The Wife of Martin Guerre
Encyclopedia
The Wife of Martin Guerre (first published 1941) is a short novel by an American
writer Janet Lewis
. The novel speculates how the life of Bertrande, Martin Guerre
’s wife, copes with exceptional circumstances in 16th century France
.
Eight years later, a stranger appears at the Guerre estate claiming to be Martin Guerre. The family receives him with open arms. Bertrande, however, has doubts about his identity. While he has many of her husband's physical characteristics, many of his personality traits are contrary to those of the Martin Guerre she knew. He justifies this transformation by claiming that his intervening experiences in war and the diversity of people whom he has encountered have changed him for the better.
Her suspicions remain despite much pressure from Martin, her family and the servants to maintain her silence. Bertrande, who believes that she is knowingly living in sin and will be condemned to an afterlife in hell, vows that the truth of his identity must be proven but lacks sufficient evidence with which to accuse the stranger. A soldier from Rochefort comes seeking hospitality with the claim of being an old army friend of Martin, but reacts with suspicion when he does not recognize the Martin Guerre currently living in the Guerre residence. The soldier's reaction gives Bertrande the evidence she needs to confess her doubts to her uncle, who convinces her to take legal action.
The initial court case in Rieux declares the stranger to be Arnaud de Tilh after many witnesses take the stand. However, Bertrande is unprepared for the verdict of the trial, which calls for the death of the impostor whom she loved. At the second trial in Toulouse, the jury declares that the man is indeed her husband, Martin Guerre, when a second man arrives, who bares a striking resemblance to Martin Guerre.
The second man claims to be the real Martin Guerre, and after gazing into his countenance, many of his family members cry out his name, recognizing the real Martin at once. The jury apologizes to Bertrande, and du Tilh is convicted of "...the several crimes of, falsehood, substitution of name and person, adultery, rape, sacrilege, plagiat, which is the detention of a person who properly belongs to another, and of larceny (Janet Lewis, The Wife of Martin Guerre p.109)".
Martin rejects Bertrande, saying, "Dry your tears, Madame. They cannot, and they ought not, move my pity. The example of my sisters and my uncle can be no excuse for you, Madame, who knew me better than any living soul. The error into which you plunged could only have been caused by willful blindness. You, and you only, Madame, are answerable for the dishonor which has befallen me. (Lewis, p.107)"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer Janet Lewis
Janet Lewis
Janet Loxley Lewis was an American novelist and poet.-Biography:Lewis was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was a graduate of the University of Chicago, where she was a member of a literary circle that included Glenway Wescott, Elizabeth Madox Roberts, and her future husband Yvor Winters...
. The novel speculates how the life of Bertrande, Martin Guerre
Martin Guerre
Martin Guerre, a French peasant of the 16th century, was at the center of a famous case of imposture. Several years after the man had left his wife, child, and village, a man claiming to be Guerre arrived. He lived with Guerre's wife and son for three years. The false Martin Guerre was tried,...
’s wife, copes with exceptional circumstances in 16th century France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Plot summary
In January 1539, two children, Martin Guerre and Bertrande de Rols, both eleven years of age, are married in the French village of Artigues. Invested in them are the dynastic hopes of two feudal peasant families for continues economic prosperity. They are groomed to take over the farming responsibilities of the Guerre family. In defiance of his father's absolute authority, Martin Guerre steals grain from his granary, plants it in an empty field. In order to avoid facing his father's violent rage, he decides to leave, and tells Bertrande that he will return in eight days once his father has had time to reflect and see that what Martin had done was for the good of the house. He leaves, and Bertrande waits, but he doesn't return.Eight years later, a stranger appears at the Guerre estate claiming to be Martin Guerre. The family receives him with open arms. Bertrande, however, has doubts about his identity. While he has many of her husband's physical characteristics, many of his personality traits are contrary to those of the Martin Guerre she knew. He justifies this transformation by claiming that his intervening experiences in war and the diversity of people whom he has encountered have changed him for the better.
Her suspicions remain despite much pressure from Martin, her family and the servants to maintain her silence. Bertrande, who believes that she is knowingly living in sin and will be condemned to an afterlife in hell, vows that the truth of his identity must be proven but lacks sufficient evidence with which to accuse the stranger. A soldier from Rochefort comes seeking hospitality with the claim of being an old army friend of Martin, but reacts with suspicion when he does not recognize the Martin Guerre currently living in the Guerre residence. The soldier's reaction gives Bertrande the evidence she needs to confess her doubts to her uncle, who convinces her to take legal action.
The initial court case in Rieux declares the stranger to be Arnaud de Tilh after many witnesses take the stand. However, Bertrande is unprepared for the verdict of the trial, which calls for the death of the impostor whom she loved. At the second trial in Toulouse, the jury declares that the man is indeed her husband, Martin Guerre, when a second man arrives, who bares a striking resemblance to Martin Guerre.
The second man claims to be the real Martin Guerre, and after gazing into his countenance, many of his family members cry out his name, recognizing the real Martin at once. The jury apologizes to Bertrande, and du Tilh is convicted of "...the several crimes of, falsehood, substitution of name and person, adultery, rape, sacrilege, plagiat, which is the detention of a person who properly belongs to another, and of larceny (Janet Lewis, The Wife of Martin Guerre p.109)".
Martin rejects Bertrande, saying, "Dry your tears, Madame. They cannot, and they ought not, move my pity. The example of my sisters and my uncle can be no excuse for you, Madame, who knew me better than any living soul. The error into which you plunged could only have been caused by willful blindness. You, and you only, Madame, are answerable for the dishonor which has befallen me. (Lewis, p.107)"