On 'The Name of the Rose' by Umberto Eco

'The Name of the Rose': A synthesis of Aristotelic influence on the Medieval Catholic Church

Umberto Eco’s Il Nome della Rosa is considered to be one of the most illustrious pieces of contemporary Italian literature, and although it is commonly mistaken as a simple crime thriller set in the 12th century, the narration conceals a much deeper meaning than that captured in the façade of the story. In fact, the work presents a profound history that unravels a variety of paradoxes and controversial themes; it is a novel that encaptures mystery, ambiguity and fascination, combined with philosophical doubt and mysticism.

In 1327, tension arose within the Catholic Church due to the conflict between the new monastic orders regarding the reform of the doctrine. During that time period, Adso of Melk, a young novice and his preceptor William of Baskerville (an English Franciscan friar) are encharged by the Abbot of a Benedictine abbey in northern Italy with the arduous work of resolving the enigma of the unexplained assassination of one of the monks, Adelmo of Otranto. Within the span of the seven days in which the two stay in the abbey, the unfathomable happens: from peccaminous encounters and heretic discourse, to bloody murder and prohibited paths, William and Adso find themselves stuck in an endless labyrinth (quite literally). The narration, full of twists and turns, ends in tragedy, depriving the reader of a satisfying closure, but leaving them with a scarring doubt that will torment them for the rest of their life.

The author concludes the work by quoting the ancient book ‘De Contemptu Mundi’ written by Pope Innocent III, revealing the hidden message of the story and finally clarifying its title:

Est ubi gloria nunc Babylonia? Nunc ubi dirus / Nabucodonosor, et Darii vigor, illeque Cyrus / Qualiter orbita viribus incita praete-rierunt, / Fama relinquitur, illaque figitur, hi putruerunt.

By quoting these verses, which question the disappearance of the great Babylonia, Eco clearly explains the real meaning of his novel, introducing the theme of caducity and ephemerality of being. In the end, all things come to a conclusion, and the only things that will survive are our nude, empty names - as the famous latin phrase ‘Stat rosa pristina nomine, nomina nuda tenemus’ implies.

I conclude by recommending the reading of this novel to whoever is passionate about Aristotle, Medieval Christian symbolism, mysticism and esoterism, but most importantly, I recommend this novel to whoever is searching for the experience of an existential crisis and is constantly craving an intellectual challenge.