Explanation of Life of Galileo Galilei | Exploring the Conflict between Science and Church in Life of Galileo.

Explanation of Life of Galileo | Exploring the conflict between Science and Religion in Life of Galileo:

Abstract:

Life of Galileo is a biographical play revolving around the life events of an Italian scientist Galileo Galilei. This article explores the tension between science and church that was prominent before the 17th century onwards. The church wanted to interpret science according to the Bible but it was impossible due to the fact that religion does not support empirical arguments. Galileo tried to promote theories and ideas which were against the Bible and the church. He faced hardships but succeeded in the end. The critical analysis of significant events is discussed in this article.

Introduction:

The Life of Galileo was written by Bertolt Brecht in 1937-9, before WWII. He fled his country when the Nazis came to power. Brecht revised this play after WWII, in Denmark, where was living at that time.

Background to the play: 

The general opinion of the church and commonplace people was based on the idea that the sun, the stars, and the moon revolve around the earth in fixed paths each embedded in its spheres which we cannot see because they are invisible.

Ptolemy, an Alexandrian astronomer and mathematician, formulated the Ptolemaic system also called the geocentric system in about 150 CE. He was of the opinion that the earth is static and is at the centre of the universe. All other celestial bodies revolve around the earth in fixed paths. Anything aside from this was considered heretical by the Church.
Nicolaus Copernicus, in 1543, proposed the Copernican system. It was more accurate than the old Potelmiac system. It described that the earth is not static and the Sun is relatively at the centre. Using his calculations a much more accurate calendar was made which was adopted by the church in 1582. The church authorities were not pleased with Copernicus's ideas; it was considered an attack on the holy church. Therefore, in 1616 the church passed a ruling rejecting the Copernican system.

GALILEO GALILEI* (1564-1642)
The play opens up in 1609 when GALILEO GALILEI was a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Padua, in Venice.

Characters:

• GALILEO GALILEI
• Andrea
• Mrs Sarti
• Virginia
• Ludovico
• Sargaredo
• The little monk
• Cardinal Barberini ( later Pope Urban VIII)

Analysis:

The opening scene takes place in the house of Galileo at Padua city. Galileo is arguing with Andrea about the dawn of the new age. He says, “For two thousand years men have believed that the sun and all the stars of heaven revolve about them. The pope, the cardinals, the princes, the scholars, captains, merchants, fishwives and schoolboys believed themselves to be sitting motionless in the centre of this crystal globe." In these lines, he is arguing about the Ptolemaic system and how the church and the people blindly believe in it. He believes that now people are in a position to reject these old rotten ideas. He further says, "For the old age is past, and this is a new age.” He believes that a new era has begun. Galileo was examining the Copernican system and he found it true and accurate. He discarded the Ptolemaic system. Andria asks a question that he sees the sun rising and falling, to which Galileo replies that he only sees not think. Galileo sets the iron washbasin in the middle of the room and tells him to consider it as the sun. He made Andrea sit on the chair and asked him where the sun was. He replies to my right. He turns his chair in a semi-circle and asks him again about the sun's position he replies, “Left”. In this way, Galileo tries to explain the flaws in the Ptolemaic system. With the help of this demonstration, Brecht also tries to educate the audience to think critically.

Meanwhile, the Procurator enters the scene and informs Galileo that he has rejected his application for the increment in the salary he says, “I have called respecting your application for an increase in salary to a thousand scudi. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this to the University. You know that at the present time the mathematical faculty is no attraction at a university. Mathematics is a profitless art, so to speak.” This argument also highlights that at the time few people were interested in science and teachers were paid less wages.

After the Procurator has gone, Ludovico Marili enters the scene; he is a rich landowner and wants Galileo to be his tutor. He mentions Galileo about the telescope invention. Galileo interrogates him about the design of this new instrument and sends Andrea to bring lenses. He makes his own telescope. He presents his invention to the republic of Venice. Galileo sees the telescope as an instrument to prove his propositions.

Galileo starts using the telescope for his celestial observation and finds certain leads which proves the Copernican system. He observes the moons of Jupiter which explains that earth is no centre and there are many centres in the universe. He shows his friend Sargredo that the Moon does not have its own light and it's a planet like earth. But, Sargredo warns him and says, “But that contradicts all astronomy for the last two thousand years.”.

Galileo shifts to Florence and he wants to show his discovery to the Duke of Florence, Cosimo de Medici, who was a young boy at that time. Galileo demonstrates to the duke and his aides the orbit of the Jupiter and he explains to them the reason for its strange movement. He even named the new moons Medici Moons. They do not take any interest in Galileo’s propositions nor do they look through the telescope, and the Chamberlain says to Galileo “His Highness will not fail to obtain an opinion on your claims from the greatest living astronomer, Father Christopher Clavius, Astronomer-in-Chief at the Papal College in Rome. His Highness will not fail to obtain an opinion on your claims from the greatest living astronomer, Father Christopher Clavius, Astronomer-in-Chief at the Papal College in Rome.” Galileo becomes upset but he continues his work and in 1916 in Collegium Romanum, Father Christopher Clavius examines Galileo's propositions and confirms that his claims are true. The Inquisition thinks that the teachings are not good for the church, in 1916 they ban Copernican teachings and warn Galileo to mend his ways. Galileo argues with Cardinal Bellarmine and Cardinal Barberini that he is true to the church, he says, “ I am a true son of the Church.” Both the cardinals insist that whatever is written in the Bible is final and not changeable. They advise Galileo that he is interfering in God’s work. Barberini says, “Do you mean that God did not study astronomy sufficiently before he indicated the Holy Scriptures? My dear friend!... Does it not appear probable to you that the Creator knows more about His own handiwork than does the handiwork itself?” Galileo replies, “But, gentlemen, man can misinterpret not only the movements of the stars but the Bible too.”. The argument of Galileo is cogent because the bible has been interpreted by men and there are chances of error. One has to test everything unless he satisfies himself. There is a hidden message in these lines which the writer wants to convey that people should become rational and critical and not follow everything blindly.

