The history of Christianity has always been marked 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 struggles between Christianity and pagans, in which the two opposing camps attempted to weaken the other and exert greater influence. These divisions and fierce competitions can be seen in Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, in which several clashes between systems are shown: one conflict between Christianity and paganism and one between the two different orders – the Benedictine and the Franciscan. Furthermore, the importance of the societal mindset is also evident: through the application of the concept of discourse, the impact of societal norms and standards, especially within the limited setting of a monastery, is described.SummaryThe Name of the Rose, written by Umberto Eco, deals with a series of mysterious murders that took place in 1327, in a Benedictine monastery in northern Italy. The protagonist, William of Baskerville, accompanied by his novice Adso de Melk, attempts to solve this mystery. The first possesses an exceptional capacity for logical reasoning and, thanks to his talent, he is able to gather decisive and critical evidence which ultimately allows him to solve the horrible riddle. The story unfolds as William of Baskerville, who is a Franciscan monk, arrives at a Benedictine monastery after being asked to visit the monastery for an argument. Guillaume's acuity and cunning are demonstrated when he succeeds in correctly guessing the name and different characteristics of the abbot's horse. The people of the monastery are surprised and dismayed by his ability, and the abbot, deeply impressed by Wil...... middle of paper ......e to judge whether a thought or behavior is appropriate or not, conveys the general mood of 13th century society. By blending these two aspects in the novel, Eco successfully presented their meaning to the readers. Works Cited Eco, Umberto. The Name of the Rose. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1983. Park, K.S. “The Name of the Rose.” The Name of the Rose: Title and Last Line. 2003. November 23, 2013. .Wikipedia contributors. “Fraticelli.” 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. November 17, 2013. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. November 21. 2013.