Thomas a Becket introduced the concept of using forks to eat to Henry II, then King of Engelond; who else but an honorable man would do that?  Becket, first Chancellor to the king and later Archbishop of Canterbury, was the man of honor in Medieval England.  In the beginning of the widely acclaimed film, the King states that Becket was a man of honor ­ is more proof necessary?  The first hint we get that Becket is an honorable man comes from the King’s first hunt.  The king sees a girl he likes but Becket is willing to make an exchange with the king to save the poor girl ­ and Becket accepts the great price of his girlfriend’s death.  As Chancellor to the king, Becket is the target of a failed assassination attempt but instead of torturing and killing our poor brother John, Becket allows him to live and become his servant/sidekick.  After news of the illness and death of the Archbishop of Canterbury, King Henry decides to appoint Becket archbishop.  Becket at first refuses then realizes his duty is to the king and takes the job.  However, with his new job as the head bishop, Becket finds himself attracted to God.

    And that attraction, that love and duty to God over Henry is the problem.  At first Becket wears both the ring of the Chancellor and the ring of the Archbishop but eventually returns the ring of the Chancellor to the king.  Becket, having assumed the religious position, knows he must take the message of God over the message of Henry.  His first conflict is the deal with the priest and Lord Gilbert.  As the head of the English church, he takes the position that the priest should have been tried in the church courts, not the civil courts.  Henry II disagrees.  Becket sticks to his decision and excommunicates Gilbert, an unforgivable action in the eyes of the king.  So the problems start.  The king cooks up some wild plan to incriminate Becket.  Becket escapes.  The king pursues.  Becket escapes.  Finally, Becket talks to the pope and is sent to some monastery in France.  During this period of action and suspense, Becket has kept his honor, his word, and his resolve in the face of his opposition.  Becket finally gains safe passage to England, where he is cheered by all his Saxon friends (his Anglo friends cheer too).  The king starts "mentioning" that Becket "should be killed by four anonymous nobles during vespers service," although in less harsh language.  As the murderers creep up on Becket and John, Becket remains alert and fully prepared for vespers.  Demonstrating the pinnacle of the word honor, he is killed in full costume, in devotion to the one he called God.  Thomas a Becket was a man who put his life, friends, possessions and glory on the line to preserve his status as the man of honor.