The Life of Galileo
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 Scene 7 Scene 8 Scene 9 Scene 10 Scene 11 Scene 12 Scene 13 Scene 14 Scene 15
Themes
All Themes Progress vs. Tradition Persecution Ideas as Infection Work vs. Passion Greatness
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Galileo Galilei Andrea Sarti The Little Monk Federzoni Cardinal Barberini (later Pope Urban VIII) Ludovico Marsili Mrs. Sarti The Procurator Virginia Cosimo de Medici Father Christopher Clavius Sagredo
Symbols
All Symbols Apples The Proving Stone Fire
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The Life of Galileo

by Bertolt Brecht
Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Scene 1
  • Scene 2
  • Scene 3
  • Scene 4
  • Scene 5
  • Scene 6
  • Scene 7
  • Scene 8
  • Scene 9
  • Scene 10
  • Scene 11
  • Scene 12
  • Scene 13
  • Scene 14
  • Scene 15
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Progress vs. Tradition Theme Icon
    Progress vs. Tradition
  • Persecution Theme Icon
    Persecution
  • Ideas as Infection Theme Icon
    Ideas as Infection
  • Work vs. Passion Theme Icon
    Work vs. Passion
  • Greatness Theme Icon
    Greatness
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Galileo Galilei
  • Andrea Sarti
  • The Little Monk
  • Federzoni
  • Cardinal Barberini (later Pope Urban VIII)
  • Ludovico Marsili
  • Mrs. Sarti
  • The Procurator
  • Virginia
  • Cosimo de Medici
  • Father Christopher Clavius
  • Sagredo
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Apples Symbol Icon
    Apples
  • The Proving Stone Symbol Icon
    The Proving Stone
  • Fire Symbol Icon
    Fire
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
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The Life of Galileo Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Gill, Sean. "The Life of Galileo." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 18 Sep 2017. Web. 3 Mar 2026.


Chicago

Gill, Sean. "The Life of Galileo." LitCharts LLC, September 18, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2026. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-life-of-galileo.

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