Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc · Chapter
XXII: The Fate of France Decided explained
Joan, wounded at the Tourelles, rallies her troops and leads a final assault that captures the fortress, raises the siege of Orleans, and fulfills her promise.
What happens
Joan, wounded at the Tourelles, rallies her troops and leads a final assault that captures the fortress, raises the siege of Orleans, and fulfills her promise. The city erupts in celebration, and Joan retires to rest, her glory secured.
Themes in this chapter
Courage and Resilience
Joan's refusal to retreat despite her wound, her personal leadership in the assault, and her compassion for the dying English soldiers exemplify extraordinary courage and resilience.
Faith and Divine Mission
Joan's promise to raise the siege is fulfilled, reinforcing her divine mission; the chapter frames her success as the work of a 'little country-maid' carrying out an immortal task.
Injustice and Corruption of Power
The council's attempt to block Joan from attacking the Tourelles (via Gaucourt) highlights political obstruction and the corruption of those who opposed her.
Characters to notice
- Joan of Arc
Wounded by an iron bolt, she countermands the retreat, leads the final assault on the Tourelles, and raises the siege of Orleans. She weeps for the drowning English and later sleeps like a tired child.
- The Paladin
Described as afraid of his shadow except under Joan's eye; he holds her standard and reports when its fringes touch the fortress.
- Dunois
Sounded the retreat, which Joan countermanded; he was present during the assault.
- La Hire
Commanded the force on the Orleans side of the river; made a counterattack on the Tourelles via the bridge upon Joan's signal.
- Catherine Boucher
Not directly mentioned, but her father Boucher pleads with Joan to eat breakfast before the battle.
- Raoul de Gaucourt
Bailly of Orleans, ordered by the council to block the Burgundy gate; Joan orders him to open it and then charges through.
Key passages
“The iron bolt was still in the wound—some say it projected out behind the shoulder. It may be—I did not wish to see, and did not try to. It was pulled out, and the pain made Joan cry again, poor thing.”
The iron bolt remained in Joan's wound, reportedly protruding from her shoulder. Louis did not look, but it was removed, causing Joan to cry out in pain.
Describes Joan's injury and the extraction of the bolt.
“Joan rode straight to the fosse where she had received her wound, and standing there in the rain of bolts and arrows, she ordered the Paladin to let her long standard blow free, and to note when its fringes should touch the fortress.”
Joan returned to the ditch where she had been wounded and, under enemy fire, commanded the Paladin to unfurl her standard and watch for when its fringes touched the fortress wall.
Shows Joan's fearless leadership despite her injury.
“Before the sun was quite down, Joan’s forever memorable day’s work was finished, her banner floated from the fortress of the Tourelles, her promise was fulfilled, she had raised the siege of Orleans!”
By sunset, Joan had completed her historic task: her banner flew over the Tourelles, her promise was kept, and the siege of Orleans was lifted.
Climactic moment of the chapter, marking the fulfillment of Joan's mission.
“No other girl in all history has ever reached such a summit of glory as Joan of Arc reached that day. And do you think it turned her head, and that she sat up to enjoy that delicious music of homage and applause? No; another girl would have done that, but not this one.”
No other girl in history achieved such glory as Joan did that day, yet she did not bask in the adulation; she simply went to bed and slept like a tired child.
Highlights Joan's humility and modesty in the face of immense fame.
