OPPapers.com Essay Index >> Miscellaneous >> Saint Joan
We have many free term papers and essays on Saint Joan. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
Saint Joan. Saint Joan, by Bernard Shaw represents a women’s right to pursue a career
and any lifestyle that she chooses. ... Saint Joan. London: Penguin, 1946.
The Legend Of Saint Joan Of Arc. ... But one must wonder: Would the legend of Saint Joan
have the magnificence that it does had Joan not been burned when she was? ...
Saint Joan Preface. In Shaw's preface there are many aspects of Joan that
are given. These ideas include her being unbearable, always ...
Saint Joan's Topicality. A topicality of Saint Joan’s example Saints are always
different from everyday people, thus no one understands ...
... She is also a legend of her time people from all over the world know of Saint
Joan and her war for God. ... Patron saints Index: Saint Joan of Arc. ...
Submitted by sexycanuck on April 16, 2008
Category: Miscellaneous
Words: 1404 | Pages: 6
Views: 81
Popularity Rank: 101,329
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
Saint Joan, by Bernard Shaw represents a women’s right to pursue a career and any lifestyle that she chooses. Within the play, Saint Joan does not confine herself to the boundaries of a traditional woman’s role, in a time when it is uncommon for women to be unconventional. She does not think of herself as someone challenging conservative boundaries, she only wishes to follow her voices’ instructions in a practical way. Saint Joan does not hesitate to speak in a public arena or to act independently, in doing so she asserts women’s rights. She pursues her individual path so that she may follow the word of God, not to change how people view women.
There is evidence that Joan is not a typical woman of the time: the Duchess and the ladies of the court laughing at Joan’s hair and her clothes in the Dauphin’s court illustrate this point (Shaw 81). Joan wears men’s clothing only out of practicality, rather than as a statement of women’s right to dress as they please. The other women’s ridicule does not upset Joan, she responds by explaining frankly, “I wear it like this because I am a solider….” (Shaw 81) It does not embarrass Joan to dress in men’s clothing; she finds it practical in the life that she has chosen.
During the trial, the Inquisitor demands that Joan “… put off that impudent attire and dress as becomes [her] sex?” (Shaw 137). Joan responds with very sensible reasons for why she dresses in men’s clothing: “I was a soldier living among soldiers. I am a prisoner guarded by soldiers. If I were to dress as a woman, they would think of me as a woman: and then what would become of me? If I dress as a soldier they think of me as a soldier, and I can live with them as I do at home with my brothers“ (Shaw 138). Saint Joan could not go to the battlefield in petticoats, it would not only be very cumbersome, but it would also put her at a great disadvantage with her enemies as well as her comrades. She would not...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!