SEMINAR PAPER 602

A TRIAL OF VOICES AND COURAGE IN 'SAINT JOAN'

SUBMITTED BY: ASHI PANDEY

3rd YEAR, 6th SEMESTER

UID: SF0122013

FACULTY IN CHARGE: MS. NUPUR SINHA

SUBMITTED ON: 27th MAY, 2025

NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY AND JUDICIAL ACADEMY, ASSAM

Table of Contents
I. Introduction........................................................................................................................2

1. LITERATURE REVIEW...............................................................................................2

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES............................................................................................3

3. SCOPE AND LIMITATION..........................................................................................4

4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS............................................................................................5

5. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................5

II. The Voices – Divine or Delusional?...................................................................................6

III. JOAN’S COURAGE IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION..............................................9

IV. The Trial – Clash of Faith and Authority.........................................................................13

V. The Tragic Victory...........................................................................................................15

VI. References....................................................................................................................17
 I. INTRODUCTION
"Saint Joan" by George Bernard Shaw offers a compelling case study for feminist
jurisprudence and literary criticism through the dramatization of Joan of Arc's trial. The play
starkly portrays the silencing of women's voices within patriarchal legal and religious
systems. Joan's claim of divine inspiration, the very source of her authority, is dismissed and
criminalized by a male-dominated court unable to comprehend or validate her unique
experience1. Her assertive leadership and defiance of traditional gender roles are perceived as
threats to the established order, leading to her condemnation2.

From a feminist literary perspective, Joan emerges as a powerful heroine who challenges
conventional representations of women. Her courage and conviction, fuelled by her "voices,"
highlight the significance of female agency and the tragic consequences of its suppression in
a patriarchal world. The play intricately weaves together gender, religion, and power,
exposing the intersecting forces that marginalize women who dare to defy societal norms.
Joan's trial and martyrdom serve as a potent symbol of the historical struggle for women's
voices to be heard and their courage to be recognized, resonating with contemporary feminist
concerns about equality and the dismantling of patriarchal structures3.

This project aims at understanding the relationship between Saint Joan’s ‘voices’ and her
conscience or courage which lead to furthering the plot of the play.

1. LITERATURE REVIEW
George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan is a dramatic reinterpretation of the life and trial of Joan
of Arc, portraying her as a visionary whose spiritual convictions challenge the political and
ecclesiastical hierarchies of her time. Shaw’s Joan is not a saint in the traditional
hagiographic sense but a proto-modern individualist—assertive, rational, and morally
steadfast. She is guided by divine voices that give her both purpose and extraordinary
courage. Yet these same voices become the basis for her persecution and eventual execution
by the Church and state.

Shaw uses the trial scene to critique the rigidity of institutional authority and the dangers of
suppressing dissenting voices. Joan’s condemnation is portrayed not as a consequence of

1
The Urban Escapist, The Incredible Story of Joan of Arc in 5 Points, The Urban Escapist (May 12, 2023),
[Link]
2
SparkNotes Editors, Joan of Arc Study Guide: Study Questions, SparkNotes,
[Link]
3
Joan of Arc Project, Joan of Arc: Feminist Leader, Prophet, Influence to All, Joan of Arc Project,
[Link]
doctrinal failure but as a tragic miscarriage of justice—a failure of law and faith to
accommodate individual experience. Her courage in confronting these powers is central to
the narrative, rendering her death both a literal defeat and a symbolic victory.

Through the lens of literary analysis, Shaw’s work highlights the conflict between
institutional orthodoxy and personal conviction, especially when the latter is voiced by a
woman. Joan’s challenge to gender norms and religious dogma positions her as a disruptive
figure in a deeply hierarchical society, making her story resonate strongly with feminist
readings of martyrdom and resistance.

Carol Smart’s Feminism and the Power of Law provides a critical feminist analysis of how
law operates not as a neutral or objective institution but as a cultural force that reproduces
and reinforces patriarchal power. Smart challenges the idea that the legal system is capable of
delivering justice to women, arguing instead that it systematically marginalizes female voices
and experiences. She contends that women’s legal subjectivity is often constructed through
categories such as victim, deviant, or irrational, which serve to exclude them from full legal
recognition.

