Becket: This Little Light of Mine

            
             We've all journeyed through the seemingly endless realm of childhood .
             ---that time in our lives when every elevator button must be pushed, when .
             every furry creature showing any sign of life must be touched, when freckles .
             are faeries' kisses, rain---God's tears, and stars---Heaven's street lights. It is .
             that age when our minds soak in every aspect of life around us like a sponge. .
             Though not all of life's curious mysteries were to be revealed to the starry .
             eyes of a toddler---for wisdom grows with each second of our lives---the .
             magnitude of what we perceived in our youth remains unchanged to this very .
             day. The essences of truth, honor, compassion, allegiance, humility, grace, .
             and integrity were first exposed to us as children, and are no differently .
             exposed to us now. In reading the drama Beckett, by Jean Anouilh, the .
             childhood song "This Little Light of Mine" reverberates in the mind's eye .
             with a renewed strength, a force not totally perceived by the young tike who .
             bellows the song in childrens' choir. It is a song devoted to the most .
             honorable quality in man, a song in praise of what Thomas Beckett prized .
             and cherished as his own adamant quality---integrity.
             Beckett was a righteous man from the very start. Brought into life as a .
             Saxon in a time in which Saxons were despised and confounded by the .
             conquering Normans, he was not exactly born with a silver spoon in his .
             mouth. He did however, in using his education and amiability of character as .
             his chief avenue, win the affection of the Norman ruler, King Henry II. He.
             and Henry became inseparable friends; it would almost be safe to say they .
             became attached at their sides, for they ruled together, battled side by side, .
             fell into drunken revelry together, and even shared the same woman .
             afterwards. Though pasttimes such as these were not the most praiseworthy .
             and saintly among actions, Beckett was still a righteous man. He was, .