A traditional hero typically displays characteristics of great bravery and/or wit. He is fearless and faces all challenges without fear. He acts for the greater good, and therefore displays moral excellence. Galileo is a special type of hero. Although he accomplishes his goals in the end, his motivations and methods for doing so, combined with his unique perspective and characteristics, make it difficult to categorize him as a traditional literary hero. Galileo is best described as an anti-hero because he does not act heroically or display the usual characteristics of bravery, wit, and even morality. .
Throughout the play, Galileo displays very covert motives. When he learns about the new Pope, who was a mathematician who understood physics, he concocts a plan to gain the support of that Pope in order to further his newfound knowledge of the universe and laws of motion. He believes that the Pope will help him because of their scientific backgrounds, and says, "If they try to do anything to me, the new Pope will meet them with an iron NO." (Brecht 10). This important course of action was arrested when Lord Chamberlain informed Galileo that "His Highness has just charged [him] to inform [Galileo] that the Florentine court is no longer in a position to oppose the request to interrogate you in Rome" (Brecht 10). Later in the play, his actions and behavior made it seem as if he would rather die than give up on the "Discorsi". Andrea even states that "[Galileo] will never recant" (Brecht 12), and adamantly believes in his belief. This can be seen when he says, "Listen all of you, they are murdering the truth" (Brecht 12). It was a big shock to Andrea, Federzoni, and the little monk when the town crier recited Galileo's recantation because it was not of Galileo to give up so easily on his life's work. Galileo had ulterior motives, however, and he furtively continued his work on his "Discorsi" while locked up.