Life of Galileo

Brief Overview

In the play «Life of Galileo», Bertolt Brecht elegantly and dramatically reveals the fate of a great scientist whose thirst for truth collides with the harsh reality of a dogmatic world. Galileo Galilei, passionately devoted to science, discovers the laws of planetary motion and asserts the heliocentric system, challenging established views and the authority of the Church. His discoveries become a source of inspiration for his students and a threat to the powerful inquisitors. Against a backdrop of historical upheaval and personal trials, Galileo faces a painful choice between truth and self-preservation. Brecht masterfully depicts the hero’s inner struggle—his doubts, fears, and hopes—infusing the narrative with profound philosophical reflections on the price of progress, the scientist’s responsibility, and the fragility of human freedom.