Saint Joan Notes

InSaintJoan… Intheromanceofherrise… andthetragedyofherfall… wediscern…“Theroadtohellispavedwithgoodintentions…”Joan’svisionary,inspiredideasheraldprogress● Nationalism● Protestantism● Gendernorms Considerthatsheisprovenrightbyposterity… Asocietyinstagnationandstasis● Frenchsoldiers● Charles Joan’stransgressivenessideascouldthreatenstability—andthepowerofexistinginstitutions● Warwick’s“twomasters”● Cauchon’s“neveronce…”● Cauchon’s“cancer”speech● Cauchon’s“welterofwar”● Cauchon’s“marrow”speech● Stogumber’s“rebel”speech● Inquisitor’s“incest”speech Menwhoarerigid,unimaginativeandconstrainedbyinstitutionalloyalties● Inquisitor● D’Estivet● Cauchon● Courcelles● Assessors● 1920sgentlemanConsidertheantiphonalchanting… Thereissomehopeofprogressbeyondstagnationandstasis● Stogumber’spartialenlightenment● Joan’scanonisation● “Howlong…” Joan’sstrengthandcourageinspirechangeandaction● Inherimprovementofsoldiers’behaviour● Inhereventualmilitaryvictory● InherinspirationofPolly● Inherinspiration(andtransformation)ofCharles● InherinspirationofLadvenu Menwhoarecowardly,childishandunfittorule● Charles● LaTremouille Joan’snaivetyandwilfulignorancealienatesherallies● Inmattersofwar● Inapprehendingherownimpudence Menwhoappearshrewd,calculativeorevencallous● Warwick● Stogumber Theinherentmyopiaofsocietywillalwaysconfinevisionariestothemargins● Stogumber’sincompleteenlightenment● Joan“intheskies”andsociety“inthemud”● Cauchon’spithyaphorisms● Areturntodarkness● Joan’seventualrejection Joan’sostensibledivineinspirationearnsherrespectandinfluence● Eggs,andRobert’s‘conversion’● Foul-mouthedFrank,andLaHire’s‘conversion’● Wind,andDunois’‘conversion’ Menwhoarefoolish,prejudicedandignorant● Robert● Stogumber● Courcelles● LaTremouille Joan’spresumptionandarrogancealienatesherallies● Inherimpudentmanner● InherProtestantinclinations Menwhoareopen-minded,objectiveandpragmatic● Dunois● Archbishop● Warwick Visionarieswillneverbefullyunderstoodbeyondtheirmythologies● Joan’smythologyinlife● Joan’sinaccuratestatues Joan’sinitialfaithfuldeferenceearnsherconditionalacceptance● Inhermomentsofrespect Menwhoappeardevoidoffaith● Archbishop● Warwick Joan’sindomitablespiritsendshertothestake● Inherdramaticrefusaltorecant● Inherunburntheart Menwhoaresincereintheirconvictionsand“faithfultotheirlight”● Cauchon● Ladvenu● Inquisitor Changeandprogressisaslowandpainfulprocess● Stogumber’sincompleteenlightenment● Sluggishpaceofcanonisation● 1920sgentleman’sneedfor“freshinstructions”● Joan’srejectionintheendJoan’s‘miraculous’sainthoodisacceptedforitspragmaticpurpose Menwhoarenotbeyondhumanempathyandfellowship “Allsocietyisfoundedonintolerance”

● Polly’sviewof‘miracles’● Archbishop’sviewof‘miracles’● Charles’self-servinguseofJoan ● Inquisitor● EnglishSoldier ● MockeryofJoan’s(anachronistic)bobbedhair● Mockeryofthe1920sgentleman Menwhoarecapableofchange,growthandrepentance● Stogumber● Ladvenu Societyisunabletoovercomethebinarythinkingofgoodandevil● InjusticedonetoJoan’senemiesinherrehabilitationMadnessandsanity,sainthoodandheresywillalwaysbesubjective,unverifiableconcepts● Dunois:“boomingofthebell”● Robert:“comefromyourimagination”● AB:“echoesofyourownwildfulness”● Joan:“Whatotherjudgement…” EvidenceforCommonArguments Argument Analysis Quote/PageJoanVisionary Firstimpressions:sightmotif,repeatedtensifier.ContrastedwithCharles. “eyesverywideapartandbulging,astheyoftendoinveryimaginativepeople”(p.9,end)“Littlenarroweyes”(p.26,beg)Pastoralimagery(evokingapastoralutopia),biblicalimagery(EnglishservingasGod’sagents),anachronisticnationalism,resoluteproclamatorymodalverbs. “Theywilldrivethepoorgoddamsbeforethemlikesheep.YouandPollywilllivetoseethedaywhentherewillnotbeanEnglishsoldieronthesoilofFrance;andtherewillbebutonekingthere:notthefeudalEnglishking,butGod'sFrenchone.”(p.21,beg) ElevatesCharleswithasuperlative,repetitionofpossessive“His”,usingholy,sanctifiedlanguage “...becomethegreatestkingintheworldasHisstewardandHisbailiff,HissoldierandHisservant”(p.42) Difficultycomparedtoa“miracle”,butapromisesheconceivesanddelivers “Icanturntheeintoaking,inRheimsCathedral;andthatisamiraclethatwilltakesomedoing,itseems.”

