Historically Gallileo Galilei has had a multitude of identities. For the Catholic Church he was a heretic. For religious reformers, Galileo was a bastion of truth and defender of the individual. But who was Galileo, in his mind? It may be impossible to determine what the historical Galieo thought of himself; however making deductions and even creating an entire identity from what is known about man can be a fruitful journey into the human soul. This is exactly what the German playwright Bertolt Brecht did in his laudable work "Life of Galileo". This reconstruction of Galileo describes his struggle to find his place in the tumultuous atmosphere of the nascent Italian Renaissance. As the show progresses, the audience witnesses Galileo's transition between the established authority of the church and the growing influence of free thought. However, even he cannot escape the influence of the Church, the most powerful and pervasive governing body of the time. Galileo's struggle, and the struggle of his historical period, is with the challenge of truth. Rather, it is the challenge of whether to accept the world as it has been portrayed to him or attempt to understand the world around him to determine his own truth. How does Brett describe this challenge? The answer is decidedly one-sided. As Galieo states, “The purpose of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom, but to place a limit on infinite error.”¹ Within this simple statement Brecht highlights the very nature of both sides of the struggle. Here Brecht recognizes two absolutely imperative themes. First of all, science, and free thought by extension, cannot and does not want to immediately guarantee a total understanding of the world. Furthermore, the scientific process is a process…middle of paper…dilemma in the quote above. Where G can see the obvious and inescapable nature of “truth,” those who do not realize its power are inclined to attack it. There is a particularly interesting aspect in this excerpt. Where G states that “judgment” is an obstacle for those who wish to fight lies. This passage implies that there are those who would, and may already have, used truth and reason ineffectively and purposely. Could this be an allusion to another character? Both scientific and religious influences have a strong impact on G throughout the play. However, the most important influence on G is definitely himself. G doesn't see himself as a hero or a villain. Instead, G is motivated solely by self-interest. ⁴ this might seem disappointing when talking about “nations” and popes. However, G is fulfilling his purpose. He is being treated