In the context of Saint Joan, Smart’s critique helps illuminate how Joan of Arc’s trial reflects
broader patterns of gendered legal repression. The law, as portrayed in the play, becomes a
mechanism of control—used not to determine truth but to delegitimize Joan’s spiritual and
political authority. Her divine voices, and the courage she derives from them, are
pathologized and criminalized, echoing Smart’s argument that legal discourse often silences
female agency in the name of order and rationality.

Thus, Smart’s work provides a vital framework for understanding the intersection of gender,
law, and voice in Saint Joan, particularly through the lens of feminist jurisprudence. Her
insights show that Joan’s persecution is not merely religious or political, but profoundly
gendered.

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Aims

1. To critically examine the representation of Joan's divine voices and their role in
shaping her identity and actions.

2. To explore the theme of courage in the face of institutional authority, with a focus on
gender, power, and justice.
 3. To analyse the legal and moral dimensions of Joan’s trial through the lens of feminist
jurisprudence, highlighting how her courage subverts traditional gender roles and
redefines female agency within a male-dominated judicial and religious system.

Objectives

1. To investigate how Shaw’s portrayal of Joan challenges traditional legal and religious
narratives that historically suppress women’s authority.
2. To critically assess the broader implications of Joan’s trial for modern feminist legal
discourse, particularly concerning women's credibility and autonomy in legal systems.
3. To evaluate the trial scene as a critical intersection of law, gender, and power, using
feminist jurisprudence to interrogate the legitimacy and function of legal authority in
the play.
4. To examine Joan’s courage as a form of resistance against institutional oppression,
particularly from a feminist legal perspective.

3. SCOPE AND LIMITATION

Scope

This project explores the interplay between Joan of Arc’s divine voices and her acts of
courage as dramatized in George Bernard Shaw’s play Saint Joan. The analysis focuses on
how Joan’s spiritual experiences and bravery confront institutional authority, particularly the
Church and patriarchal legal systems. The scope includes a literary and feminist
jurisprudential reading of the trial, evaluating how Shaw represents gender, power, and justice
through Joan’s character. The study also considers the implications of Joan’s narrative for
understanding the historical marginalization of women’s voices and legal subjectivity.

Limitation

The study is limited to George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan and does not include other literary
or historical portrayals of Joan of Arc. It focuses on thematic and symbolic interpretations
rather than verifying historical accuracy. Religious or theological analyses of Joan’s voices
are beyond the scope of this project.

4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. How does George Bernard Shaw’s depiction of Joan of Arc subvert traditional legal
and religious narratives that have historically marginalized female authority and
spiritual autonomy?
2. In what ways does the trial of Joan in Saint Joan reflect broader patterns of gendered
legal bias, and how can it inform contemporary feminist critiques of women’s
credibility within judicial systems?

3. How does the trial scene in Saint Joan illustrate the intersection of law, gender, and
power, and what insights can feminist jurisprudence offer into the legitimacy of the
legal process portrayed?

4. To what extent does Joan’s defiance during interrogation and sentencing serve as a
literary representation of feminist resistance to patriarchal oppression?

5. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1. Approach to Research: In this project doctrinal research was involved. Doctrinal
Research is a type of research in which secondary sources are used and materials are
collected from libraries, archives, etc. Books, journals, articles, web sources were
used while making this project.
2. Types of Research: Explanatory type of research was used in this project, because the
project topic was not relatively new and unheard of.
3. Sources of Data collection: Secondary source of data collection was used which
involves in collection of data from books, articles, websites, etc. No surveys or case
studies were conducted.
 II. THE VOICES – DIVINE OR DELUSIONAL?
George Bernard Shaw’s “Saint Joan” hinges on the enigmatic presence of Joan of Arc’s
“voices,” ethereal guides that propel her from an obscure peasant girl to a pivotal figure in
French history. The play deliberately leaves the origin of these voices ambiguous, fuelling a
central tension between the rational scepticism of the established order and Joan’s
unwavering faith in their divine nature. Examining the role and significance of these voices,
whether interpreted as divine inspiration or psychological delusion, reveals profound insights
into themes of faith, authority, individual conviction, and the tragic fate of those who
challenge the status quo.

