Galileo Church v. Hero Essay -- Religion Philosophy Essays

Galileo Church v. Hero It is a volatile file in history the intersection of science and religion at the upside of the Inquisition it is a time when the Church reigns and a man, a physicist, moldiness choose life or death, himself or science. Galileo Galileis legendary dilemma and the spate surrounding it are presented in Bertolt Brechts Galileo from a perspective that is cl earlier criticizing institutions with much(prenominal) tick offin this case, the Catholic churchwhile reminding us that hands are simply men, no matter how heroic their actions appear. These issues are expounded throughout the play how of any time, impression 11 has the most significant role in Galileos development, as it simultaneously reveals the extent of the Churchs control and humanizes Galileo in just a few lines. Despite his courage to venture into unexplored realms of science and thought, Galileo is non a hero. He is provided a man. Scene 11 is the shortest moving-picture show in the play an d one of only three scenes in which the act character does not appear. Yet it is here that Galileo is made completely human. In the quest for a hero, one might ignore his almost indulgent 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 gear up to get a salary raise from the city (Scenes 1 and 2), and thusly again in Scene 11 when the Pope says, He has more than enjoyment in him than any other man I ever saw. He loves eating and drinking and thinking. To excess. He indulges in thinking bouts He cannot say no to an old wine or a vernal thought ( Brecht 109). However, one cannot ignore a heros cowardice in the verbal expression of physical pain. I... ... Nobody has planned a part for us beyond this wretched one on a worthless star. There is no meaning in our misery (Brecht 84). The people rely on the Church to tempe r them to a better life in heaven their faith is all 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 cleverly uses Scene 11 to plant seeds of thought in the minds of his audience members. Through 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 will only be disappointed when both prove fallible. Bibliography Brecht, Bertolt. Galileo. New York Grove Press, 1966.