Murder in the Cathedral
by T. S. Eliot · first published 1934
60% recommend40% neutral
A dramatization in free verse and with features derived from ancient and medieval theatre of the killing of Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury under King Henry II. Eliot used the device of a chorus, an ancient Greek invention, to express certain concerns and observations, and the killers take their turn to justify their action. When I read this play as a grammar school student in England, I was struck by the way the violence echoed the rise of fascism in Europe when the play was being written. My English master was somewhat mocking in class regarding my views, but later as a college stu
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T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral.
on “Ask HN: What book(s) did you love reading this year?” ↗Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury Murder in the Cathedral - T. S. Eliot Our Town - Thornton Wilder
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life?” ↗Anyone who likes The Waste Land should try and read Four Quartets, and his plays, especially Murder in the Cathedral, The Cocktail Party, The Family Reunion and The Elder Statetsman. They are all unique in their own way and reflect Eliot’s mind and ideas at least as well as WL.
on “'The Waste Land' Reviewed (1923)” ↗“The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason.” - T. S. Eliot, “Murder in the Cathedral”
It's not some obscure story. T.S. Eliot wrote an entire play about the martyrdom of Thomas Becket. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_in_the_Cathedral
on “Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's online rant spurs threats to supes, police reports” ↗…provide competition for Safari anyway. As it stands it all seems very half-hearted and kind of lazy. “The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.” - T.S Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral
on “Introducing a terms of use and updated privacy notice for Firefox” ↗https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_in_the_Cathedral this wasn't terribly long ago, and 1935 had a lot going on. I think about this line a lot: The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.
on “Reclaiming Becket: London’s great saint needs a reboot” ↗