Review of Literary History - Essay Example

LITERARY HISTORY, INTERPRETATION, & ANALYSIS The play by T.S. Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral centers on the main character, Archbishop Thomas Beckett. Thomas Beckett returns to England .The play begins with the warning, the chorus explains of some imminent mis happening, it is beyond their minds to comprehend as they are common people and their lives are controlled by the lives of eminent beings. They describe that when Beckett was in France for seven years his absence was also good for them but once he is back they fear for him. The struggle of the characters in the play Murder in the Cathedral begins long before the plot opens .The plot opens explaining the estranged relation between King Henry II and Thomas Beckett. Earlier to this, Henry and Beckett enjoyed a special relationship and Henry raised Beckett to the position of Chancellor and then to the Archbishop of Canterbury. By doing so the King wanted the control of Kingdom on ecclesiastical matters but Beckett undergoes a radical change in his character and attitude after accepting the honorable position. Beckett opposes King’s thirst for power as he tries to raise the crown above the Pope, gives up all the pleasures and starts living a very pious life .Thus, inviting King’s wrath. Thomas Beckett remains away from England for seven years and during his absence, the rule of the King was full of oppression and exploitation. Women folks cheer for his arrival at the time of Christmas but apprehend some disaster. Thomas Beckett is righteous and much loved priest. England awaits and welcomes his arrival. The three priests of the cathedral fear that the homecoming for Beckett won’t be easy as the King and Beckett won’t be able to renew their ties and the fuller reconciliation between them cannot be reached as both of them are head strong characters. The struggle appears more apparent as the plot develops. The homecoming might cost Beckett his life as it is very clear that the old ties cannot be renewed. The Play, Measure for Measure by Shakespeare is a distinctive play .It is been categorized as Black Comedy by some literary analysts. It is a comedy but not to entertain. In the garb of 2. comedy, some real societal problems have been raised therefore it does not fall in normal moulds of Shakespearean work. It is its own genre where the writer has dealt with the issues of power abuse and exploitation of women in the society. There is no protagonist in the play Measure for Measure as such, but all the main characters undergo struggle as the plot moves ahead. As this play deals with the abuse of power and authority, we find that the power is abused in the relationship as well and women are harassed and exploited in any relationship, be it a brother-sister relationship or a partner relationship. Isabella, Claudio’s sister is chaste and virtuous but she finds herself in a dilemma when her brother is arrested for impregnating his lover Juliet. She goes to Angelo and begs to show some mercy, who on the other hand suggests her to sleep with him. She is shocked and leaves. Isabella, on her way comes across Duke, who is disguised as Friar. He has done so to clean up the city from wrong doers. He tells Isabella that Angelo, himself is a big sinner. He has left his lover Mariana because her dowry got lost in a ship wreck. The characters in the play struggle as the plot develops and the true identity of Duke is revealed in the end. The first literary element is the PLOT; The Plot is a sequence of events in any literary work. Murder in the Cathedral very convincingly develops the social struggle faced by Thomas Beckett. The chorus in the play pays a major role in heightening the tragic effect. In the beginning it informs the audience regarding the upheaval that might happen when the two titans clash. The readers are made aware in the very beginning that the play is about the death and calamity. The Plot is revealed in the words of chorus that they are the common people who, “try to keep our households in order,” and any change is a threat for them .They are afraid of “malady” coming on them and they comment, “for us, the poor, there is no action, But only wait and witness.” 3. The women of Canterbury have gathered around the church after hearing the news of Archbishop’s arrival .They say it is a good news but they are too fearful as well .There are three priests that are not individualized but act more and less as chorus and explains about the differences ,both the King and Beckett face. On arrival into the cathedral, Beckett faces the four Knights that tempt into the glory of his past life and tells him to come in terms with the king which Beckett refuses. It is very clear that Beckett will die but the struggle develops when he has to resist the temptations of the knights. The Plot in the play, Measure for Measure develops with the struggle which the main characters go through. Isabella is very chaste, lawful and dutiful sister, when she goes to Angelo with the request of her brother’s freedom. He wants to take advantage of her vulnerability. He gives her time for the second thoughts when she refuses. She tells her brother Claudio about it who tells her to accede to Angelo offer as he is scared of dying. Angelo, on the other hand, he is conscious of his actions but would not mis the opportunity of abusing power. His conscience pricks him at some stage but he ignores it. Angelo, boasts of morality and trust but is willing to abuse the power which is been authorized to him by the Duke. The Duke on the other hand is masked as Friar and observes all the happenings in disguise. He is unfailingly virtuous and kind hearted. But he entrusts his authority to a wrong person thinking Angelo to be trust worthy. The example that reveals the struggle of the characters in the plot are the words spoken by Angelo, “I show it most of all