Murders in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot - Book Report/Review Example

3. The chorus does not wish him to return to Canterbury but rather go to France. There is a fear of an upheaval in the environment they have known for quite some time. The chorus state that in seven years the archbishops past deeds are still fresh in the minds of the authority and hence if he comes back to Canterbury, he will be killed or there will be a state of violence. 6a.The first tempter is very pessimistic about life in the world he is living. He recalls the days when he used to serve the King as a chancellor.

He advises Thomas to abandon his selfishness for the good of the church and everyone in the society. He may also be described as egoistic when he asks Thomas to avoid living in fantasy but come to the real world where ‘real people’ are. 6b. The first tempter wants Thomas to reconcile with the king and get physical protection. Thomas must retreat back to the summer and seek apology from the king in order to have a chance to live a normal life. Thomas should also avoid resisting the king. 6c.

In his response to the first tempter Thomas advises him that one cannot live on the past neither on the future. Temptation are there to stay just the way Jesus was tempted and killed in the end for better of humankind. Hence his ideas were baseless and pointless as dismissed by Thomas himself to the first tempter. 7a. The second tempter wants Thomas to reconsider that only power matters in the kind of world they are living in. holiness must not be used to manipulate power hence Thomas must serve the King loyally without resistance. 7b. The second tempter appeals to Thomas the desires to do good by surrendering his spiritual power which will enable him to receive glory and power from the king.

These are words lifted from the Lord’s prayer which shows some sense of sarcasm for Thomas’ believes. Hence he is reminded to consider where the real loyalties must be. 7c .Thomas deems the temptation as not only objectionable but also demeaning because he knows that Jesus power of pardon is granted to all members of the church. He makes a clear difference between spiritual and temporal authority which he knows that spiritual power brings order and peace in the world. He says that the temptation is devils efforts to rule over the world and run the kingdoms in the world in a demeaning manner. 8. a) The ‘simple fact’ the third tempter relates to Thomas about Thomas relationship with the king is an alliance with the moguls and an opportunity to defy the king. 8. b) The third tempter falls in the group of church goers who only believe God punishes those who do not obey the authority.

This is a group of sadists who also go to church but they like seeing other people in trouble. 9. a) The essence of the fourth tempter’s immoral proposition lies in the process of searching for glory in the Martyrdom. This is some sort of blasphemy. The tempter suggests having the control of the king, all the barons, bishops and the emperors under his control. This is to suggest that he has power over everyone including the Supreme Being. All these amount to acts of blasphemy to God and his servants. 9. b) The final personal speech by the fourth tempter was taken from Thomas words. 10. a) The tempters view life as an opportunity of not gambling where one has to adapt to the present circumstances in order to survive.

There are things one