The voices serve as the primary catalyst for Joan’s extraordinary journey. They are not mere
auditory hallucinations; for Joan, they possess distinct identities – Saint Michael, Saint
Margaret, and Saint Catherine – offering specific guidance and bolstering her resolve. It is
these voices that command her to go to the Dauphin, to raise the siege of Orléans, and to
crown Charles VII4. Without the unwavering conviction instilled by these internal
pronouncements, Joan, a young and uneducated woman, would likely have remained within
the confines of her rural existence. The voices empower her to transcend societal limitations
and to confidently assert her divinely ordained mission in the face of scepticism and ridicule 5.
They provide her with an unshakeable sense of purpose, a courage that confounds her
contemporaries and allows her to command armies and influence political decisions.

Furthermore, the voices become the bedrock of Joan’s authority. In a world governed by
hierarchical structures and tradition, her legitimacy stems not from noble birth or military
training, but from her direct connection to the divine. She consistently refers to the voices as
her counsel and her ultimate authority, positioning herself as a conduit for a higher power.
This divine mandate challenges the authority of the Church and the State, both of which
derive their power from established doctrines and earthly hierarchies. The scepticism
surrounding the origin of her voices thus becomes intertwined with the anxieties of those in
power who perceive her claims as a direct threat to their own legitimacy. The trial scene, in
particular, becomes a battleground over the interpretation of these voices – are they the
whispers of God or the fabrications of a deluded mind?

4
Joan of Arc, [Link], [Link] (last visited May 25, 2025).
5
10 Incredible Facts About Joan of Arc, [Link], [Link]
(last visited May 25, 2025).
Shaw masterfully avoids definitively resolving the origin of Joan’s voices, allowing for
multiple interpretations6. The sceptical characters within the play, such as Cauchon and
Warwick, readily dismiss them as delusions, products of a fervent imagination or even
demonic influence. They operate within a rational framework that struggles to accommodate
the mystical or the unconventional. From this perspective, Joan’s unwavering belief in her
voices can be seen as a form of religious fanaticism, a dangerous deviation from established
dogma that threatens social order. This interpretation aligns with the historical context of the
trial, where accusations of heresy often stemmed from deviations in belief and claims of
direct divine communication outside the sanctioned channels of the Church.

However, the play also presents compelling arguments for the potential divinity of the voices.
Joan’s remarkable successes on the battlefield, her strategic acumen, and her unwavering
moral conviction seem to transcend her background and experience. Her ability to inspire and
unite the French forces, to instil in them a sense of divine purpose, could be attributed to the
genuine conviction born from a profound spiritual experience. Shaw, through Joan’s
steadfastness and the awe she inspires in some characters, hints at the possibility that her
connection to the divine is real, even if incomprehensible to the rational mind. The Epilogue
further complicates this, suggesting a cyclical pattern of humanity’s rejection of its saints and
visionaries, regardless of the source of their inspiration.

The ambiguity surrounding the voices’ origin serves to highlight the fundamental conflict
between faith and reason, the mystical and the material. Shaw, a Fabian socialist with a
pragmatic worldview, was not necessarily advocating for the literal divinity of Joan’s voices.
Instead, shaw may have been using voices as a metaphor for the power of individual
conviction, the ability of a singular vision to challenge established norms and inspire
profound social change. Whether the voices are divine or delusional becomes less important
than the impact they have on Joan and the world around her as They represent the potent
force of an individual who dares to believe in something beyond the tangible, who possesses
an inner certainty that defies logical explanation.

Ultimately, the significance of the voices in “Saint Joan” lies in their capacity to illuminate
the complexities of human experience and the enduring tension between the individual and
society. They force the audience to confront questions about the nature of faith, the limits of

6
Saint Joan, EnglishFresher, [Link] (last visited May 25,
2025).
reason, and the price often paid by those who dare to follow their own inner guidance,
regardless of its perceived origin. Joan’s tragedy is not simply her martyrdom, but the
inability of her world to comprehend or accept the source of her strength and conviction.
Whether divine whispers or the potent manifestations of an unwavering belief, the voices
propel Joan to greatness and ultimately to her demise, leaving behind a powerful testament to
the transformative and often perilous power of individual vision. The play suggests that the
world often struggles to accommodate those who operate on a different plane of
understanding, forever caught between the desire for the extraordinary and the fear of the
unconventional.
 III. JOAN’S COURAGE IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION
"I am not afraid... I was born to do this."