when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know  Which a dismissed offence would after gall; And do him right that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; your brother dies to-morrow; be content. (Act II, Scene II) In both the plays, the PLOT plays major role in revealing characters social struggle. In Murder in the Cathedral, the drama is heightened by the use of Chorus. They explain about the eminent 4. danger and how the protagonist, Thomas Beckett is going to put his life in jeopardy. The struggle becomes evident when the four knights approach the Archbishop and first try to tempt him towards the old sinful life and the joys and glamour of that life. Then ,they challenge him to face the consequences of defying the king’s command. In the second Play, Measure for Measure as the plot moves ,we find all main characters in struggles.Isabella struggles to save her chastity from vile Angelo and Angelo has a past and tries to mis use the authority of power given to him by the Duke. Claudio is imprisoned as faces the dilemma of allowing his sister to give up her chastity to save his life. The Second literary element is Characterization. The characterization in any drama is very important element to revel the struggle and the progress of the play. The characters are the basis of play that is no play is possible without characterization. In any play there are main characters or a protagonist around whom the story revolves and in some plays the antagonists are also found. The protagonist of the play explains the struggle. The example from Murder in Cathedral that reveals the social struggle of the main character is many but Beckett justifies his defiance against the King telling, “Never again. / shall the sea run between the shepherd and his fold” (p. 65). He dutifully lays down his life for the humanity. . "I give my life / To the Law of God above the Law of Man" (p. 74). The example by which this literary element reveals the social struggle in the play Measure of Measure is through the character of Isabella .She has to face the struggle which this dark comedy signifies, the women harassment in a relationship and the various vices in the society. She has to sacrifice her virginity to save her brother from the clutches of Angelo, in the words of Angelo“... you, his sister, Finding yourself desired of such a person, Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Could fetch your brother from the manacles Of the all-building law; 5. and that there were No earthly mean to save him, but that either You must lay down the treasures of your body To this supposed, or else to let him suffer... (Act II Scene IV) CHARACTERIZATION in the play Murder in the Cathedral is very limited. As the play centres on the protagonist, T.S.Eliot pay attention towards the development of one sole character in the play that is, Thomas Beckett. Apart from Thomas Beckett, the three major characters or group of characters that are of importance in the play are the Chorus, the Four Knights, the Three Priests and the king. These characters have not been individualized .the role of these characters in the play is to bring forth the details of the events that has happened before and that are likely to happen in the future. The Chorus are in specified number of village women that serve the same purpose the chorus does in Greek Drama, they reveal the action in the play. They comment upon the action of Thomas Becket's murder, these women are voicing insights into, reflections on, and conclusions about time, destiny, and life and death. They therefore emerge as representatives of ordinary people-such as those who make up the audience of the play. The Four Knights or Tempters, in the first part of the play they serve the purpose of tempters and in the second half they play the role of Knights. They offer justification for the assassination of Beckett. The Three Priests serve very little in the dramatic action or the struggle but they are above the intellectual level of women chorus ,they represent the decorum and the discipline of the church They at one time or other warn Thomas against the impending danger. The fourth character is most important that is King Henry. Though, he remains invisible throughout the play but it is because of whom the protagonist struggles. His presence looms large on the existing characters. What Thomas Beckett is trying to do in the play is that the moral law must prevail and if it comes with the cost of his life and he has no regrets. He is offered a choice by the Fourth Tempter in Part I to revert to the usual life he had and enjoy the favour of crown but 6. Martyrdom is what he accepts. He dies this death might be because that was the only possible outcome but the speech by the third priest: "Even now, in sordid particulars / the eternal design may appear" (p. 57) reveal the ulterior purpose of the God. As Martyrdom is no crass means to an end .It serves God’s mystical ways. In the play, Measure for Measure, the characterization play significant role in bringing the social struggle that characters undergo. Isabella is main character. She is virtuous and chaste women. She wants to join nunnery and faces a very difficult situation when her brother is arrested for fornication or unlawful sex. She does not approve his ways but out of sisterly devotion seeks mercy from Angelo who tries to exploit the situation for his personal vendetta. Her character undergoes the dilemma of what to do until friar comes with a solution for her. Isabella’s brother Claudio is a young man who has been sentenced to death for impregnating his beloved though it is legal as they were getting married but here as well Angelo is trying to set example before the society for unlawful acts using him as his pawn. Claudio depends much on his sister than on the law and religious practice. Angelo is the villain in the play and his acts bring struggles in the life of the major characters. He is loathsome for his acts and tries to misuse the power given to him by the Duke. The Duke is a character that remains in the play disguised as Friar .he is righteous and truthful character but makes a very wrong decision of relying on Angelo. Escalus is loyal to Duke and pleads Angelo to show some mercy. To eradicate the society from all the evils, the Duke takes the garb of Friar and remains observant of all the unlawful activities happening but the irony of the situation is the character, that is the person who has been made in charge of all the activities is himself corrupt and sinful. 