The Life of Galileo

by

Bertolt Brecht

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The Life of Galileo: Scene 15 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Andrea makes it to the border of Italy. There’s a moment of trouble with the guards there, who must search his belongings. However, when Andrea attests that they’re mostly books, the guards agree it’s too much trouble to go through them. There can’t be anything dangerous in books, they decide, as they let Andrea pass.
The play’s final moment comes with a touch of tongue-in-cheek irony. Furthermore, it can end with such little closure because the text itself is largely biographical. The audience knows that Galileo’s word got out and his “infection” spread to all corners of the globe.
Themes
Progress vs. Tradition Theme Icon
Ideas as Infection Theme Icon
Greatness Theme Icon