Such were the courageous words of the revered Saint Joan when faced with travesty. “Saint
Joan” stands as a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of a woman who dared to defy
the patriarchal structures of her time. Through the lens of feminist literary criticism, Joan’s
courage in the face of relentless opposition emerges not merely as personal bravery, but as a
radical act of female agency in a world determined to silence and subjugate her. The play
meticulously portrays the multifaceted nature of this opposition – political, religious, and
social – and Joan’s unwavering resolve in confronting each challenge, solidifying her as a
potent symbol of female resistance and a figure ripe for feminist interpretation.

The initial opposition Joan faces stems from the ingrained scepticism and condescension
directed towards women in positions of power. When she arrives at the court of the Dauphin
Charles, she is met with disbelief and mockery. The male courtiers, steeped in traditional
notions of female inferiority, struggle to take her seriously. Her youth, her peasant
background, and most significantly, her gender, serve as immediate barriers to her
acceptance. Dunois, a seasoned military leader, initially views her with amusement,
questioning her capabilities based solely on her sex. This early opposition highlights the
deeply entrenched patriarchal assumptions that limited women’s roles and denied their
potential for leadership. Joan’s courage in this context lies in her unwavering self-belief and
her refusal to be intimidated by the dismissive attitudes of these powerful men. She speaks
with conviction, undeterred by their scepticism, and her genuine faith and compelling vision
gradually begin to erode their initial resistance, showcasing the power of female assertion
against ingrained prejudice.

As Joan’s influence grows and her military successes mount, the opposition shifts and
intensifies, becoming more overtly political and religious. The English, threatened by her
effectiveness in rallying the French forces, view her not just as an enemy combatant but as an
unnatural anomaly, a woman stepping outside her prescribed role and disrupting the
established order of warfare. Their opposition is fuelled by a fear of female power and a
desire to restore the patriarchal status quo. Similarly, the French nobility, while initially
benefiting from her leadership, grow wary of her independent spirit and her direct connection
to what they perceive as a higher authority, bypassing their own traditional power structures.
Their opposition stems from a desire to maintain their control and privilege, threatened by a
woman who owes her allegiance not to them but to her divine mission. Joan’s courage in
navigating this complex political landscape is evident in her unwavering focus on her goal –
the liberation of France – despite the growing suspicion and manoeuvring against her. She
remains steadfast in her convictions, refusing to compromise her principles even when faced
with the shifting allegiances and self-serving interests of the ruling class7.

The most formidable opposition Joan encounters is religious, embodied by the Church and its
representatives, particularly Bishop Cauchon and the Inquisitor. Their opposition is rooted in
the perceived heresy of her claims of direct divine communication 8. In a society where
religious authority held immense sway, Joan’s “voices” are seen as a dangerous challenge to
the established doctrines and the Church’s role as the sole interpreter of God’s will. Cauchon,
driven by political motivations and a genuine belief in the sanctity of Church authority, views
Joan as a threat to the very fabric of religious and social order 9. The trial becomes a carefully
orchestrated attempt to discredit her, to force her to recant her beliefs and submit to the
authority of the male-dominated Church.

It is in the face of this religious persecution that Joan’s courage shines most brilliantly
through a feminist lens. She stands alone against a panel of learned men, theologians and
legal experts, who attempt to entrap her with theological arguments and legalistic jargon. Her
responses, often simple yet profoundly insightful, reveal a deep-seated faith and an
unwavering commitment to her truth, even when faced with the threat of excommunication
and death.10 Her refusal to deny her voices, the very source of her strength and agency, is a
powerful act of resistance against patriarchal religious authority that historically sought to
control women’s spiritual lives and interpretations of the divine 11. Her courage lies not in a
defiance of God, but in her insistence on her own direct relationship with the divine,
bypassing the male intermediaries of the Church. This can be interpreted as a radical assertion
of female spiritual autonomy, a refusal to have her experiences and beliefs dictated by male
interpretations of religious doctrine.

