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The Return Of Martin Guerre By Zemon Davis

709 Words3 Pages

“The Return of Martin Guerre” is a reform of the renowned case of Martin Guerre’s journey back to Artigat, a small town located in Southern France, after his absence of approximately eight years. Though, the so-called “Martin” is really a fraud by the name of Arnaud du Tilh. His family, friends, and wife accept him for more than three years, and during that time his wife, Bertrande, becomes pregnant twice. However, after “Martin Guerre” has a quarrel over family finances and family land sales, his father in law and uncle accuse him of being an imposter. During one trial in the regional city of Rieux, Witnesses who attend are able to describe Arnaud de Tilh, including his own uncle. Others swear that they are certain the man is Martin Guerra. …show more content…

She shows not only women’s roles in family and economy, but also the view on marriage. After Martin left, Bertrande wasn’t aloud to even consider divorce or remarrying, despite their unfruitful marriage and his absence. Rather than having to enter a relationship with the real Martin, Bertrande was able to make an independent choice about whether to enter into a relationship with Arnaud du Tilh. The new relationship allowed her to break free of the specific constrictions that had been imposed upon her by asset of her gender and class. Studying the circumstances from this point makes her choice to harbor a fraudulent husband seem not so absurd, because of the patriarchal society that deprived women of the ability to make choices concerning their relationships. Thus, although her actions are indisputably abnormal, this case does expose much about the unique dilemma of female peasants in sixteenth century France. Zemon Davis’s book also analyzes the French legal system, specifically the matter of Arnaud’s sentence. Coras composed his conclusion on the basis that preserving Bertrande’s family should be the key intention of the court. He advocated this principle by discharging Pierre for charges of intimidation and categorizing the Arnaud’s two children as legitimate inheritors to their family’s

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