Slightly's review
Saint Joan
by George Bernard Shaw
Slightly's review
Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw
Slightly's review
rating:
recommended for: Arthurian lovers
Most Joan of Arc stories are rather one sided. They clothe Joan in a white hat and the Inquisitors in black hats. the plot turns into a rather bland "hero's journey". Shaw doesn't do that.
He looked at the story through a sympathetic lens. It was refreshing to catch myself agreeing with the "bad guys". When Joan came face to face with her judge and jury, I could feel the conflict within some of the jury members regarding Joan's status as Saint or Witch.
I feel like Shaw was using this story as a springboard for contemplating the ideals of Protestantism(the singular) vs Catholicism(the unified) and problems the come from obedience to a human system of law. Honestly, how do we know that Joan wasn't hearing demons instead of angels?
He looked at the story through a sympathetic lens. It was refreshing to catch myself agreeing with the "bad guys". When Joan came face to face with her judge and jury, I could feel the conflict within some of the jury members regarding Joan's status as Saint or Witch.
I feel like Shaw was using this story as a springboard for contemplating the ideals of Protestantism(the singular) vs Catholicism(the unified) and problems the come from obedience to a human system of law. Honestly, how do we know that Joan wasn't hearing demons instead of angels?
