FREE ESSAY ON MARTIN GUERRE

MARTIN GUERRE

The Return of Martin Guerre
The story was based in the early 1550's, a young peasant, 
Martin Guerre from Artigat had left his wife Bertrande and their son Sanxi and their
inheritance to seek adventure in Spain as a mercenary. After leaving his family for
nearly nine years a man claiming to be Martin returns to the village to claim his wife
and land. Bertrande accepts the man as being her husband and they have another child
together. Martin has a dispute with Pierre over the management of the family estate and
ownership of the rents from Matins land during his absence. During their dispute a
passing by veteran had claimed that "Martin" is not who he claims to be. He said that
Martin had lost a leg at the battle of Saint Quentin and that he really was Arnaud de
Tihl from a neighboring village. Both Martin and Arnaud had soldered together in the war,
where they had became friends. The Guerre family was very divided over the story. Pierre
and his sons-in-law believe the soldier's story, and Pierres daughters and Bertrande
continue to believe "Martin" is Martin. As their case was being heard before a judge
(Coras), a man with a wooden leg enters the courtroom. The man enters right before the
judge was going to free him. The man claims to be Martin Guerre. The judges were then
forced to determine who the real Martin was. After having certain people look at them and
ask them both questions. They figured out that the man claiming to be "Martin" wasn't and
his name was Arnaud. He was convicted of being an imposter and later was executed for the
crime. Now the village had resolved the dispute.
How did Bertrande seek freedom?
Family- She was willing to go against her own family to seek a better, happier life. She
had lied about him being her husband, because she felt that Arnaud treated her better.
She wanted to be totally feed from her old marriage, and she wanted to be treated better
and have a better life with Arnaud and her son.
Village- She was willing and did go against half of the village to act like Arnauld was
her real husband. She lied to the village people and her own family to be freed from her
old marriage with Martin.
Gender- She was acquitted because the judge felt bad for her because she was tricked (at
least that is what they thought). He said women are often victims of a man's wickedness
and that is why the judge let her go. 
How did Arnaud seek freedom?
Family- Arnaud tried to seek freedom by saying he was "Martin" because he wanted to be
able to take the real Martins place and be the husband to his wife. He wanted to be free
and be able to have a new life with Betrande. He wanted to take Martins place and be free
of the life he lived previously.
Village- He went to the army to seek freedom from his village. 
That is when he met Martin and found out all about his family back home. Martin had
always talked about his wife and son. They were both soldiers together in the war. 
Gender- He was trying to be a man and a good husband to Bertrande even know he was living
a lie.
How did Martin seek freedom?
Family- He sought freedom by leaving his family and going to war. He had planned not to
come back. He ended up only coming back because his army had been stationed in his old
town and he had hears of his family being in court. He then went to the courtroom. 
Village- By going to Spain and fighting in the war. He wasn't going to come back. His
village brought him freedom by letting the judge know it was the real Martin Guerre. They
stood up for his freedom.
Gender- Martin couldn't bare children. When he was first married, a spell had been cast
on him. He felt he was a discrase to his wife because he wasn't able to perform. So he
left the town. He didn't feel like a real man.