Course No E 403

Assignment Title Do you think Joan received a fair trial? Why in the end was Joan excommunicated and burnt.

Submitted by Kaosher Ahmed, Roll- 57, Batch- 37th, Dept. of English. Jahangirnagar University.

Submitted to Farzana Zebin, Asst. Prof. Dept. of English. . Jahangirnagar University.

Keeping in mind the context of 15th Century social structure Joan did receive a fair trial. Theres a basic difference between the trials of today and the trials of Joans age. Todays trials assume the accused as innocent but back in the days the accused was assumed guilty and then the only thing that was achieved through the trials was the confession of the guilt. Though, in her first trial of Condemnation, she doesnt require any defender but the question is, does it help? A teen age peasant girl whose drastic actions of fanaticism prove too much for the world of the grownups and where the English are trying their heart and soul to make her perish, it does seem a bit unfair. Joan with her usual enthusiasm backs herself up well but its her rebel like disobedience and her emphatic inner thrust to talk back seals her fate. Though Cauchon always remains merciful and reminds everyone else of mercy, he accuses her of disobeying the church and calls her a protestant. Joan herself says that its impossible to tell the whole truth as God himself hasnt revealed all of it to humankind. When threatened of torture, she says the most amazing thing, she will confess what they want her to confess and later just take it all back. Now, what kind of a saint says something like that? Cauchon remains bent on maintaining the integrity of the church and defends Joan from her false accusations. When Joan is made aware that if she doesnt confess her guilt she will be burnt like, she freaks out and says that her prophesy told her, she will not be burnt. Doubting on her ownself and trusting her senses that god has bestowed upon her, she signs the confession made by Ladvenu. She prefers quick death than a life time of imprisonment and rips out the confession. By doing so Joan herself proves her inner voices false. Her blasphemous (?) act had earned her the death of a witch (In those days women believed to be witches were publicly humiliated, tortured and burnt). But in the end, her un-burnt heart and her selflessness even at the face of death remains a fact in question. Though, the second trial of Nullification, after 25 years, seems unfair but man made society has its obligations. The excommunication was done mainly for two reasons, to establish the church as the only sovereign power and as a precautionary measure so that these kinds of situations never arise again. King Charles VII has a dream where Joan appears and apparently she seems to have received sainthood. Many others attend the Dream reflecting on each others condition which seems more like a fairy tale than a dream. The dream might be cause of the kings own guilty conscience. They are grateful and at the same time sorry for Joan. When the thought of her resurrection came everyone made an excuse and left. This proves the social barriers even after death and Joan as the one girl army that she is.

Poor saint Joan really doesnt know when to keep her mouth shut. Without further extension I think its better to end it with a quote Sometimes in tragedy we find our life's purpose - the eye sheds a tear to find its focus. ~Robert Brault.

Bibliography

Saint Joan (Penguin Classics) - By George Barnard Shaw The Trial of Joan of Arc (Famous Trials Series) by Don Nardo http://www.nashvillegreatbooks.com/2006/09/george-bernard-shaws-saint-joan http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/jul/14/theatre.stage Quote taken from - http://www.robertbrault.com/ Many other notes, guides and articles.

Word Count 555