Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc · Chapter
Translator's Preface explained
The Translator's Preface presents a defense of Joan of Arc's character, arguing that she is unique in history for being flawless by any era's standards.
What happens
The Translator's Preface presents a defense of Joan of Arc's character, arguing that she is unique in history for being flawless by any era's standards. It contrasts her virtues—truthfulness, honesty, modesty, courage, purity, and selflessness—with the corruption and brutality of her age. The preface highlights her miraculous achievements: a young, illiterate village girl who rallied a defeated nation, turned the tide of the Hundred Years' War, crowned the King, and died a martyr, betrayed by the very King and church she served.
Themes in this chapter
Courage and Resilience
Joan's dauntless courage revived a nation that had lost all hope; she led a broken army from victory to victory against overwhelming odds.
Innocence and Purity
Joan is described as spotlessly pure in mind and body, modest and delicate, in stark contrast to the foulness of her age; she is the most innocent and lovely figure of the ages.
Betrayal and Martyrdom
The French King whom she crowned stood by while French priests burned her alive; she died with the earned title of Deliverer of France, betrayed by those she saved.
Faith and Divine Mission
Joan's unwavering convictions and sense of divine purpose are implied in her steadfastness and her role as a rock of convictions in a faithless age.
Characters to notice
- Joan of Arc
Described as the most innocent, lovely, and adorable figure of the ages; her character is flawless by any standard; she was truthful, honest, modest, courageous, pure, and entirely unselfish; she refused rewards and wished only to return to her village.
- Charles VII
Portrayed as cowed, resigned, and preparing to flee; he stood supine and indifferent while Joan was burned; he was rescued from vagabondage and crowned by Joan.
Key passages
“she laid her hand upon this nation, this corpse, and it rose and followed her. She led it from victory to victory, she turned back the tide of the Hundred Years' War, she fatally crippled the English power, and died with the earned title of Deliverer of France”
Joan revived a dead nation, led it to successive victories, reversed the course of the Hundred Years' War, severely weakened England, and earned the title of France's deliverer before her death.
Summarizes Joan's transformative impact on France's fortunes.
“She was truthful when lying was the common speech of men; she was honest when honesty was become a lost virtue; she was a keeper of promises when the keeping of a promise was expected of no one”
In an era of universal deceit, Joan alone was truthful, honest, and faithful to her word.
Highlights Joan's moral exceptionalism in a corrupt age.
“When she had rescued her King from his vagabondage, and set his crown upon his head, she was offered rewards and honors, but she refused them all, and would take nothing. All she would take for herself—if the King would grant it—was leave to go back to her village home, and tend her sheep again, and feel her mother's arms about her, and be her housemaid and helper.”
After crowning the King, Joan declined all rewards and asked only to return home to her mother and her simple life as a shepherdess.
Illustrates Joan's complete lack of self-interest and her longing for a humble life.