Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot

Murder in the Cathedral is a short play by T.S. Eliot dramatizes the murder (and martyrdom) of Thomas Beckett, former archbishop of Canterbury. Having studied that period of church history during my college career, I found the play well done, interesting, and worth reading to be sure. Surely the use of the knights as tempters and the chorus to set the mood enhanced the play. The verse is well done, a bridge between Shakespeare and the modern world, and thus a good model to follow. It’s not lengthy or tedious, and would be appropriate for middle or high school students to read as well.

“The last temptation is the greatest treason:
To do the right deed for the wrong reason.” (9/10)

2 responses to “Murder in the Cathedral by T. S. Eliot

  1. I read it in 11th grade and really liked it. I thought the form was really interesting, with the sermon breaking the play in half.

  2. jon (the husband) was actually in a production of this during his second year of seminary.

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