Murder in the Cathedral - T. S. Eliot : Important Explanations

1.

They know and do not know, what it is to act or suffer They know and do not know, that action is suffering And suffering action. Neither does the agent suffer Nor the patient act. But both are fixed In an eternal action. To which all must consent that it may be willed and which all may suffer that they may will it.

Word Meanings: Suffer endure (सहना); Consect - allowance (अनुमति); Willed conscious (इच्छाशक्ति)

Reference: These lines form an extract from T. S. Eliot's famous play 'Murder In the Cathedral'. This is the first speech of Archbishop, Thomas Becket when he arrives at the Canterbury cathedral in Part I of the play.

Context: The Archbishop, Thomas Becket, asks the second priest to be silent. He forbids him to meddle with the women who were at this moment in an intensely emotional state. There is a deeper meaning in their utterance.

Explanation: Archbisop, Thomas Becket says that they (the women of chorus) know and yet they do not know what it is to act or to suffer. They know and yet they do not know that action itself is suffering and that suffering implies that an action has been performed. He who acts does not suffer and he who suffers has not acted because the fate of both is predermined. Both the doer and the sufferer are fixed in an everlasting endurance of suffering to which all must agree and which must be accepted by all so that the action and the suffering may be willed.

2.

Men learn little from others' experience
But in the life of one man never
The same thing returns sever,
The cord, shed the scale only
The fool, fixed in this folly many think
He can turn the wheel on which he turns.

Word Meanings: Learn - gain (सीखना); experience - know how (अनुभव); Turns Roll (मुड़ना / बदलना) ।

Reference to the Context: As above.

Explanation. When they contemplate the phenomena of birth and death in their imagination and in a vaccum. They experience much fear. A similar fear they are now experiencing though this fear in much greater in its magnitude they are now experiencing a fear which they cannot define, which they connot copy with and which none of them understands. And their hearts are torn from their bodies by the skin just as an onion in stripped of its layers. Their whole being and their existence are being lost in this final year the nature of which none of them can understand.

3.

Go to vespers, remember me at your prayers,
They shall find the Shepherd here,
the flock shall be spared
I had a tremor of bliss, a wink of Heaven, a whisper,
And I would no longer be denied, all things
Proceed to a joyful consummation.

Word Meanings: Remembers Recall (याद करना); Flock Assembly (झुंड); Tremor Shake (भूकम्प के झटके); Joyful blissful (आनन्दपूर्ण); Consummation - cleanup (समाप्ति)

Reference: These lines occur in Eliot's play 'Murder In the Cathedral.' It is a religious play. It deals with the assassination of Thomas Becket the Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of king Henry II.

Context: The priest requests Lord Archbishop to attend the evening prayers which are about to begin in the Cathedral. He should not be absent from that holy occasion as it is his sacred duty to be present there.

Explanation Thomas Becket wants that all of them should go and attend the evening prayers and leave him there. They should remember him in the course of his prayers. Those men will find him there. He is the spiritual guide and leader of his people. Those who are under his spiritual care will not be harmed in any way. In fact he is the only one whom they intend to kill. He has experienced a sensation of supreme happiness. He has observed a sign from God, He has heard a whisper from above and he, therefore, knows that the will be accepted by God. Whatever happens the final end will be happy one.

4.

Since golden October declined into sombre November
And the apples were gathered and stored, and the
land became brown sharp points of death in a waste
of water and mud,
The New Year waits, breathes, waits, whispers in darkness.

Word Meanings: Declined refused (पतन); Somber - dark (मलिन); Whispers-gossip (फुसफुसाना)।

Reference: These lines occur in T. S. Eliot's famous play 'Murder In the Cathedral'. These lines are part of the speech of Chorus.

Context The Chorus asserts how they feel compelled to come to that place to witness that event which they think would happen.

Explanation - October was the month of ripening of crops and fruits. It came to an end. It was gaining way of the gloomy and solemn month of November. The New Year was waiting in the darkness to arrive. The apples were harvested and stored. The land became a wilderness of water and mud with sharp barren points jutting out of the earth and symbolizing death. The New Year was waiting to come. It was already breathing and whispering in the darkness. It was preparing to arrive.

5.

Is there no way, in my soul's sickness Does not lead to damnation in pride. I well know these temptations Mean present vanity and future torment. Can sinful pride be driven out Only by more sinful? Can I neither act nor suffer Without perdition?

Word Meanings: Way Path (मार्ग); Sickness - Disease (रोग); Temptations appeal (लालच); Vanity arrogance (अहंकार); Pride ego (गौरव); Perdition - hell (तबाही) .

Reference - These lines occur in T. S. Eliot's poetic play 'Murder in the Cathedral'. These lines are taken from the speech of Thomas.

Context Thomas tells the Tempter that he only offers vision which leads him to punishment in hell. The Temper says that he has often dreamt those dreams.

Explanation - Thomas says that his soul is rich. It seems to him that every way is leading him to damnation. He will realize that the temptation he has offered means present satisfaction to his vanity but they shall provide him future suffering. He asks if sinful pride can be driven out only by greater sin and if he can neither act nor suffer without being damned.

6.

The impossible is still temptation
The impossible, the undesirable
Voices under sleep, waking a dead world,
So that the mind may not be whole in the present.

Word Meanings: Impossible hopeless (असंभव); Undesirable - abominable (अवांछनीय); Present current (वर्तमान) ।

Reference As above.

Context - As above.

Explanation - Thomas says that he will realize that the temptation he has offered means present satisfaction to his vanity but they shall provide him future suffering. His temptation is as will not give his mind rest and relaxation.

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