“The Return of Martin Guerre” is a book that creates certain controversies in the understanding and analysis of people and historical events. It supposes alternatives that were not possibly considered at the time and raises doubt as to the correctness of the decisions that were made. It also makes the audience think of their own ways of behavior and attitudes in a situation that could be similar or cases that might indirectly relate to the actions taken. The true identity, beliefs and relationships are analyzed and a perspective is created where the standards of the society and personal opinions are put to the test.
The book describes times that are much different from the present and Davis logically mentions that “there is a contrast in our mental habits, cognitive styles, and moral tone.” (Davis 574). It tells the story of a woman who has been left by her husband but then he returns and it seems that there are some doubts about his true identity. People wonder if it is really Martin Guerre and the imposter is kept under suspicion, even though Bertrande defends him and believes that he is her husband. The thesis of the book is on true beliefs of a person and the views of the society. Bertrande has been persistent with her own thinking and beliefs. In comparison, Davis says that it is “an exploration of the problem of truth and doubt: of the difficulty in determining true identity in the sixteenth century…” (Davis 572). The positive side of the book is that the truth comes out in the end. Even when there is much deceit, people can hope for the justice and courts that are dedicated to finding the truth. Also it proves that the court system works and at trial it is possible to find out the true identity of the imposter and set things right. It is a warning that justice prevails. The negative part is that a woman was inattentive enough to mistake another man for her husband. As Davis states “the judge uses to account for Bertrand’s being tricked is a standard legal formula, one that draws on long-term cultural definitions of male and female…” (Davis 594). This argument is very effective because it represent the way the society treated women and how women were involuntarily directed to protect their own words, views and way of thinking. It is possible to suppose that Bertrand’s defense of the imposter husband was a form of rebellion against the society and its laws. The book represents doubt that the society and Bertrande has which eventually, ends with a trial and the discovery of the imposter’s true identity. As Finlay mentions, it is possible that Bertrande “played a double role”, so that she would be one person to her relatives and the public and completely different to herself and new found husband (Finlay 556).
When looking at this historical case from afar, it is clear that everyone participating in the events had clear reasons for doing whatever they did. The fact that Bertrande did live with an impostor for so long proves that she chose to accept the man as her husband. Her reasons, either pure or not, are not really important because the outcome was the same and thus, no one was guilty of deception except herself in relation to her own person.
Works Cited
Davis, Natalie. “On the Lame”. The American Historical Review 93.3 (1988): 572-603. Print.
Finlay, Robert. “The Refashioning of Martin Guerre”. The American Historical Review 93.3 (1988): 553-571. Print.