Joan of Arc’s Heroic Death

As a young girl, Joan was an ingenuous simpleton who believed only in the power of God. With her strong personality and sense of virtue she had an inner force that inspired people to achieve the impossible. Unlike the world she lived in, Joan believed everything was plain and simple. The world was not ready for a strong independent woman like her who refused to live up to society's expectations of a woman. She defied society's rules and men were often troubled and threatened by her power and strong will. She never abandoned her cause and this is ultimately what led to her death. Her passion and determination never died, not even after her tragic death. Joan understood at a young age that “the world is too wicked for me,” (Shaw, pg 102).

The world in the fifteenth century was dramatically different to today. Women at this time were considered objects and did not enjoy equal status with men. A woman's role was clearly defined in those times. She was expected to get married, have as many children as possible and keep a clean house. Joan was one of the few women who broke free from this expectation. Joan was ridiculed and frowned upon for breaking society's rules.

Women were expected to wear their hair long until they were married, because it was considered a sign of purity and virginity. Joan, however, was practical women who defied the norm and cut her hair so that in battle her vision would not be obscured and that an enemy could not grab her hair and capture her. Her deed in the battle, but was frowned upon by the Church who considered her a “slut of a girl,” (Shaw, pg 51). A great part of Joan's life was spent living as a soldier among soldiers. Often, women who stayed with soldiers had a reputation of being objects that fulfilled soldiers' sexual appetite. The people of the ecclesiastical sector thought that Joan was an immoral woman because they knew “the sort of girl that is always talking to soldiers,” (Shaw, pg 52), hinting that women who lived with soldiers were there for pleasure only. Joan always acted in a respectable and honourable manner. She was a leader in battle and an inspiration.

Your social status also played a major role in determining how you were treated. Joan was a young, illiterate farm girl. . People in the Church and generals that Joan had met brushed her aside and believed that “people of this sort maybe of no account socially; but they can give a lot of bother to authorities,” (Shaw pg, 55). They dismissed her and did not take her seriously. In spite of all the odds against her: her gender and her social status she broke the rules and destroyed barriers, making herself a force to be heard and listened to. Joan was considered a threat by the authorities because she challenged their power and did not accept her assigned role. Joan passionately believed in the power of God and had little patience for others. Her allegiance was to God and because she believed that she was following his demands she wasn't willing to compromise her beliefs. This frightened Church and aristocrats of France and gave them a reason to execute her later.

“There is something about her,” (Shaw, pg 56) that everyone could sense. Joan's determination and force frightened people because they could not understand it. Her influence had a great impact on the Dauphin and on the soldiers in Tourraine. In Tourraine, she needed the soldiers to bring her to see the Dauphin. At first, they were all reluctant, but later many like Polly decided that she was worth the risk. Charles the Dauphin had been bullied because he had not stepped up to claim the throne. Everyone “bullies me. They all bully me,” (Shaw, pg 75) .Over a long period of time, Joan was able to “put courage into thee,” (Shaw, pg 76) and crowned the Dauphin.

The men of the Church felt threatened by Joan who proclaimed that “God is sending me to do,” (Shaw pg, 53) his work. The Archbishop believed that he was the one who was here to do God's work by the “authority of the Church and my sacred office,” (Shaw, pg 105) . Who was Joan and what connection did she have to God? She was only a poor, illiterate farm girl! She believed in her “voices” and wasn't going to be intimidated by anyone. She showed courage, strength and an unwillingness to be sidetracked in achieving her goal. Her strong convictions and unwavering faith frightened most people who could not understand her.

Joan was stubborn and would never let anyone dissuade her from her ultimate goal. Even when everyone doubted her she fought them until the end. Her mission had come from God and “god must be obeyed first,” (Shaw pg, 130). She would not let anyone stop her, even when her life was at risk. She fought the English as well as the people she helped. They ultimately prosecuted her and accused her of “witchery”. She was sentenced to life imprisonment with bread and water only. She would not tolerate this sentence; to be isolated from the world was far worse than dying. “Light your fire! Do you think I dread it as much as the life of a rat in a hole? My voices were right” (Shaw, pg 137). She knew that her cause was superior to her life and by agreeing to the Churches terms, her mission would be diminished. She understood that she needed to die, not only to end her misery, but to prove to the world that God was indeed almighty and that he was the only power and authority she would accept.

Joan was convinced in her mission to crown the Dauphin and drive the English out of France. She was an instrument of God and it was he whom she would obey. Her defiance and unwillingness to compromise made her an enemy to all. She broke rules, she frightened many people with her inexplainable abilities and she stood up for what she believed in. Joan understood what she had to do, and was not going to let anyone deter her. God was more important to her than any one else and that if she had to die if that was his plan. She is an inspiration.