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How is Thomas Becket remembered today?
On 29 December 1170, four of King Henry II’s knights murdered Archbishop Thomas Becket inside Canterbury Cathedral, scattering his blood and brains across the pavement. News of Becket’s killing spread quickly and, in a matter of months, he had been transformed into one of the most famous martyrs in Christian history.
Why is Thomas Becket important?
Becket was one of the most powerful figures of his time, serving as royal Chancellor and later as Archbishop of Canterbury. Initially a close friend of King Henry II, the two men became engaged in a bitter dispute that culminated in Becket’s shocking murder by knights with close ties to the king.
What is Thomas main flow?
What is Thomas’s main flaw? Pride.
Why was the death of Thomas Becket so important?
What were the consequences of Thomas Becket’s murder? The knights who murdered Becket fled the scene of their crime and travelled to the north of England. They were excommunicated by the Pope, but after seeking forgiveness were told to serve as knights in the Holy Land on Crusades for 14 years.
How did Thomas Becket change?
Becket transformed himself from a pleasure-loving courtier into a serious, simply-dressed cleric. The king and his archbishop’s friendship was put under strain when it became clear that Becket would now stand up for the church in its disagreements with the king.
What is the tragic flaw of Thomas Becket?
Becket thinks that his return to England will be seen as an offering of peace to King Henry. Becket’s tragic flaw is believing he can return to England and pick up his clerical life in Canterbury after a seven-year absence. The tragic Hero must suffer.
Who brings news of Thomas’s return?
The Messenger. The Messenger arrives in Part One to announce to the Priests that Thomas is returning to Canterbury. He peppers his news with his own thoughts on Thomas, remarking that “He is at one with the Pope” and that his new “peace” with the King is, at best, a “patched-up affair.”