Ubertino of Casale Character Analysis in The Name of the Rose

Ubertino is a Franciscan monk and one of the leaders of the Spiritualist movement, a faction within the order that advocates for a return to a state of poverty in the church—a position that puts him on the wrong side of the pope, who values property and political power and favors a more lenient interpretation of the Bible, making him an ally of the Emperor. Consequently, Ubertino is in exile at the abbey. He is an old friend of William’s, who is sympathetic to him but disagrees with his extreme views. Ubertino believes that the abbey’s over-preoccupation with books and learning is vanity, and accuses William of “intellectual pride”—a recurrent theme in the novel, and the same crime of which Jorge accuses his fellow monks for their attempts to read the forbidden book. After Bernard arrests Remigio and Salvatore for heresy and witchcraft, Ubertino decides to flee, since he can see that the tide is turning against the Emperor’s supporters.

Ubertino of Casale Character Timeline in The Name of the Rose

The timeline below shows where the character Ubertino of Casale appears in The Name of the Rose. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

William introduces Adso to Ubertino of Casale, a Franciscan who has taken refuge at the abbey because his views on... (full context)

William and Ubertino greet each other warmly and seem to be old friends. Ubertino tells William that he... (full context)

Ubertino accuses William of weakness in his prosecution of heretics: he believes that William was overly... (full context)

Adso finds Ubertino praying, and asks him to tell him the story of the Franciscan heretic Fra Dolcino.... (full context)

Ubertino warns Adso to beware the snares of women like Margaret. He brings his attention to... (full context)

...delegation and the Pope’s envoys begin to arrive. Adso joins a conference between William, Michael, Ubertino, and Jerome of Kaffa, a foolish bishop who hates the Pope. They accuse the Pope... (full context)

...help her, but William prevents it, telling him that there is nothing he can do. Ubertino tells Adso that the girl’s provocation of his desire proves that she is a witch. (full context)

Michael asks Ubertino to sum up the position of the Franciscans on Apostolic poverty. Ubertino argues that Christ... (full context)

...that anyone who shares these heretical ideas will be punished—preventing any chance of reconciliation between Ubertino and Michael and the Pope’s envoys. (full context)

After the disastrous trial, William convenes with Ubertino and Michael. Michael says that despite the threat to his life, he is determined to... (full context)

...from the village, torturing her and turning her flesh into a “deaf and blind ruin.” Ubertino tells Adso that this is the price of sin. Suddenly, Salvatore enters, and Adso imagines... (full context)