The Return Of Martin Guerre Analysis

Several individuals in this course displayed ideas that were different from the norm in their society. The dominant group or worldview in their society marginalized them, but they found ways to defy the dominant group or they created an alternative environment where they could pursue their goals without being affected by others. These individuals have utilized the past to base their actions for the goal of transforming the social order, however, there were problems that arose from the usage of the past. In The Return of Martin Guerre, Bertrande de Rols used her unfruitful marriage to start a new life based on her own choices, but her past life became mediated by the law and she could not continue her masked story when the truth was evident.

Bertrande de Rols and Martin Guerre got married for the benefit of their families (Davis 17). Bertrande and Martin were not interested in each other, which caused their relationship to be so unfulfilling that the village began to humiliate them for their lack of conceiving a child (Davis 20). Bertrande also had to face Artigat customs, which were made in favor of men. For example, the marriage contract was based on the husband’s wishes and a woman expected to be “a good farm wife” (Davis 31). Despite the terrible experience with Martin, she refused “to have her marriage dissolved,” which in turn did not lead to another arranged marriage and “wifely duties” (Davis 28). Thus, her terrible experience with Martin influenced her to make the best out of the marriage and to keep a virtuous reputation. Her actions allowed her to have more personal choice and time to enjoy the life she lost at an early age, because she did not try to conceive with Martin for some

They all great intentions and some had positive results; nevertheless, there were problems that arose from the usage of the past. Bertrande used her isolation during her failed marriage with Martin Guerre as a basis to seek a better life with Arnaud, but her usage of the past eventually helped Marti regain everything he left behind. Bertrande had to accept the true Martin Guerre or else she would be isolated from society once again, because she would have been seen as committing adultery. Heda used her past memories in concentration camps and in her husband’s trial to expose the truth about communism in Czechoslovakia. However, she did not apply the idea of truth to everyone and instead shielded her son from the truth in order for him not to become known as the son of a supposed traitor. Havel also used his memories in communist Czechoslovakia to write about what its citizens should do to overrule the party. He suggested that people should take down the communist propaganda signs off their shops in order to break their weak foundation based on fear. Nonetheless, Havel does not explain how the truth could prevail if it would also have a weak foundation; the truth has a weak foundation because everyone would have to follow it, which could be a difficult task for a large population. Bertrande, Kovály, and Havel demonstrated that actions