7
Joan of Arc - Catholic Saints Day, [Link], [Link] (last visited
May 25, 2025).
8
Joan of Arc. Warrior, Military Leader (c. 1412–1431), Britannica, [Link]
of-Arc (last visited May 25, 2025).
9
LitCharts Editors, Peter (Pierre) Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais Character Analysis in Saint Joan, LitCharts,
[Link] (last visited May 25, 2025).
10
About St. Joan of Arc - Patron Saint Article, Catholic Online, [Link]
saint_id=48 (last visited May 25, 2025).
11
Katherine Roberts, The History Girls: Did Joan of Arc Hear the Voice of God?, The History Girls Blog,
[Link] (last visited May 25, 2025).
Furthermore, Joan’s courage extends to her unwavering adherence to her own moral compass,
even when it clashes with the pragmatic and often cynical considerations of the men around
her. She insists on just and honourable conduct in warfare, challenging the brutal realities of
medieval conflict. Her refusal to compromise her principles, even when advised to do so for
political expediency, highlights a moral strength that transcends gender stereotypes. In a
patriarchal society that often-associated women with emotionality and irrationality, Joan
embodies a steadfast and principled form of leadership, driven by her inner convictions rather
than external pressures.

Through a feminist literary analysis, Joan’s courage can also be seen as a powerful disruption
of traditional gender roles. She actively transgresses the boundaries of acceptable female
behaviour, taking on roles traditionally reserved for men – those of military leader and
political influencer12. Her courage lies not just in her physical bravery on the battlefield, but
in her audacity to step outside the domestic sphere and to assert her agency in the public
realm. Her very existence challenges the patriarchal construct that confined women to
subordinate positions.13 Her unwavering commitment to her mission, despite the constant
attempts to confine her back to traditional female roles, serves as a powerful act of defiance
against societal expectations.14

The tragic ending of the play, where Joan is condemned and burned at the stake, does not
diminish her courage but rather underscores the brutal consequences faced by women who
dared to challenge patriarchal power structures. Her martyrdom becomes a stark reminder of
the historical silencing and persecution of women who asserted their autonomy and refused to
conform. However, Shaw’s Epilogue offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting the enduring
power of Joan’s spirit and the eventual recognition of her sainthood. This posthumous
vindication, though ironic in its timing, acknowledges the transformative impact of her
courage and the ultimate triumph of her unwavering conviction over the forces of oppression.

In conclusion, Joan’s courage in “Saint Joan,” viewed through a feminist literary lens,
transcends mere bravery. It represents a radical act of female agency, a steadfast refusal to be
silenced or subjugated by the multifaceted opposition she faces. Her defiance of patriarchal

12
‘Imagining Joan of Arc’ Honors Saint, Women’s History Month, University of St. Thomas Newsroom (Mar. 15,
2023), [Link]
13
Charlotte Roscoe, Joan of Arc: A Military Leader Who Transcended Gender Roles, Manchester Historian (Mar.
2021), [Link]
14
Unveiling the Legend of Joan of Arc: A Beacon of Hope in Medieval France, Saving Castles,
[Link] (last visited May 25, 2025).
assumptions, her challenge to religious authority, her unwavering moral compass, and her
transgression of traditional gender roles all contribute to her portrayal as a powerful symbol
of female resistance. Joan’s unflinching flame, ignited by her inner conviction, burns brightly
even in the face of overwhelming opposition, leaving an enduring legacy of courage that
continues to resonate with feminist struggles for equality and empowerment. Shaw’s play
serves not just as a historical drama, but as a timeless exploration of the courage required for
women to claim their voices and challenge the structures that seek to contain them.
 IV. THE TRIAL – CLASH OF FAITH AND AUTHORITY
From my vantage point in the trial chamber, I stand not merely accused but profoundly
misunderstood — a woman whose faith and voice have defied the rigid, male-dominated
structures of church and state. The tribunal’s attempt to silence me is not just a legal
proceeding; it is a violent assertion of patriarchal authority seeking to suppress a woman who
dares to claim spiritual agency and political power.15