Juxtapositionof loftyidealismandearthlyvision “But myheadwasintheskies; andthegloryof Godwasuponme…yournoseswereinthemud.”(p. 123) Strong, determinedandresolute Repeatedmodal verbs,predictiveproclamations,resolutecertaintyintone. “Thehorsewill cost sixteenfrancs. [...] Icanfindasoldier’sarmorthat will fitmewell enough. [...] I shall not wantmanysoldiers: theDauphinwill givemeall I needtoraisethesiegeofOrleans.”(p. 11, mid) “YouandPollywill livetoseethedaywhentherewill not be…andtherewillbe…”(p. 21, beg) Repetition, forceful dentalalliteration, resolutemodalverb. “I shall dare, dare, anddareagain, inGod'sname! Art fororagainst me?"(p.42, mid) Polysyndeton, repetition,forceful dental alliteration,resolutemodal verb. “InHisstrengthI will dare, anddare,anddare, until I die... Andso, Godbewithme!”(p. 83, beg) Confident andcourageous Directness, imperatives, thefact that thisistheirfirstinteraction! “Captain: youaretogivemeahorseandarmorandsomesoldiers, andsendmetotheDauphin.”(p. 10) Biblical shepherdimagery,parallelstoJesus, resolutemodal verbs. “I will teachthemall…andtheywilldrivethepoorgoddamsbeforethemlikesheep”(p. 21, beg) Stagedirectionof standinguptoRobert, contrast offearandfearlessness. Steward: “[risingcautiously] Nosir: weareafraidof you; but sheputscourageintous. Shereallydoesnt seemtobeafraidof anything.”(p. 8) “full”, resolutemodals… “Myheart isfull of courage, not ofanger. I will lead; andyourmenwillfollow: that isall I cando. But I must doit: youshall not stopme.” Instilscourage Stagedirectionof standinguptoRobert, contrast offearandfearlessness. Steward: “[risingcautiously] Nosir: weareafraidof you; but sheputscourageintous. Shereallydoesnt seemtobeafraidof anything.”(p. 8) Metaphorof thefireasvitalityandenergy,confidenceof tone. Polly: “It isacertainty. Herwordsandherardent faithinGodhaveput fireintome.” Gestureof support fromJoan, andCharlesmanagestoput LaTremouilleinhisplace “JOANquicklyputsherhandonCHARLES’sshoulder…CHARLES,withagrotesqueeffort culminatinginanextravagant gesture, snapshisfingersinTHECHAMBERLAIN’sface.”(p. 42)

Battleimagery, masculineassociationsof movement“up”and“down”,attributedtoJoaninapunchysentencefragment Charles: “Doyouknow, I actuallyleadmyarmyout andwinbattles?Downintothemoat uptomywaist inmudandblood. Uptheladderswiththestonesandhot pitchrainingdown. Likeyou.”(p. 122) Cauchon: “Theircouragewill riseastheythinkof you…” Inspirescorrectbehaviour Emphasisof their“foul”natures, completereversalof behaviour, repetitionofthevague“something”toemphasisethemystiqueofherinfluence Polly: “Theyareprettyfoulmouthedandfoulmindeddownthere…Theyhavestoppedswearingbeforeher.Thereissomething. Something.” Comicirony, thatemphasiseshisclumsybutsincereattempt tochangeforthebetter LH: “If everI utteranoathagainmaymysoul beblastedtoeternaldamnation!” Commandsauthorityandinfluence(asanicon?) Elevationtothespiritual,choral reinforcement. LH: “... anangel dressedasasoldier.”AB, Chamberlain, BB: “Anangel!” Alovelyclosingtableau,withthedrawingof theswordasasymbolicrallyinggesture, andthecall andresponsereflectingJoan’scommandofauthority “[Suddenlyflashingout herswordasshedivinesthat hermoment hascome]WhoisforGodandHisMaid?WhoisforOrleanswithme?”|LaHire:“[carriedaway, drawingalso] ForGodandHisMaid! ToOrleans!”(p. 43) Deferent gestureofkneeling, symbolismofhandingthebaton,possessive“your” Dunois: “[KneelingandhandinghisbatontoJoan] Youcommandtheking'sarmy. I amyoursoldier.” Mythological elevationintheeyesof herenemies Stg: “Mylord: at Orleansthiswomanhadherthroat piercedbyanEnglisharrow” Juxtapositionof emptycathedral andfull streets,iconographicaddressof“theMaid”, withthedefinitearticle Dunois: “thecathedral isempty; andthestreetsarefull. TheyarecallingforTheMaid.”(p. 70) Virtueandpurityofheart Titleof theMaid, asarecognitionof hervirtue;parallel toJesusinareferencetoRevelation3:20 Steward: “aslongasTheMaidisat the