Novel: Umberto Eco, 1980
Film: directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, 1986
Characters:
William of Baskerville – a Franciscan friar and former inquisitor
Adso – narrator and student of William (youngest son of the Baron of Melk)
The Abbot–headof the Benedictine monastery
Ubertino– Franciscan friar in exile and friend of William (creepy old man about whom William says, “some call him a living saint”)
Severinus – herbalist (the guy who doesthe autopsies; 4th to die)
Adelmo– comedic illuminator, 1stto die
Venantius – the Greek translator, 2nd to die
Berengar – assistant librarian, 3rd to die (fat guy who flagellates himself)
Venerable Jorge (pronounced Yor-gee)– elderly,blind monk
Salvatore – hunchback monk, heretic
- Remigio – Salvatore’s friend, heretic
- Malachia -- librarian
Bernardo Gui (pronounced Gwee) – inquisitor
Concepts and discussion topics:
Aristotle’s Poetics in which he writes at great length about tragedy and promises to expand his discussion to comedy. Unfortunately, Aristotle’s treatise on comedy (if it ever existed) is no longer extant. In his novel and in the movie, Eco imagines that the book on comedy actually existed but that it was hidden by some members of the clergy for nefarious reasons.
Flagellation and self-flagellation:medieval Christians believed that “mortification of the flesh” purified the soul. Mortification of the flesh could entail inflicting physical pain on oneself, fasting, celibacy, wearing uncomfortable clothes, living in less than ideal conditions, etc.
Benedictine vs. Franciscan orders: William of Baskerville and his student Adso are Franciscan monks visiting a Benedictine monastery. They have taken vows of poverty and believe that the Church has an obligation to be charitable to the poor AND that the Church should surrender its great wealth in order to meet the needs of the massively huge number of poor people in Christendom. The Benedictines reject the notion that all clergy should be poor and insist that laughter is a sin.
The Inquisition