Sandra Lee Bartky in Femininity and Domination: Studies in the Phenomenology of Oppression
extrapolates her thoughts on the similar lines when she states--- In this trial, I am caught in a fierce
clash between two forces: my divine calling, manifested through the voices I hear, and the
institutional authority determined to control and negate that calling. The men who judge me,
cloaked in their ecclesiastical robes and armed with the law, embody a legal system that is
fundamentally patriarchal. Their jurisprudence is not blind justice but a mechanism to
preserve male dominance, where the law is wielded as a weapon against women who
challenge societal norms.16

Feminist jurisprudence reveals that the law, far from being neutral, often reflects and
reinforces gender hierarchies. Here, my trial epitomizes how the legal system marginalizes
women’s voices and experiences. Martha Albertson Fineman in The Neutered Mother, the Sexual
Family and Other Twentieth Century Tragedies also gathers from her viewpoint when she states----
My visions — interpreted by others as madness or heresy — are dismissed because they
originate from a woman who steps outside traditional gender roles. In this courtroom, my
spiritual insight is invalidated not based on its truth but on my gender and the threat I pose to
established power.17

Shaw crafts this trial as a microcosm of the broader societal conflict: the individual’s inner
truth versus institutional control. This character challenges the binaries of rationality and
irrationality, sanity and madness, faith and heresy. I embody the radical notion that a woman
can be a bearer of divine truth, a warrior, and a leader — roles historically reserved for men.
The trial is not just a judgment of my actions but an indictment of the possibility that a
woman might possess such agency.18

15
Carol Smart, Feminism and the Power of Law 45 (2d ed. 2011).
16
Sandra Lee Bartky, Femininity and Domination: Studies in the Phenomenology of Oppression 78 (1990).
17
Martha Albertson Fineman, The Neutered Mother, the Sexual Family and Other Twentieth Century Tragedies
102 (1995).
18
George Bernard Shaw, Saint Joan 120 (Penguin Classics 2001).
Throughout the trial, the interrogators attempt to break me by questioning my voices and my
courage. But in feminist terms, this is an effort to enforce conformity through coercion, to
deny the legitimacy of a woman’s spiritual and intellectual autonomy. My refusal to recant is
an act of resistance against the gendered expectations imposed upon me — an assertion that
courage and conviction are not the sole province of men.19

Moreover, the trial highlights how patriarchal institutions often co-opt religion and law to
maintain their control. The church, ostensibly a spiritual authority, becomes an instrument of
oppression, silencing a woman who challenges its monopoly on divine truth. My trial exposes
the contradictions within religious and legal authority when confronted with a woman’s
power.20

From my viewpoint, the trial is a tragic but nonetheless is a necessary confrontation. It

reveals the limits of male-dominated power structures and the courage required to confront
them. My fate is a testament to the cost women pay for defying societal norms but also a
beacon for those who dare to claim their voices.

In sum, through feminist jurisprudence and literary analysis, my trial emerges as a profound
commentary on the gendered nature of authority, the suppression of female agency, and the
enduring struggle for women’s spiritual and political autonomy. It is not merely a historical or
dramatic event but a continuing challenge to systems that seek to silence women’s voices. 21

19
Carole Pateman, The Sexual Contract 34 (1988).
20
Susan Moller Okin, Justice, Gender, and the Family 59 (1989).
21
Elaine Showalter, A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Brontë to Lessing 15 (1977).
 V. THE TRAGIC VICTORY
From Joan’s perspective, The Tragic Victory—her trial and execution—stands not just as a
historical end but as the culmination of a deeply gendered battle for authority, voice, and
justice. As a woman who defied 15th-century patriarchal norms, Joan’s courage to claim
divine inspiration and political influence challenged the established legal and religious order,
making her a prime subject for feminist jurisprudence.

