When Galileo points his telescope to the sky, he is supplying a new age of purpose to the persons, giving them the self-assurance for “the stars to fly by way of the sky of their own accord”. The know-how that he provides is the catalyst of the new age of cause exactly where people today will no longer reside in ignorance. Galileo threatens to “smash the crystal spheres” but relinquishes his private duty to his findings when physically threatened by the church.
Galileo’s initial optimism and hope encourages him to “force through” the truth, but he is continually met by rejection from these in power. By way of his persistence, the astrological truth he offers remains an concern, but when the time comes for Galileo to stand by his findings, he shirks private duty to save his personal skin, in the same way he ignores the impending milk bill, choosing instead to continue his work and ‘lock out’ the practicalities of the true world. When the plague hits, Galileo chooses to risk his life in order to continue his function, but when the time comes for him to legitimise his findings, by making an irrefutable statement by dying for them, he backs out. A hero would have stood by his beliefs, championed his result in for the individuals he initially fought for. Galileo, nevertheless, did not. His inherent selfishness meant he would not die for the truth, and rather threw the earth back into the shadow of ignorance, like the darkened mountains revealed by the light of truth he saw on the mooon.
Galileo underestimates the power of the ‘establishment’, seeing the church leaders as individuals. Even so, when the Cardinal dons his robes of workplace, he no longer represents his own beliefs, but these of the church. The church is self-serving, interested in sustaining their own sovereignty rather of pursuing truth that could be noticed to go against their teachings. The church knew that acknowledgement of Galileo’s findings would encourage the peasants, who traditionally devoted their lives and perform to the church, to perform for themselves rather of the church. Such a reaction would destroy the church, and instead of allowing the truth to prevail, the church leaders would choose to force Galileo to recant.
Andreas dismay at Galileo’s recantation is indicative of the dismay and disbelief of the men and women. A man who is prepared to die for his beliefs is hugely respected and what he died for is naturally…