# The Finding of the Dwarf explained — Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc > Chapter companion for Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. ## What happens Joan pardons a deserter condemned to death, a giant of a man who had left the army to be with his dying wife. She cuts his bonds, bandages his wounds, and learns his story. Moved by his devotion, she gives him a new purpose: to serve France. The man, called the Dwarf, pledges his life to her, seeing Joan as France incarnate. He becomes her loyal man-at-arms, and the chapter reflects on his unwavering faith and the symbolic embodiment of the nation in Joan. ## Themes in this chapter ### Patriotism and National Identity The Dwarf sees Joan as France incarnate, embodying the nation in a tangible form, reflecting the theme of national identity and devotion. ### Courage and Resilience Joan's calm demeanor during the perilous march and her bold act of pardoning a condemned man demonstrate her courage and moral resilience. ### Injustice and Corruption of Power The Dwarf's harsh sentence for a compassionate act highlights the rigidity and potential injustice of military law, which Joan overrides with her authority. ## Character check-ins ### Joan of Arc Shows mercy and insight by pardoning the deserter, bandaging his wounds herself, and giving him a new mission to serve France. ### Louis de Conte Narrates the chapter, describing his own fear during the march past the English bastilles and his admiration for Joan's composure. ### The Paladin Mentioned as being ahead of Louis in the column, appearing droopy but not confirmed; later compared in size to the Dwarf. ### Bertrand de Poulengy Grabs Louis when he falls from his saddle after a jackass bray startles him. ### The Dwarf A giant deserter pardoned by Joan; he becomes her devoted man-at-arms, seeing her as the embodiment of France. ## Key lines > To the Dwarf, Joan was France, the spirit of France made flesh—he never got away from that idea that he had started with; and God knows it was the true one. The Dwarf always saw Joan as the living embodiment of France, a belief that never wavered and was indeed accurate. _Louis reflects on the Dwarf's perception of Joan as the nation personified._ > I was not of a rank to make suggestions, or I would have suggested that if we went faster we should get by sooner. It seemed to me that it was an ill-judged time to be taking a walk. Louis, feeling too low in status to speak, wished they would hurry past the dangerous bastilles rather than walk slowly. _Louis describes his fear during the march past the English fortifications._ > She cut the bonds. They had lacerated his wrists, and they were bleeding. 'Ah, pitiful!' she said; 'blood—I do not like it'; and she shrank from the sight. But only for a moment. Joan freed the prisoner, noticed his bleeding wrists, expressed her distaste for blood, but quickly overcame her aversion to bandage him. _Joan's compassionate and practical response to the Dwarf's injuries._ > You are France for me. You are my France, and I will have no other. The Dwarf declares that Joan alone represents France to him, and he will serve no other. _The Dwarf's pledge of loyalty, equating Joan with the nation._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/personal_recollections_of_joan_of_arc_se/chapters/xvi-the-finding-of-the-dwarf - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/personal_recollections_of_joan_of_arc_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/personal_recollections_of_joan_of_arc_se/chapters