Page "Murder in the Cathedral" Paragraph 29

Part II of the play takes place in the Archbishop's Hall and in the Cathedral, December 29, 1170.

Four knights arrive with " Urgent business " from the king.

These knights had heard the king speak of his frustration with Becket, and had interpreted this as an order to kill Becket.

They accuse him of betrayal, and he claims to be loyal.

He tells them to accuse him in public, and they make to attack him, but priests intervene.

The priests insist that he leave and protect himself, but he refuses.

The knights leave and Becket again says he is ready to die.

The chorus sings that they knew this conflict was coming, that it had long been in the fabric of their lives, both temporal and spiritual.

The chorus again reflects on the coming devastation.

Thomas is taken to the Cathedral, where the knights break in and kill him.

The chorus laments: “ Clean the air!

Clean the sky!

", and " The land is foul, the water is foul, our beasts and ourselves defiled with blood.

" At the close of the play, the knights step up, address the audience, and defend their actions.

The murder was all right and for the best: it was in the right spirit, sober, and justified so that the church's power would not undermine stability and state power.