A Canticle for Leibowitz | Characters & Character Analysis

A Canticle for Leibowitz Characters

Saint Isaac Edward Leibowitz

the ?? inscription, which stranger inscribes on Francis' keystone, can be expanded (reading right-to-left) to "Leibowitz." Authorities argue whether their founder, if ever canonized, should be called St. Isaac, St. Edward, or St. Leibowitz. Once the Devil's Advocate relents, Leibowitz's canonization is scheduled in New Rome and Francis is sent to represent the Order. Legend says after being drenched with fuel oil, he asks for a cup of it to drink, changes it to water and the water into wine for consecration as his last communion.

Benjamin Eleazar bar Joshua

Given a name only in Part 2, Benjamin is described identically in all three parts of the novel, as a spindly old man dressed in burlap, with a hat, staff, sandals, and water bag, and uttering a characteristic, non-verbal utterance. The solitary Old Jew whom Dom Paulo knew as a young novice 50 years ago, Benjamin is living as a hermit on a desolate arroyo, and they have not seen one another in five years. Benjamin in the 32nd century claims to be 3,209 years old, but Paulo gives him just over 100. He further claims to be related to St. Leibowitz, whom he detests, and to be the stranger who buries Brother Francis and tells New Rome where to find his grave. Benjamin lives atop a mesa in a primitive one-room hovel that displays a Hebrew sign advertising, "Tents Mended Here," but hiding from the world the dangerous Shema...
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