The history of Christianity has always been characterized by turbulence. Not only were there divisions between members of the religion into different sects according to their own beliefs and ideas, but there were also fights between Christianity and paganism, in which the two opposing sides tried to weaken the other and gain more influence. These divisions and fierce competitions can be observed in The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, in which several clashes between systems are shown: a conflict between Christianity and paganism and one between two different orders, the Benedictine and the Franciscan. Furthermore, the significance of the mood of society is also evident: through the application of the concept of discourse, the impact of social norms and standards is depicted, especially in the limited environment of a monastery.SummaryThe Name of the Rose , written by Umberto Eco, deals with a series of mysterious murders that occurred in 1327, in a Benedictine monastery in Northern Italy. The protagonist, William of Baskerville, together with his novice Adso of Melk, tries to solve this mystery. The former possesses an exceptional capacity for logical reasoning and with his talent manages to gather decisive and critical evidence that finally allows him to solve the horrible enigma. The story takes place when William of Baskerville, a Franciscan monk, arrives at a Benedictine monastery after being asked to visit the monastery for a dispute. William's acuity and cunning are demonstrated when he manages to correctly guess the name and various characteristics of the abbot's horse. The people in the monastery are surprised and horrified by his skill, and the abbot, deeply impressed by Wil...... middle of paper ......and in judging whether a thought or behavior is correct or not, conveys the general mood of 13th century society. By merging these two aspects in the novel, Eco has successfully managed to present its meaning to readers.Works CitedEco, Umberto. The name of the rose. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1983.Park, KS. "The name of the rose." The name of the rose: title and last line. 2003. November 23, 2013. .Wikipedia Contributors. "Little brothers." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. July 14, 2013. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. November 24, 2013. Wikipedia contributors. "The name of the rose." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.17 November 2013. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. November 21st. 2013.