The Wife Of Martin Guerre Analysis

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Throughout history there are many events that, to the modern person, seem extremely unlikely and verging on ridiculous. Lewis’ tale, based on the historical circumstances of the court cases surrounding the impersonation of Martin Guerre, is one of these. The novella is revealed to us in third person limited point of view that privileges Martin’s wife, Betrande de Rols. The tale follows the characters’ journey to the unveiling of the impostor, and how they are confronted with a number of social issues present in sixteenth century feudal France, where the book is set. A major issue examined in the novella is the traditional patriarchal structure embedded in many of the isolated villages of the time. Due to the entrenchment of Catholicism in society, this structure was linked to the Divine Order, otherwise known as the Great Chain of Being. This chain ranked every…show more content…
This is revealed immediately in the text by its title, “The Wife of Martin Guerre.” Betrande’s identity is outlined by her position rather than her personality, and this silences her immensely. By the use of this simple title we are openly displayed the oppression of women in society. Another example would be the way women were required to wait on the men, especially the cap d’hostal. “His wife met him… with a cup of warmed wine… he removed his cape and gave it to one of his daughters,” he then “seated himself at the head of the table” while “The eldest daughter brought him a bowl of water and a napkin”. The cap d’hostal did not lift a finger, and these girls didn’t need to be asked to help out, this was simply their duty as a female. The bringing of “warmed wine” and the seating of the cap d’hostal at the “head of the table” only reinforces his power, and demotes the female figure further and further down. A women’s birthright, so to speak, in a patriarchal society was to wait on man until the day she
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