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</script> </div> </div> <main class='l--content js--fluidType' role='main'> <section class='contentMain js--fluidType' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/ScholarlyArticle'> <header class='contentHeader' data-language='en'> <nav class='breadcrumbs js--fluidType' role='navigation'> <a href="/">Home</a><svg class='icon icon--arrow breadcrumbs__separator' viewBox='0 0 500 500'><use xlink:href='#arrow' /></svg><a href="/study-guides">Study Guides</a><svg class='icon icon--arrow breadcrumbs__separator' viewBox='0 0 500 500'><use xlink:href='#arrow' /></svg>Galileo<svg class='icon icon--arrow breadcrumbs__separator' viewBox='0 0 500 500'><use xlink:href='#arrow' /></svg>About Galileo </nav> <figure class='contentHeader__cover'><div class="js--lazyLoad" data-src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/514KvAla6JL.jpg" data-alt="Galileo Study Guide" data-width="240" data-class="cover"><canvas class="cover js--lazyLoad__canvas" width="240" height="360"></canvas></div></figure> <span itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Book'> <h2 class='contentHeader__title' itemprop='name'>Galileo</h2> </span> <h3 class='contentHeader__subTitle' itemprop='author'> by <a href="/author/bertolt-brecht">Bertolt Brecht</a> </h3> <div class='section__purchase'><a class="button--purchase" role="button" data-analytics="subscription-click" href="https://www.gradesaver.com/galileo/study-guide/join-now"><span itemprop='name'>Buy Study Guide</span> </a></div> </header> <section> <section class='section section--standard l--contentAdBody'> <nav class='navDropdown'> <a class='navDropdown__link navDropdown__prev is--inactive' title='This is the first section'> <svg class="icon icon--arrowLeft navDropdown__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrowLeft"></use></svg> </a> <form class='navDropdown__form' data-analytics='navigation-select-submit' role='navigation'> <select class='js--navDropdown select--nav'> <option selected value='/galileo'>About Galileo</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/summary'>Galileo Summary</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/character-list'>Character List</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/glossary-of-terms'>Glossary</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/themes'>Themes</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/quotes'>Quotes and Analysis</option> <optgroup label='Summary And Analysis'> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/summary-part-1'>Part 1</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/summary-part-2'>Part 2</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/summary-part-3'>Part 3</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/summary-part-4'>Part 4</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/summary-part-5'>Part 5</option> </optgroup> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/symbols-allegory-motifs'>Symbols, Allegory and Motifs</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/metaphors-and-similes'>Metaphors and Similes</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/irony'>Irony</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/imagery'>Imagery</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/brechts-epic-theater'>Brecht's Epic Theater</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/literary-elements'>Literary Elements</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/related-links'>Related Links</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/essay-questions'>Essay Questions</option> <optgroup label='Quizzes - Test Yourself!'> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/quiz1'>Quiz 1</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/quiz2'>Quiz 2</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/quiz3'>Quiz 3</option> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/quiz4'>Quiz 4</option> </optgroup> <option value='/galileo/study-guide/bibliography'>Citations</option> </select> </form> <a class="navDropdown__link navDropdown__next" title="Galileo Summary" data-analytics="next-section-arrow" href="/galileo/study-guide/summary"><svg class="icon icon--arrow navDropdown__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> </a></nav> <h1 class='scale--2 contentHeader__sectionTitle' id='section-title'>Galileo Study Guide</h1> <div class='section__purchase'><a class="button--purchase" role="button" data-analytics="subscription-click" href="https://www.gradesaver.com/galileo/study-guide/join-now"><span itemprop='name'>Buy Study Guide</span> </a></div> <article class='section__article' itemprop='articleBody' role='article'> <p><em>Life of Galileo, </em>aka <em>Galileo,</em> is a play by <a href="/author/bertolt-brecht">Bertolt Brecht</a>, written in 1938 and first performed at the Zurich Schauspielhaus in 1943. At the time of its premiere, Brecht, who typically directed his own plays, handed over directorial duties to Leonard Steckel, who also played the title character.