Galileo Church v. Hero Essay -- Religion Philosophy Essays

Galileo church building v. Hero It is a vaporific point in history the intersection of perception and religion at the height of the Inquisition it is a time when the Church reigns and a man, a physicist, must choose life or death, himself or science. Galileo Galileis legendary predicament and the circumstances surrounding it be presented in Bertolt Brechts Galileo from a perspective that is intelligibly criticizing institutions with such controlin this case, the Catholic churchwhile reminding us that men be simply men, no matter how heroic their actions appear. These issues are expounded throughout the play however, Scene 11 has the most significant determination in Galileos development, as it simultaneously reveals the extent of the Churchs control and humanizes Galileo in only when a few lines. Despite his courage to venture into unexplored realms of science and thought, Galileo is not a hero. He is only a man. Scene 11 is the shortest scene in the play and one of only three scenes in which the title character does not appear. Yet it is here that Galileo is made all human. In the quest for a hero, one might ignore his nigh hedonistic desire for food, thought, and fine wine and the sacrifices that he makes to acquire money. These characteristics of Galileo are revealed early in the play, when he plagiarizes another mans telescope invention in order to get a salary raise from the city (Scenes 1 and 2), and then again in Scene 11 when the Pope says, He has more enjoyment in him than any other man I ever saw. He loves eating and drinking and idea. To excess. He indulges in thinking bouts He cannot say no to an old wine or a new thought ( Brecht 109). However, one cannot ignore a heros cowardice in the face of physical pain. I... ... Nobody has planned a part for us beyond this wretched one on a worthless star. thither is no meaning in our misery (Brecht 84). The people rely on the Church to lead them to a better life in heaven their combine is al l that they know. It is the Popes duty to preserve the unity that comes from shared faith, and because he is controlled by that which he governs, he cannot refuse to punish Galileo for fear of social collapse. Brecht vigorously uses Scene 11 to plant seeds of thought in the minds of his audience members. finished the controversy of Galileos life and the circumstances surrounding his session with the Inquisition, Galileo explores both the dangers of institutional control and the folly of elevating men to a heroic status. One depart only be disappointed when both prove fallible. Bibliography Brecht, Bertolt. Galileo. New York orchard Press, 1966.