The Temptations of Thomas Beck
The four temptations faced by Thomas Becket in T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral are meant to resemble the temptations of Christ in St. Matthew’s Gospel. As He was fasting in the desert, Jesus was visited by the devil, who tempted him three times. First, Satan asked Jesus to feed himself by turning stones into bread. Second, he told Jesus to throw himself down from the temple, so that, when He was rescued by angels, He could be glorified by the people. Christ’s last temptation was to worship the devil in return for great worldly power. Jesus rejected all three temptations, saying, “Be gone, Satan, for it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him only shall you serve.’” At these words, the devil vanished, and angels came to minister to Jesus. The first temptation to Thomas Becket was to forgive King Henry his sins and make peace with him. “You were not used to be so hard upon sinners,” the Tempter reminds Thomas. He also recalls Becket’s long friendship with King Henry. “Remember the good times when you and Henry were friends.” He even goes so far as to threaten the Archbishop if he does not allow the King to do what he wants. “Leave well alone, or your goose ma
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Saints Martyrs, Henry Disarm, King Henry, Satan Jesus, Tempter Satan, King Leave, Lord God, Gods Thomas, Matthews Gospel, Henry Remember, king henry, thomas becket, fourth temptation, allow king, pope powerful, earthly power, thomas resists, minister jesus, temptation thomas, death king,
Approximate Word count = 1029
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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