A Study Of Belief And Reason In The Name Of The Rose

The Name of the Rose is a typical postmodern novel,but the belief and reason reflected in the novel doesn't receive enough attention.Therefore,through comparative analysis of three groups of characters,the paper aims to show the criticism of illusion belief and modern rationality,as well as the fusion of belief and reason presented in the novel.Based on the analyses,the paper tries to draw the conclusion that the belief without reason will become a refuge for personal desires and become the illusion belief,as Marx calls.If belief is taken from reason,reason will combine with human desire and become the so called modem rationality,which is criticized by contemporary philosophers.Only fusing reason and belief can place personal desires.The logic of the paper is:the first chapter analyzes the illusion belief of the poor and Ubertino.The reason why illusion belief appears is that the poor regard God's belief as a refuge for suffering,which is what Marx calls illusion belief.When illusion belief bursts,they seek hope through violence,and thus become heresy.Ubertino sees God's belief as a liberation of eros,but it does not bring him spiritual liberation.This is just the illusion belief criticized by Marx and Feuerbach as well as the author Eco.The second chapter analyzes Jorge's exclusion of laughter and the reason:laughter shows the suspicion of truth,and it can eliminate fear and seriousness.Jorge's exclusion of laughter reflects the dislocation of rationality and power on him.Jorge is not only a crazy guardian,but also a rational modern people.In order to maintain power,he rationally excluded laughter,imprisoned manuscripts,poisoned monks.The dislocation of reason and power makes him to be crazy.What reflected on the Jorge was just the enlightenment paradox that modern people experience.The third chapter analyzes the harmony of belief and reason embodied by William.Firstly,the paper analyzes the intertextuality between William and other characters.On this basis,the paper clarifies the harmony of belief and reason embodied byWilliam.This harmony lies not only on which William regards reason as a tool for understanding God,but also on his finding that knowing God belongs to revelation,the God can not be understood by reason.