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Character Analysis in Brecht's Galileo

The document provides a character analysis of the play "The Life of Galileo" by Bertolt Brecht. It summarizes the key characters: Galileo Galilei, the protagonist scientist whose pursuit of knowledge leads to conflict with the Church; Andrea Sarti, Galileo's apprentice who becomes disillusioned with his willingness to compromise; Ludovico Marsili, a patron who initially supports Galileo but later turns against him; and Cardinal Barberini, who supports Galileo at first but opposes him when he refuses to recant his beliefs. The conclusion states that the play explores the struggle between knowledge and power through these characters.

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Amy Usmani
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1K views9 pages

Character Analysis in Brecht's Galileo

The document provides a character analysis of the play "The Life of Galileo" by Bertolt Brecht. It summarizes the key characters: Galileo Galilei, the protagonist scientist whose pursuit of knowledge leads to conflict with the Church; Andrea Sarti, Galileo's apprentice who becomes disillusioned with his willingness to compromise; Ludovico Marsili, a patron who initially supports Galileo but later turns against him; and Cardinal Barberini, who supports Galileo at first but opposes him when he refuses to recant his beliefs. The conclusion states that the play explores the struggle between knowledge and power through these characters.

Uploaded by

Amy Usmani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Introduction: This section provides a brief overview of the play 'Life of Galileo' by Bertolt Brecht and introduces the main theme involving Galileo’s conflict with the Church.
  • Galileo Galilei: Focuses on the protagonist, Galileo Galilei, detailing his pursuit of knowledge and the resulting conflict with the Catholic Church.
  • Andrea Sarti: Discusses Andrea Sarti, Galileo's apprentice, and his journey from fascination to disillusionment over Galileo's actions.
  • Ludovico Marsili: Examines Ludovico Marsili, a patron of Galileo, and his shifting support due to the Church's influence.
  • Virginia Galilei: Highlights Virginia Galilei, Galileo's daughter, exploring her struggles in a patriarchal society and shared passion for knowledge.
  • Cardinal Barberini: Details the role of Cardinal Barberini, initially supportive of Galileo, and his later opposition as a Church representative.
  • Conclusion: Summarizes the central themes of the play regarding the tension between scientific discovery and political power.

Life of Galileo

Character analysis
The Life of Galileo” is a play written by Bertolt Brecht,
which tells the story of the famous astronomer
Galileo Galilei and his conflict with the Catholic
Church over his ideas about the heliocentric theory
of the universe. Here are some key characters in the
play and a brief analysis of each:
Galileo Galilei
Galileo is the main protagonist of the play. He is a
brilliant scientist who is obsessed with understanding
the workings of the universe. Galileo’s passion for
knowledge is the driving force behind his actions, but
it also leads him into conflict with the Church. As the
play progresses, Galileo struggles to balance his
desire for truth with the political and social pressures
of his time.
Andrea Sarti
Andrea is a young student who works with Galileo as
his apprentice. He is fascinated by Galileo’s ideas and
the possibilities of science. However, as the play
progresses, Andrea becomes disillusioned with
Galileo’s willingness to compromise his beliefs in
order to protect himself from persecution.
Ludovico Marsili
Ludovico is a wealthy patron of Galileo’s who initially
supports his work. However, when Galileo’s ideas
begin to clash with the Church, Ludovico becomes
more cautious and eventually turns against him.
Virginia Galilei
Virginia is Galileo’s daughter. She is a strong-willed
and intelligent young woman who shares her father’s
passion for knowledge. However, as a woman in a
patriarchal society, she is limited in her ability to
pursue her own ambitions.
Cardinal Barberini
Cardinal Barberini is a representative of the Catholic
Church who initially supports Galileo’s work.
However, when Galileo refuses to recant his beliefs,
Barberini turns against him and becomes one of his
fiercest critics.
Conclusion
“The Life of Galileo” is a play about the struggle
between knowledge and power. Through the
character of Galileo and his associates, Brecht
explores the tension between scientific discovery and
the political and social pressures that can limit it. The
play also raises questions about the role of religion in
society and the ways in which power structures can
suppress new ideas and limit progress.
Thank you

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