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From: John DeFilippis
T1: GeorgeDeFi@worldnet.att.net
Date: 3/17/98
Time: 11:38:25 PM
Remote Name: 12.68.34.102
Eco's opinion seems to be on the side of William and the others who believe in ecclesiastical poverty. He represents the opposition with confrontational characters such as Bernard Gui and his band of men who are all in disagreement with William. The issue of poverty is one that these monks will never agree on because they live with opposite priveleges according to which end you align with. The rich will never want to give up their power to "legislate on earthly matters" or they will be as common as the next man. They won't be able to force their beliefs upon their followers and by this they lose all they have. This argument Eco constructs also dives into the issue of free will. Through Thomas Aquinas' belief, Eco points out that some feel it is obligation which compels one to give all of their belongings to anyone who is in need. The pope and free will clash head on. If there is no free will, there is no space to rule. The pontiff must be afraid of Aquinas or anyone like him for this reason.
This issue of free will can be brought up in The Nun's Priest's Tale and Sir Gawain. The authors of both challenged and questioned the practice of complete faith in God and what may occur to those who stray.