Archbishop Quote by Hans Zinsser
![“The Archbishop [Thomas Becket] was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on the evening of the twenty-ninth of December. The body lay in the Cathedral all night, and was prepared for burial on the following day. The Archbishop was dressed in an extraordinary collection of clothes. He had on a large…” quote by Hans Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ff/hans-zinsser-34557_archbishop_the-archbishop-thomas-becket-was-murdere_2861244.jpg)
““The Archbishop [Thomas Becket] was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on the evening of the twenty-ninth of December. The body lay in the Cathedral all night, and was prepared for burial on the following day. The Archbishop was dressed in an extraordinary collection of clothes. He had on a large brown mantle; under it, a white surplice; below that, a lamb’s-wool coat; then another woolen coat; and a third woolen coat below this; under this, there was the black, cowled robe of the Benedictine Order; under this, a shirt; and next to the body, a curious haircloth, covered with linen. As the body grew cold, the vermin that were living in this multiple covering started to crawl out, and as MacArthur quotes the chronicler: ‘The vermin boiled over like water in a simmering cauldron, and the onlookers burst into alternate weeping and laughter.””
About This Quote
Source Historical Account: The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170
The elaborate burial of Becket, with vermin emerging, highlights medieval attitudes toward death and spectacle.
In simple terms: Becket’s burial was lavish and grotesque.
Key Takeaway
Consider how ritual reflects cultural values.
Themes
history
death
ritual
spectacle
Mood
macabre
analytical
Type
historical
literary
When to use this quote
- funeral rites
- public spectacle
- historical narratives
Key Concepts
medieval customs
religious symbolism
human mortality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this description reveal about medieval sensibilities?
- How do such accounts shape our view of history?
A Different Perspective
The focus on vermin may exaggerate horror for moral effect.