</p> <p>The play follows Galileo's discovery of Jupiter's moons and of the heliocentric nature of the earth's solar system. With this discovery comes a great deal of controversy, as Galileo must come into conflict with the Roman Catholic Church, whose officials fear that Galileo's teachings (published in vernacular Italian rather than Latin) will stir up revolutionary impulses among the lower classes.</p> <p>The play, in addition to being an historical account of Galileo's scientific findings, has a Marxist bent. Brecht interprets Galileo's astronomical discoveries as significant not only for their scientific implications but for the ways they dispel many of the superstitions and beliefs put forth by the Catholic church. By simply sowing seeds of doubt among the citizens of Italy, he presents a huge threat to the authority of the church, which is not only a threat to religion, but a threat to the economic hierarchies of the country as well. As the play describes it, peasants and workers are willing to do their work so long as they feel that their position in society has been made for them by an all-powerful God. Galileo's proof that the universe does not revolve around the earth, and that the heavens are more elusive than previously believed, throws this system of thought into doubt.</p> <p>After premiering the work in Germany and fleeing from the Nazis, Brecht retooled the play into an English version, collaborating with Charles Laughton, which premiered in Los Angeles in 1947. This version, the most commonly produced English version, was simply called <em>Galileo. </em>Brecht changed some of the original version of the play to reflect a more ambivalent depiction of scientific progress, having seen the devastating effects of such events as Hiroshima. In 1947, the same year the play premiered in Los Angeles, Brecht was brought in for questioning by the House Un-American Activities Committee.</p> </article> <footer class='contentFooter'> <nav class='nextPrev' itemprop='pagination' role='navigation'> <a class="nextPrev__link nextPrev__next" title="Galileo Summary" data-analytics="next-section-link" href="/galileo/study-guide/summary"><svg class="icon icon--arrow next__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <strong>Next Section</strong> <span class='nextPrev__section'>Galileo Summary</span> </a></nav> <a class="button--purchase" role="button" data-analytics="subscription-click" href="https://www.gradesaver.com/galileo/study-guide/join-now"><span itemprop='name'>Buy Study Guide</span> </a> <section aria-label='How To Cite Galileo Study Guide in MLA Format' class='citation is--hidden' itemprop='citation' role='tooltip'> <h5 class='citation__title'>How To Cite https://www.gradesaver.com/galileo in MLA Format</h5> <span class='citation__content'>GradeSaver "Galileo Study Guide". 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data-analytics="navigation-panel-link" href="/galileo/study-guide/quiz2">Quiz 2</a></li> <li class='navSection__item'><a class="navSection__link" title="Galileo Quizzes" data-analytics="navigation-panel-link" href="/galileo/study-guide/quiz3">Quiz 3</a></li> <li class='navSection__item'><a class="navSection__link" title="Galileo Quizzes" data-analytics="navigation-panel-link" href="/galileo/study-guide/quiz4">Quiz 4</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class='navSection__item'> <a class="navSection__link" title="Galileo Bibliography" data-analytics="navigation-panel-link" href="/galileo/study-guide/bibliography">Citations</a> </li> <li class='navSection__label'>Related Content</li> <li class='navSection__item'><a class="navSection__link" title="Study Guide" href="/galileo">Study Guide</a></li> <li class='navSection__item'><a class="navSection__link" title="Essays" href="/galileo/essays">Essays</a></li> <li class='navSection__item'><a class="navSection__link" title="Q & A" href="/galileo/q-and-a">Q & A</a></li> <li class='navSection__item'><a class="navSection__link" title="Bertolt Brecht Biography" href="/author/bertolt-brecht">Bertolt Brecht Biography</a></li> </ul> </nav> </aside> </main> <div class='ad ad--bar'> <div align="center" data-freestar-ad="__970x250" id="gradesaver_d_4"> <script data-cfasync="false" type="text/javascript"> freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "gradesaver_d_4", slotId: "gradesaver_d_4" }); </script> </div> </div> <section class='pane--featured js--fluidType' role='complementary'> <section class='headingIntro'> <svg class="icon icon--qAndA icon--contentType" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#qAndA"></use></svg> <h4 class='headingIntro__title'>Galileo Questions and Answers</h4> <p class='headingIntro__body'>The <a href="/galileo/q-and-a">Question and Answer</a> section for Galileo is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. </p> </section> <div class='grid--3up'> <article class='question--featured' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Question' role='article'> <section class='question--featured__details'> <div class='question--featured__question'> <p> <a itemprop="url" role="link" class="question--featured__link" href="/galileo/q-and-a/galileo-galilei-teacher-of-mathematics-at-padua-determines-to-prove-the-new-copernican-system-451156"><span itemprop='name'>GALILEO GALILEI, TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS AT PADUA, DETERMINES TO PROVE THE NEW COPERNICAN SYSTEM </span> </a></p> </div> <div class='question--featured__answer' itemprop='suggestedAnswer acceptedAnswer' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Answer'> <span itemprop='text'><p>The Republic of Venice could reap the rewards of researchers like Galileo. Because of the Inquisition Galileo has to abandon his research for eight years. </p></span> </div> </section> <figure class='participants--featured' itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'> <div class="js--lazyLoad" data-src="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d9d145df62f4d3280a95cda5fc40277d?r=pg&s=30&d=retro" data-alt="" data-width="30" data-class="avatar participants__avatar"><canvas class="avatar participants__avatar js--lazyLoad__canvas" width="30" height="30"></canvas></div> <figcaption class='participants__detail'> <div class='participants__asked'> Asked by <span itemprop='author'>Michel S #1287513</span> </div> Answered by <span itemprop='contributor'>Aslan</span> <time class='participants__activity js--days-ago' datetime='2023-02-03T03:13:48Z' itemprop='dateModified'> on 2/3/2023 3:13 AM </time> </figcaption> </figure> <section class='question--featured__more'> <a role="link" class="link--more" href="/galileo/q-and-a/galileo-galilei-teacher-of-mathematics-at-padua-determines-to-prove-the-new-copernican-system-451156">View All Answers</a> </section> </article> <article class='question--featured' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Question' role='article'> <section class='question--featured__details'> <div class='question--featured__question'> <p> <a itemprop="url" role="link" class="question--featured__link" href="/galileo/q-and-a/is-life-of-galileo-a-tragedy-discuss-451064"><span itemprop='name'>Is "Life of Galileo" a tragedy? Discuss</span> </a></p> </div> <div class='question--featured__answer' itemprop='suggestedAnswer acceptedAnswer' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Answer'> <span itemprop='text'><p>Certain aspects of Galileo's life might be considered tragic when we consider his personal life. The effects his actions had on his friends and family, but even more importantly the diffficult decisions he had to make. As a scientist, his life was...</p></span> </div> </section> <figure class='participants--featured' itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'> <div class="js--lazyLoad" data-src="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7e0feb432dabc6445ab8adfe4aa92a2f?r=pg&s=30&d=retro" data-alt="" data-width="30" data-class="avatar participants__avatar"><canvas class="avatar participants__avatar js--lazyLoad__canvas" width="30" height="30"></canvas></div> <figcaption class='participants__detail'> <div class='participants__asked'> Asked by <span itemprop='author'>syed a #1286336</span> </div> Answered by <span itemprop='contributor'>jill d #170087</span> <time class='participants__activity js--days-ago' datetime='2023-01-27T15:18:52Z' itemprop='dateModified'> on 1/27/2023 3:18 PM </time> </figcaption> </figure> <section class='question--featured__more'> <a role="link" class="link--more" href="/galileo/q-and-a/is-life-of-galileo-a-tragedy-discuss-451064">View All Answers</a> </section> </article> <article class='question--featured' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Question' role='article'> <section class='question--featured__details'> <div class='question--featured__question'> <p> <a itemprop="url" role="link" class="question--featured__link" href="/galileo/q-and-a/which-best-describes-how-annes-out-burst-contributes-to-the-scene-450549"><span itemprop='name'>Which best describes how Anne's out burst contributes to the scene?