# Joan as Theocrat explained — Saint Joan

> Chapter companion for Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw.

## What happens

This chapter explores Joan's reliance on her claim of divine authority, which polarized those around her into believers who saw her as a messenger of God and skeptics who viewed her as a witch or impostor. It examines how her unyielding theocratic stance, combined with her youth and lack of conventional wisdom, provoked intense resentment among statesmen, military leaders, and courtiers, ultimately contributing to her downfall.

## Themes in this chapter

### Heresy and Sanctity

Joan is seen either as a messenger of God or a blasphemous impostor, embodying the medieval conflict between sanctity and heresy.

### Individual vs. Institution

Joan's personal claim to divine authority pits her against established statesmen, military commanders, and court favorites.

### Faith and Reason

The chapter contrasts the credulous acceptance of miracles with the skeptical, rational criticism of Joan's claims.

## Character check-ins

### Joan of Arc

Portrayed as a theocratic leader who claims divine authority, polarizing her audience and facing both fervent belief and intense skepticism.

### King Charles VII

Referred to as an immature prince whose ear is stolen by Joan, highlighting his vulnerability to her influence.

## Key lines

> Leaders who take that line have no trouble with some people, and no end of trouble with others. They need never fear a lukewarm reception. Either they are messengers of God, or they are blasphemous impostors.

Leaders who claim divine authority polarize their audience, being seen either as holy messengers or heretics, never receiving a neutral response.

_Highlights the binary perception of theocratic leaders like Joan._

> All through, Joan had to depend on those who accepted her as an incarnate angel against those who added to an intense resentment of her presumption a bigoted abhorrence of her as a witch.

Joan relied on supporters who saw her as an angel, while facing bitter enemies who hated her arrogance and considered her a witch.

_Illustrates the deep division in reactions to Joan's mission._

> It is hard to conceive anything more infuriating to a statesman or a military commander, or to a court favorite, than to be overruled at every turn, or to be robbed of the ear of the reigning sovereign, by an impudent young upstart practising on the credulity of the populace and the vanity and silliness of an immature prince by exploiting a few of those lucky coincidences which pass as miracles with uncritical people.

Nothing could anger a statesman, commander, or courtier more than being constantly overruled and losing the king's ear to a presumptuous young girl who manipulates public gullibility and the prince's foolishness with lucky coincidences mistaken for miracles.

_Captures the resentment of established figures toward Joan's influence._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/saint_joan_se/chapters/joan-as-theocrat
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/saint_joan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/saint_joan_se/chapters