The story of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht was for the most part a historically accurate telling of the life of Galileo. Brecht's story of Galileo's life is filled with him succumbing to the authorities no matter what his beliefs may be. This is similar to the lifestyle in Germany about the time Brecht had written this play.
Born in Augsburg, Germany in 1898 Brecht began writing at an early age. Writing was not his only interest, Brecht enrolled in medical school. By 1918 Brecht was called up as a medical orderly in the First World War By this time he had already begun working on his first play "Baal". Brecht's interests consisted of science, politics and literature. In the year 1919 Brecht had joined the Social Democratic Party and in 1921 he had dropped out of University. Brecht had joined the communist party by 1930; from then on the economic and political situation had become a serious crisis.
A statue of Bertolt Brecht
Graves of Helene Weigel and Bertolt Brecht.
Statue of Brecht outside the Berliner Ensemble's t...Hitler became chancellor in 1933 and the Communist party had been outlawed. Brecht was forced out of his homeland, where he moved to Paris briefly, and all his work had been banned as well. He had written anti-Nazi publications while in Paris. After Paris, Brecht had bounced around Eurasia until he had ended up in North America on United States soil. After World War II had begun Brecht was called before the House of Un-American Activities Committee for being a communist. He had begun his return to Germany the next day, by this time his version of Galileo had already been in the works.
The story of Galileo takes place during the 17th century, a time period when everything, from beliefs to practices, was influenced by the church. The church had controlled the education system and taught their knowledge of the universe...