7. The third literary element is the THEME; the underlying idea of the play is conveyed through a theme. A theme is defined as a broad idea, message or moral in the story or a play. The message is about life, society and human nature. Some themes explore universal ideas. The play Murder in the Cathedral carries a very profound theme. In the prelude to the play, Eliot discusses the subject or the theme he handles. In the words of Thomas, “A Christian martyrdom is never an accident, for Saints are not made by accident. Still less is a Christian martyrdom the effect of man's will to become a Saint, as a man by willing and contriving may become a ruler of men. Martyrdom is always the design of God, for His love of men, to warn them and to lead them, to bring them back to His ways. It is never the design of man; for the true martyr is he who has become the instrument of God, who has lost his will in the will of God, and who no longer desires anything for himself, not even the glory of becoming a martyr.” (Interlude, p. 49) The example that demonstrates the theme of the play Measure for Measure and social struggle appears in the words of Duke .The theme is of a problem .It searches the problem and offers the solution. In the words of the Duke, “We have strict statutes and most biting laws.  The needful bits and curb s to head strong weeds   Which for this nineteen years we have le t slip Even like an o'er grown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers ,Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch, Only to stick it in their children's sight  For terror, not to use, in time the rod becomes more mock'd than fear'd; so our decrees,...(Scene II,ACT II) The theme of the play Murder in the Cathedral explains that by adhering his will, to the will of God, Thomas Beckett is able to redeem the world. Becket thus, bring something of that order into the world of the "now and here," enabling the "wheel" of time to turn, allowing true "peace" to manifest itself in Canterbury. As the end of Beckett draws near, Eliot draws on the biblical 8. tradition of picturing true spiritual leaders as shepherds. Becket states that distance shall never again separate him from those for whose souls he has charge: "Never again. / shall the sea run between the shepherd and his fold" (p. 65). Eliot’s drama does not end with transcendental note in fact he leaves audience with a sombre note "fear the injustice of men less than the justice of God" (p. 88). The theme of Measure for Measure echoes the tone of bitterness and cynicism. It identifies and exposes the various vices in the society. A very intriguing question that appears is whether or not Isabella should commit a sin in order to save her brother--is never discussed in any great detail. Isabella thinks she should not and never really considers the option. Claudio thinks she should, and so he begs her to save him. The Duke tells her that she is virtuous and that the option is not really open to her anyway, and closes off the discussion by giving her a new plan. The Duke is correct in thinking that Angelo's proposal is not entirely honest, and Isabella emerges faultless; the audience might considers Isabella too cold in not saving her brother, must come to the conclusion that she would have sacrificed her virginity for nothing. T.S.Eliot clearly expresses the Anglo- Catholicism religion that he embraced during his life. This appears as a theme and background to this play. Eliot through the life of Beckett wants to suggest the ways of God .Beckett submits himself to the ways of Lord and leave behind the ways of the world. He has tried to infuse the idea of transcendence .The people or the folks of Canterbury would continue to live the life as such irrespective of all the happenings. They do not want any changes in their lives and are comfortable in the state they are in. Even small things disturb them. Such words that are used by the chorus echo the present man’s pleas. Eliot, on the other hand wants to suggest that nature of spiritual power is always above the temporal powers. 9. He emphasizes that transcendence cannot be achieved by force but by lawful submission in the God’s order In his play Measure for Measure, Shakespeare has raised his voice against the immoral happenings in the society. As a dramatist and a renaissance artist, he considered himself responsible towards society. None of his tragedies explore moral problems, law and justice, the scope of political authority as Measure for Measure do. The moral conflict thus surfaces by means of individual in passionate conflicts and in the fight for survival. Shakespeare has tried to draw people’s attention towards the corruption in the society and various mal practices happening in the relationship. The renaissance was a period in the history of English literature where everything was visualized as perfect be it art or individuals in the society. Shakespeare shouldered this responsibility in the plays like Measure for Measure that is attaining perfection in the society by the work of art. References Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, Retrieved. 2May 2011. http://www.shakespeare-literature.com Eliot, T.S, The Complete Poems and Plays, Amazon, 1905. Eliot, T. S , Murder in the Cathedral, Retrieved .2May 2011 Monkey Notes by PinkMonkey.com/Google search. Read More