The Name of the Rose

1862 Words4 Pages

The history of Christianity has always involved turbulence. Not only were there divisions among the members of the religion into different sects according to their own beliefs and ideas, but also, there were struggles between Christianity and the pagan, in which the two opposing sides tried to weaken the other and yield greater influence. These divisions and fierce competitions can be observed in Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose, in which several clashes between systems are shown: a conflict between Christianity and paganism and one between the two different orders – the Benedictine and Franciscan. Moreover, the significance of the society’s mood is also evident: through the application of the concept of discourse, the impact of the societal norms and standards, particularly in the limited setting of a monastery, is depicted.
Summary
The Name of the Rose, written by Umberto Eco, deals with a series of mysterious murders that take place in 1327, in a Benedictine monastery in Northern Italy. The protagonist, William of Baskerville, along with his novice Adso of Melk, tries to solve this mystery. The former possesses an exceptional ability in logical reasoning and with his talent, he is able to collect defining and critical evidences that ultimately enables him to resolve the horrifying enigma.
The story unfolds as William of Baskerville, who is a Franciscan monk, arrives at a Benedictine monastery after he had been requested to visit the monastery for a disputation. William’s keenness and shrewdness are demonstrated when he succeeds in correctly guessing the name and the different characteristics of the abbot’s horse. The people in the monastery are surprised and appalled at his ability, and the abbot, deeply impressed with Wil...

... middle of paper ...

...e in judging whether a thought or a behavior is proper or not, conveys the general mood of the society of the 13th century. By blending these two aspects in the novel, Eco successfully managed to present their significance to the readers.

Works Cited

Eco, Umberto. The Name of the Rose. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1983.
Park, KS. "The Name of the Rose." The Name of the Rose: Title and Last Line. 2003. 23 Nov. 2013. .
Wikipedia contributors. "Fraticelli." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jul. 2013. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 24 Nov. 2013.

Wikipedia contributors. "The Name of the Rose." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
17 Nov. 2013. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 21 Nov. 2013.

Open Document