The Life of Galileo
by Bertolt Brecht

The Little Monk Character Analysis

The Little Monk begins as one of Galileo Galilei’s many detractors within the Catholic Church, but he ultimately becomes one of Galileo’s students and acolytes. Trained to be a theologian, mathematician, physicist, and astronomer all at once, the Little Monk originally argues with Galileo, defending Aristotle and the centuries of wisdom the Church has taught him. However, the Little Monk has a highly energetic, almost tenacious, desire for the truth. So, when he witnesses the evidence of Copernicus’ model provided by Galileo’s telescope, he finds himself unable to turn away from it. In the end, he becomes one of his teacher’s most vocal supporters, even when both the Pope and Inquisition have arrested Galileo.

The Little Monk Quotes in The Life of Galileo

The The Life of Galileo quotes below are all either spoken by The Little Monk or refer to The Little Monk. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Progress vs. Tradition Theme Icon
).

Scene 6 Quotes

Mr. Galilei, before he left Father Clavius said: Now it's up to the theologians to see how they can straighten out the movements of the heavens

once more. You've won.

Related Characters: The Little Monk (speaker), Galileo Galilei
Page Number and Citation: 51
Explanation and Analysis:
Clavius has confirmed Galileo’s observations, and the Little Monk (not yet one of Galileo’s students) relates to Galileo what Clavius said. It’s important to note that while Clavius admits that Galileo, an astronomer, has debunked Aristotle’s version of the heaven’s movements, he hasn’t left it up to astronomy to figure out what’s really going on. Instead, the ability to dictate the Church’s official view on the matter remains firmly entrenched with theologians, the selfsame people that fought to maintain the old, incorrect system. So, while it’s easy to read this as a victory for Galileo, it’s also correctly read as Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at.

Scene 8 Quotes

Our poverty has no meaning: hunger is no trial of strength, it’s merely not having eaten: effort is no virtue, it's just bending and carrying. Can you see now why I read into the Holy Congregations decree a noble motherly compassion; a vast goodness of soul?

Related Characters: The Little Monk (speaker), Galileo Galilei
Page Number and Citation: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
The Little Monk, unknowingly about to be converted to Galileo’s cause, comes to Galileo to explain why he’s given up astronomy. Remember that the Little Monk first appeared after the very old cardinal had given his speech. The Little Monk’s speech here rings many of the same bells, showing passion in defense of the Church’s doctrine. Rather than taking the proud, educated stance that the old cardinal assumes, however, the Little Monk instead advocates for the role of the Church in giving meaning to the meaninglessness of everyday existence. People like Galileo might be smart and brave enough to live Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officii

An apple from the tree of knowledge! He's wolfing it down. He is damned forever, but he has got to wolf it down, the poor glutton.

Related Characters: Galileo Galilei (speaker), The Little Monk
Related Symbols: Apples
Page Number and Citation: 65
Explanation and Analysis:
Galileo has successfully tempted the Little Monk back into the study of astronomy by offering him hitherto unpublished papers containing “forbidden” knowledge. Galileo’s use of the verb “wolf” twice here is striking. “To wolf” means to devour something quickly, in a gulping, animal sort of way. But after he consumes Galileo’s knowledge, the Little Monk becomes something of a wolf himself. That is, he becomes a predator who seeks out weaknesses in extant systems of knowledge the way wolves seek out the weakest animal in the herd. Then he attacks them. The Little Monk is even part of a pack, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt

Scene 13 Quotes

Wine-pump! Snail-eater! Did you save your precious skin?

Related Characters: Andrea Sarti (speaker), Galileo Galilei, The Little Monk, Federzoni
Page Number and Citation: 94
Explanation and Analysis:
Galileo has recanted his research and his group of students reacts. Andrea is the most vocal and hurtful among them. For his entire life, Andrea has held Galileo up as a beacon of intellectual vigor and curiosity. In turn, Galileo has given Andrea a life he could have scarcely dreamed of otherwise: that of an accomplished, well-educated academic. Thus, for Andrea the intellectual world is everything, and he feels that Galileo has abandoned that world for such base things as wine and fancy foods. In that light, Andrea doesn’t even attempt to make an intellectual argument about what Galileo has Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corr
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The Little Monk Character Timeline in The Life of Galileo

The timeline below shows where the character The Little Monk appears in The Life of Galileo. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Scene 6
Progress vs. Tradition Theme Icon
Ideas as Infection Theme Icon
Greatness Theme Icon
The Little Monk approaches Galileo in private and tells him that, before he left, Clavius said that the... (full context)
Scene 8
Progress vs. Tradition Theme Icon
Ideas as Infection Theme Icon
The Little Monk comes to visit Galileo. He tells Galileo that, ever since Clavius declared Galileo’s findings to... (full context)
Progress vs. Tradition Theme Icon
Ideas as Infection Theme Icon
The Little Monk doesn’t doubt Galileo, he says, but he doubts that telling the truth about the universe... (full context)
Scene 9
Ideas as Infection Theme Icon
Greatness Theme Icon
...he has amassed a group of pupils in the form of Federzoni, Andrea, and the Little Monk . The group is meeting when a former student enters. The student wishes to explain... (full context)
Progress vs. Tradition Theme Icon
Greatness Theme Icon
...flat piece of ice will float on water whereas an iron needle will sink. The Little Monk begins to present Aristotle’s argument in Latin, but Galileo demands that he translate it into... (full context)
Scene 13
Persecution Theme Icon
Greatness Theme Icon
In Rome, Virginia, Federzoni, the Little Monk , and Andrea await the outcome of Galileo’s questioning by the Inquisition. All of them... (full context)
Scene 14
Persecution Theme Icon
Ideas as Infection Theme Icon
Greatness Theme Icon
...he says he led into error. Federzoni resumed his career as a lens grinder. The Little Monk returned to the Church. And Andrea is forced to go to Holland, where he can... (full context)