Joan’s voice was not merely prophetic; it was revolutionary. The trial was a performative
silencing orchestrated by male authorities threatened by a woman’s claim to spiritual and
political power. Feminist legal theory critiques such trials as manifestations of patriarchal
control mechanisms, where the law is used not to seek truth, but to suppress female agency
and autonomy. Joan’s condemnation on charges of heresy and witchcraft exemplifies how
legal discourse historically delegitimized women’s knowledge and experiences, especially
when they transgressed gendered boundaries.22

In literary terms, Shaw’s Saint Joan portrays Joan’s execution as a tragic victory. While Joan
physically succumbs to patriarchal power, her spirit and courage symbolize the subversion of
normative structures. From Joan’s point of view, death is a paradoxical triumph—a
martyrdom that ultimately questions the legitimacy of the laws that condemned her. Her
unwavering faith in her voices and mission contrasts with the church’s corrupt authority,
highlighting the intersection of gender, power, and ideology.23

Joan’s trial can also be analysed through feminist literary criticism, which foregrounds how
women’s stories are mediated through male perspectives. Shaw gives Joan a powerful voice
on stage, but the trial reveals the systemic violence inflicted on women who dare to transcend
socially prescribed roles. Joan’s tragic victory thus critiques not only medieval injustice but
also the ongoing marginalization of female subjectivity in legal and literary narratives. 24

From Joan’s viewpoint, her execution embodies a legal system that criminalizes female
autonomy under the guise of preserving moral and religious order. The charges of heresy
mask a fear of a woman who claims authority outside patriarchal approval. Feminist
22
Catharine A. MacKinnon, Feminism Unmodified: Discourses on Life and Law 25–30 (1987).
23
George Bernard Shaw, Saint Joan act 4 (1906).
24
Elaine Showalter, A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Brontë to Lessing 125 (1977).
jurisprudence exposes this trial as less about Joan’s “voices” and more about controlling the
threat posed by her gendered power.25

the enduring legacy of Joan’s courage transforms her from a victim into a symbol of
resistance. Her tragic death ignites future feminist discourses on women’s rights to speak, act,
and challenge oppressive systems. Joan’s narrative invites modern audiences to question the
complicity of law and literature in perpetuating gender hierarchies and to envision a justice
system that honours women’s agency and truth claims.26

CONCLUSION In The Tragic Victory chapter,

to sum it all up--- Joan’s trial and execution reveal the gendered nature of medieval law and
authority through feminist jurisprudence. Joan’s voices, representing her divine mission,
clash with patriarchal structures that use legal mechanisms to silence and control female
autonomy. The trial’s charges of heresy and witchcraft reflect how the legal system
historically suppressed women who defied societal roles. Literary analysis highlights Joan’s
execution as a tragic yet symbolic victory, exposing systemic violence against women in both
law and narrative. Joan’s martyrdom critiques the corruption and fear within male-dominated
institutions while inspiring feminist thought on women’s rights to speak and act freely. Her
story urges re-evaluation of how legal and literary frameworks marginalize female voices,
advocating for justice systems that respect women’s agency. Joan’s tragic victory thus
transforms her from victim to enduring symbol of resistance against patriarchal oppression.

25
Robin West, Jurisprudence and Gender 50 (1997).
26
Martha Fineman, The Neutered Mother, the Sexual Family and Other Twentieth Century Tragedies 45 (1995).
 VI. REFERENCES
Primary Sources

1. Shaw, George Bernard. Saint Joan: A Chronicle Play in Six Scenes and an Epilogue.
London: Constable & Company, 1924.

Secondary Sources

2. MacKinnon, Catharine A. Feminism Unmodified: Discourses on Life and Law.

Harvard University Press, 1987.
3. West, Robin. “Jurisprudence and Gender.” University of Chicago Law Review 55, no.
1 (1988): 1–72.
4. Fineman, Martha Albertson. The Neutered Mother, the Sexual Family and Other
Twentieth Century Tragedies. Routledge, 1995.
5. Smart, Carol. Feminism and the Power of Law. Routledge, 1989.
6. Showalter, Elaine. A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Brontë to
Lessing. Princeton University Press, 1977.
7. Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer
and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination. Yale University Press, 1979.