loyalties to church and state as they influenced the lives of two powerful men in english. Denis ohare and simon templeman star in the historical drama becket, or the honour of god by jean anouilh. Waiting to be punished for his part in beckets murder, king henry ii relives his deeply felt relationship with the saint, once his dearest friend and partner in unbridled decadence. An amazing story of friendship and love set in a historical context. He fights as a soldier in the kings wars, and offers advice to the king. Becket or the honor of god beverly hills playhouse.
His best friend is thomas becket, a man of humbler origins who talks, drinks, carouses and attends henry. In this way, the subtitle of becket or, the honor of god is highly ironic. After helping to murder becket, king henry ii is haunted by memories of their passionate friendship. Download and read free online becket, or the honor of god by anouilh jean. It is a dramatic film adaptation of the play becket or the honour of god by jean anouilh made by hal wallis productions and released by paramount pictures. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on becket, or the honor of god by jean anouilh.
Appointing becket as archbishop was the kings greatest mistake, for becket finds his allegiance shifting from king and country to god and church. Becket could not serve both the english king and the catholic church. It is a depiction of the conflict between thomas becket and king henry ii of england leading to beckets assassination in 1170. Once appointed the archbishop of canterbury, beckets wholehearted devotion to henry ii was redirected from serving the king to serving god. Becket or the honor of god dramatized audiobook original.
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