Identity In The Return Of Martin Guerre

Beliefs are usually created during the path through childhood, ultimately impacting one’s viewpoints. Natalie Zemon Davis, a Princeton University history professor, writes a detailed exploration of peasant identity through the novel The Return of Martin Guerre. Her goal is to create a descriptive picture of Artigat, a southern French town in 1550, which ultimately shapes the character’s sentiments. This novel is a reenactment of the well-known case of identity theft involving Martin Guerre, a man absent from Artigat for the past eight years. Martin’s imposter, Arnaud du Tilh, assumes the role of a husband, ultimately becoming an heir to the estate. As the story progresses, Arnaud has financial problems thus raising suspicion among family members

The story of Martin Guerre shows the various possibilities that people use to modify their identity to fit in socially while generating great wealth. Even peasants sometimes stole other identities or altered their own to succeed in their society. Bertrande and Arnaud’s fictitious marriage shows their way of creating a unique, new identity. Originally, the marriage of Bertrande and Martin was not one formed out of love but rather as a business arrangement to help elevate the social status of the two families. Despite being abandoned by her husband, Bertrande actually retains her original identity. Bertrande de Rols does this by not remarrying and living with standards, demonstrating her respect for the social graces and even for her reappeared husband. She is seen as loyal while living with her mother and even later as she stands by Arnaud’s side, cleansing him as he is sentenced to jail. In this impactful novel, one’s identity is a necessity to finding true purpose in life. To become part of the community, the people of this society must leave the label of an outsider since “Outsider status affected community identity but could be overcome. No one was initially included unless they adapted new Languedoc ways (Davis 14).” Residents of this town could improve their status by educating themselves in the unique traditions and language of their town. For example,

Seventeenth-century France’s justice system takes into account both financial and religious influences. The rules of the Catholic Church affect the character of the people, imploring them to tell the truth. This directly impacts Bertrande and her marriage. The action of forging one’s identity also causes legal ramifications. Society charges that Bertrande actually has a realization that Arnaud were, in fact, an impostor from the very beginning. Their efforts to live in a pretend marriage are the basis of the accusations. The crime he is being tried for is adultery and the theft of another person’s identity. Since the trials utilize the local language, the peasants are able to understand and gain access to the justice system, becoming intimately involved in legal disputes. Davis uses a variety of methods in his novel to establish evidence of Martin’s identity. The court questions the defendant repeatedly till he finally confesses. To be certain, they feel that “you could consider special marks on his face and body, but their significance could only be established by witnesses who recollected the person earlier”(Davis 63). The witnesses are expected to have detailed visual recollections. The justice committee is influenced by legitimate identities within a specific community but also strives to provide a fair trial. The reader can relate this