</span> </a></p> </div> <div class='question--featured__answer' itemprop='suggestedAnswer acceptedAnswer' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Answer'> <span itemprop='text'><p>Are you giving me choices here? </p></span> </div> </section> <figure class='participants--featured' itemprop='author' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'> <div class="js--lazyLoad" data-src="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c99949c47f1f438439cde1547b52d179?r=pg&s=30&d=retro" data-alt="" data-width="30" data-class="avatar participants__avatar"><canvas class="avatar participants__avatar js--lazyLoad__canvas" width="30" height="30"></canvas></div> <figcaption class='participants__detail'> <div class='participants__asked'> Asked by <span itemprop='author'>jazmin t #1280218</span> </div> Answered by <span itemprop='contributor'>Aslan</span> <time class='participants__activity js--days-ago' datetime='2022-12-20T23:14:29Z' itemprop='dateModified'> on 12/20/2022 11:14 PM </time> </figcaption> </figure> <section class='question--featured__more'> <a role="link" class="link--more" href="/galileo/q-and-a/which-best-describes-how-annes-out-burst-contributes-to-the-scene-450549">View All Answers</a> </section> </article> </div> <section class='actions--centered'> <a class="button" rel="nofollow" href="/galileo/q-and-a/new">Ask Your Own Question</a> </section> </section> <div id='singleton'> <div class='l--content grid--1up'> <div class='grid__item js--hideOnBodyId__study-guides relatedContent'> <h3>Study Guide for Galileo</h3> <p>Galileo study guide contains a biography of Bertolt Brecht, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.</p> <ul class='linkList'> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" title="Galileo Study Guide" href="/galileo">About Galileo</a> </li> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" title="Galileo Summary" href="/galileo/study-guide/summary">Galileo Summary</a> </li> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" title="Galileo Characters" href="/galileo/study-guide/character-list">Character List</a> </li> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" title="Galileo Glossary" href="/galileo/study-guide/glossary-of-terms">Glossary</a> </li> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" title="Galileo Themes" href="/galileo/study-guide/themes">Themes</a> </li> </ul> <a class="link--more" href="/galileo">Read the Study Guide for Galileo…</a> </div> <div class='grid__item js--hideOnBodyId__literature-essays relatedContent'> <h3>Essays for Galileo</h3> <p>Galileo literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Galileo.</p> <ul class='linkList'> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" href="/galileo/essays/church-v-hero-should-either-win">Church v. Hero: Should Either Win?</a> </li> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" href="/galileo/essays/a-play-as-a-mirror-bertolt-brechts-the-life-of-galileo">A Play as a Mirror: Bertolt Brecht's The Life of Galileo</a> </li> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" href="/galileo/essays/brechts-the-life-of-galileo-overturning-naturalist-theatre">Brecht's The Life of Galileo: Overturning 'Naturalist' Theatre</a> </li> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" href="/galileo/essays/narrative-over-plot-in-top-girls-and-life-of-galileo">Narrative Over Plot in Top Girls and Life of Galileo </a> </li> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" href="/galileo/essays/our-control-of-fate-the-possibility-of-free-will-in-pygmalion-galileo-and-arcadia">Our Control of Fate: The Possibility of Free Will in 'Pygmalion,' 'Galileo,' and 'Arcadia'</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class='grid__item js--hideOnBodyId__wikipedia relatedContent'> <h3>Wikipedia Entries for Galileo</h3> <ul class='linkList'> <li class='linkList__item'> <svg class="icon icon--arrow linkList__icon" viewBox="0 0 500 500"><use xlink:href="#arrow"></use></svg> <a class="linkList__link" href="/galileo/wikipedia/introduction">Introduction</a> </li> </ul> <a class="link--more" href="/galileo/wikipedia/introduction">View Wikipedia Entries for Galileo…</a> </div> </div> </div> </section> <footer class='pageFooter' itemscope itemtype='http://schema.org/WPFooter' role='contentinfo'> <section class='pageFooter__content'> <nav class='navPartners' role='navigation'> <ul> <li class='navPartners__ios'> <a title="GradeSaver on the App Store" data-analytics="ios-store-click" href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gradesaver/id582726279"><img alt="GradeSaver on the App Store" src="/assets/footer/ios-841136218c39bf917a6b5e4999fac197ac36b0d709778128bf05a7a7050b8808.png" width="119" height="40" /> </a></li> </ul> <button name="button" type="submit" id="pmLink">Privacy Manager</button> </nav> <nav class='navSecondary' role='navigation'> <div class='footerNavLinks'> <ul> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="/contact">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/faqs">FAQs</a></li> <li><a href="/about">About Us</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="/privacy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" href="/disclaimer">Disclaimer</a></li> </ul> <div class='p--copyright'>Copyright © 1999 - 2025 GradeSaver LLC. 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