Becket

Anouilh subtitled his play The Honor of God, and honor is an important value in the medieval aristocratic world depicted. The characters make varied references to honor throughout the play. For instance, in the battle camp, Becket says that “a soldier’s honor […] is to win victories” and that “England’s honor […] in the final reckoning, has always been to succeed” (42). The young monk wants to avenge the offense against England’s honor caused by the Normans. The King and Becket speak of the honor of the realm and of God as supreme values. Later, the King asks King Louis to vindicate his “honor” by refusing to host Becket at his court, as the King would do in the opposite circumstances. Thus, monarchs agree to protect each other’s honor on the world stage.

All these references give the impression that honor denotes respect, courtesy, and devotion based on a person’s perceived dignity and rank. Becket takes place in a highly stratified society, in which those in power feel entitled to take advantage of the powerless. Thus, the King thinks nothing of abducting and raping the peasant’s daughter. Privileged people like the King and Becket live by a code of honor that assumes the right of exchanging favors, regardless of the morality of the actions involved.