Joan Of Arc Analysis

Not everyone loved her, however, the English called her a “blasphemous whore” and a “witch” (Castor, p.106). They laughed at the girl peasant and mocked her every chance they got. After a few victories the English no longer shouted obscenities but would not forget what she had done. They would get their revenge for the embarrassment she had caused them.
Stories of Joan’s bravery during battle are numerous and riveting. Several times Joan was injured during battle and she kept fighting (Castor, p.87). This was inspirational for her army who had been hopeless for so long, to be led by such a person of virtue, purity, and courage made them better warriors and better Frenchmen. Their loyalty for their leader grew as their number of victories grew.
But probably worse than being captured and sold was the lack of action by her people and King. After all she had done for them, they turned their backs on her. The ultimate betrayal was felt tenfold in a cold, lonely cell. However, even worse for Joan than the French not coming to her aid was her inability to go to church or confession. It can be assumed that the loneliness and hopelessness she felt was unimaginable.
The trial of Joan of Arc is well documented and detailed. It lasted approximately 5 months in which the last 2 months “she was under a merciless interrogation by theologians from the University of Paris. The charges against her were sorcery, wantonness, sedition, idolatry, blasphemy, heretical belief, superstitious practices and, most important, her refusal to accept the authority of the church” (Gossman, p.8). The severity of the interrogation shows an evil side of humanity, the way people (even religious people) can twist and contort words and actions to their benefit.
In the opening of the trial they began the
The cruelty and wicked manner the young girl was executed shows how misunderstood and hated she was by the English.
In the years following Joan of Arc’s execution her popularity grew. Every year in the town of Orléans her amazing feat of bringing the English to their knees in battle was celebrated. “Joan of Arc was made into a national martyr as well as a religious one” (Gossman p.5). The English could burn her body but her spirit would live on. In July of 1456, twenty five years after her cruel execution, Joan’s trial was found full of errors, deceit, and hatred and she was declared innocent of all charges (Castor, p.227).
That would not be the last heard of Joan of Arc as almost 500 years after her death she was recognized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. “Not many saints had been put to death by the judgement of the same Church that was asked to recognize their sanctity” (Castor, p.228). Finally the heroine of France, a girl who risked her life for her people would be enshrined in immortality and given the title patron of France. To this day, Catholics still pray to St. Joan of