Becket

“‘In all save the honor of the realm’ / ‘In all save the honor of God.’” 

As the King talks with Becket’s spirit after his death, they exchange their favorite maxims. These are the two diametrically opposed principles at war in the play. They represent the respective supremacy of the secular and the sacred, of the state and the church, and of man and God.

“It is our task to see into the hearts of men. And I am not sure that this one will always be our enemy.” 

This quote comes from the archbishop of Canterbury. As Becket’s mentor, he senses that he has the capacity to change his moral attitude and will not always be hostile to the interests of the church. This turns out to be prescient in light of Becket’s actions after succeeding to the archbishop’s office. 

“One has to gamble with one’s life to feel alive.”

Becket reflects philosophically on the sport of hunting and how the hunter must meet large animals head-on, thus putting himself in danger. His statement foreshadows how he will later, as archbishop, put his life on the line by standing against the King. It also reflects the existential theme of the need to remain true to one’s value system and thus be “responsible for oneself” (16).