The conversation of Galileo with the Little Monk reveals that the church has assured the common people that the eye of God is above them and they are in the centre of the universe. They have been in delusion for a long time. The church has manipulated their thoughts. Now, If they have been told the truth that they are not in the centre of the universe, they would feel betrayed and they would lose their trust in the church. The Monk says, “…They have been assured that the eye of God rests upon them; searchingly, yes, almost anxiously - that the whole universe has been built up round them in order that they, the actors, can play their greater or lesser parts. What would my people say if they learned from me that they were really on a little bit of rock that ceaselessly revolves in empty space around another star, one among very many, a comparatively unimportant one?.... I see how they feel cheated and betrayed. So there is no eye resting upon us, they say. We must look after ourselves, untaught, old and worn out as we are?”.

Galileo remained silent for eight years after the prohibition of the Copernican system by the Inquisition. After the enthronement of the new pope, Cardinal Barberini, Galileo resumed his works, because he was a mathematician and Galileo knew him. Ludovico, an aristocratic Young man, the student and fiancee of Galileo’s daughter Virginia objects to Galileo continuing his research. He thinks that it is against religion, Ludovico represents the view of the aristocratic people of that time. Ludovico admonishes Galileo that he would not marry his daughter, but Galileo remains firm on the ground and does not care about him. Galileo here is shown as a kind egoist, who only cares about himself. Ludovico believes that the attack on the church could stir the beliefs of the peasants. He says, “ I see you have already made your preparations… treatises on the satellites of Jupiter in no way disturb our peasants. Their work in the fields is too arduous. Yet it could disturb them to learn that frivolous attacks on the sacred doctrines of the Church now go unpunished.”. There is also a message in these lines that religion was also a tool to subdue the peasants.

That inquisition demands the new pope should do something about Galileo. Thus, in 1633 he was summoned to Rome for examination. during, the discussion of the Pope with the inquisition, the pope says, “The very most that may be done is to show him the instruments.'' The pope thinks that instead of punishing Gailieo they can silence him up by just showing the instruments of torture, they did and succeeded. On 22nd June, Galileo records his recantation and renounces his theories and ideas about planetary motions. He accepts that the Copernican system is flawed, “ ‘I, Galileo Galilei, teacher of mathematics and physics at the University of Florence, renounce what I have taught, that the sun is the centre of the universe and motionless in its place, and that the earth is not the centre and not motionless. I renounce, abhor and curse, with all my heart and with sincere faith, all these falsehoods and heresies, as well as every other falsehood and every other opinion which is contrary to the teachings of the Holy Church.” Galileo student becomes crestfallen, out of control Adresa shouts, “Unhappy the land that has no heroes – I cannot look at him. He must go.” Andrea considered Galileo his admirer and guide but when he recants, Adresa becomes disillusioned.

Galileo becomes a prisoner of the inquisition till his death. He starts living in a country house. The inquisition has allowed him to carry on his own research under strict supervision. Andrea has become a scholar, he is about to set off to Holland for scientific work. He arrives to meet with Galileo for the last time. Galileo informs about his secret project under the eyes of the inquisition, he gives him his manuscript The “Discorsi”, he says, “ I risked the last miserable remains of my peace of mind by malting a copy, behind my own back so to speak, using up the last ounce of light of the bright nights for the last six months. I risked the last miserable remains of my peace of mind by malting a copy, behind my own back so to speak, using up the last ounce of light of the bright nights for the last six months.” He tells him how he burnt his midnight oil to compose this manuscript. Andrea is shocked and ashamed of his behaviour. Andrea says, “You concealed the truth. From the enemy. Even in the field of ethics you were a thousand years ahead of us.” Andra further says, “ You said: Better stained than empty.” this line means that Galileo, although sided with crooks, he does not remain silent and continued his work silently. Galileo confesses that what he did was wrong. He says, “I recanted because I was afraid of physical pain…I never was in real danger. For a few years, I was as strong as the authorities. And I surrendered my knowledge to those in power, to use, or not to use, or to misuse, just as suited their purposes…I have betrayed my profession. A man who does what I have done cannot be tolerated in the ranks of science.” Here, Samuel Brecht is criticising those scientists who submit their work to authorities for money and other material benefits. He modify the ending of this play after WWII when saw the destruction caused by the atomic bomb. In 1037, Andrea takes Galileo's books across the border.

Conclusion :

The "Life of Galileo" tells the tale of the dominance of the church in Europe. It describes an inevitable conflict between the church (religion) and science through the life of a notable Italian scientist, Galileo Galilei. This play brilliantly describes the hardship faced by Galileo when he tried to propagate the theories of Copernicus. There is also a hidden message in this play, Brecht argues that modern scientists have become a tool in the hands of authority and powerful people just like Galileo subjugated to the church. The complicated ideas, concepts and messages in this play are conveyed in such a way that the layman can easily understand them.

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