the name of the rose
Umberto Eco
William of Baskerville, a Franciscan friar, and his novice Adso of Melk travel to a monastery in Northern Italy at the request of the Abbott who asks William to investigate strange occurrences at the monastery.Taking place in a 14th century Abbey, the novel wraps the reader within a murder mystery that illustrates the working relationship between semiotics (Eco’s specialty) and language. Using the monastery as a setting, the novel illuminates the inner workings of a labyrinth and the labyrinthine ways that language traps or discloses meaning.
Within the monastery, a hierarchy of knowledge is exposed with the library holding the most prized possessions of the Abbey itself: books. Adso narrates his experience traveling with William as the pair become involved with mystery, death, and the quest for knowledge. Aristotle’s book on Comedy (the second book of Poetics) lies at the center of their search and causes the surface question of whether or not knowledge is power or power is knowledge. The questions surrounding laughter and the power of logic and deduction assist William in finding the truth of the Abbey.
The story is told through the use of a story within a story, lies within truths, and truths within lies. William, amongst other characters, serves as a connection for the reader to immerse themselves in the mysteries that lie within the medieval labyrinth that is the library. Eco uses this novel to question the search for Truth through the use of his postmodern theorist style and semiotics.
Within the monastery, a hierarchy of knowledge is exposed with the library holding the most prized possessions of the Abbey itself: books. Adso narrates his experience traveling with William as the pair become involved with mystery, death, and the quest for knowledge. Aristotle’s book on Comedy (the second book of Poetics) lies at the center of their search and causes the surface question of whether or not knowledge is power or power is knowledge. The questions surrounding laughter and the power of logic and deduction assist William in finding the truth of the Abbey.
The story is told through the use of a story within a story, lies within truths, and truths within lies. William, amongst other characters, serves as a connection for the reader to immerse themselves in the mysteries that lie within the medieval labyrinth that is the library. Eco uses this novel to question the search for Truth through the use of his postmodern theorist style and semiotics.