Murder in the Cathedral

Major Anglican-religious-political verse drama — Becket as Anglican-canonical martyr.

"The Church of England properly understood is the heir of Becket's martyrdom — the affirmation of the church's independence from the state." (Murder in the Cathedral, interpretive theme)

Strong Anglo-Catholic-influenced religious-political framework.

"The proper relation of church and state is what Becket died for; the modern church has lost much of what Becket secured." (Murder in the Cathedral, interpretive theme)

Major modernist-aesthetic verse drama — the Chorus of Women of Canterbury as paradigm modernist-collective dramatic voice.

"Here is no continuing city, here is no abiding stay. / Ill the wind, ill the time, uncertain the profit, certain the danger." (Murder in the Cathedral, Chorus)

Major religious-tragic drama — the four temptations of Becket as paradigm dramatic structure.

"The last temptation is the greatest treason: / To do the right deed for the wrong reason." (Murder in the Cathedral, Becket)

Strong religious-cultural-conservative framework — tradition, hierarchy, the proper independence of religious authority.

"The proper church-state independence Becket defended is what the modern conservative-religious tradition continues to defend." (Murder in the Cathedral, interpretive theme)

Continued Christian-mystical-meditative framework.

"What is this thy peace? Not as the world gives, give I unto thee." (Murder in the Cathedral, Becket on the proper Christian peace)

Strong historicist sensibility — the twelfth-century Becket-Henry conflict as historical-religious-political paradigm.

"What happened at Canterbury in 1170 was not local-historical event alone; it was paradigm religious-political confrontation." (Murder in the Cathedral, interpretive theme)