# XXIV: Tinsel Trappings of Nobility explained — Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc

> Chapter companion for Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain.

## What happens

The chapter describes the town and country's excitement over Joan of Arc being ennobled by the King. While Joan remains indifferent, her brothers Jean and Pierre are proud of their new coats-of-arms. The Paladin and Noël Rainguesson debate the social implications of the brothers' new rank, with the Sieur de Metz explaining that the d'Arc brothers now take precedence over most of the personal staff in civil functions due to the royal lilies on their escutcheon.

## Themes in this chapter

### Patriotism and National Identity

The ennoblement of Joan's family with the royal lilies symbolizes the intertwining of her personal glory with the French national identity.

### Innocence and Purity

Joan's indifference to the honor highlights her purity of spirit, as she values her divine mission over worldly titles.

## Character check-ins

### Joan of Arc

Joan is ennobled by the King but remains indifferent to the honor, seeing her own light as far greater than any human title.

### Louis de Conte

Louis narrates the chapter, reflecting on the town's excitement and the Paladin's concerns about precedence.

### The Paladin

The Paladin is vexed by the d'Arc brothers' new nobility and worries about losing precedence in civil functions, though he later claims to value merit over accident.

### Noël Rainguesson

Noël teases the Paladin about his surprise at the brothers' new rank, leading to a humorous exchange.

### Jean de Metz

The Sieur de Metz explains the significance of the d'Arc brothers' coat-of-arms, noting it quarters the lilies of France and gives them precedence over most lay lords.

### Pierre d'Arc

Pierre, along with Jean, is proud of his new nobility and sports his coat-of-arms, enjoying the social elevation.

## Key lines

> To us she was the sun soaring in the heavens, and her new nobility a candle atop of it; to us it was swallowed up and lost in her own light.

To Louis and his friends, Joan's inherent greatness far outshone any title the King could bestow.

_This reflects the narrator's view that Joan's divine mission and character are far more significant than human honors._

> It was a clever thought in the King to outflank her scruples by marching on them under shelter of her love for her family and her kin.

The King cleverly bypassed Joan's objections to being honored by granting the nobility to her brothers instead.

_This shows Charles VII's political acumen in using Joan's family loyalty to achieve his aims._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/personal_recollections_of_joan_of_arc_se/chapters/xxiv-tinsel-trappings-of-nobility
- 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