"I was Joan of Arc in my former life..."
For those of you who are popular culture products of the eighties, the infamous nightclub scene from the film Coming to America starring Eddie Murphy still get's a chuckle. The creepy cloaked sister with a deep voice and bic flame held under the palm of her hand was enough to crack us up. But back then, I didn't get the joke. Who the heck was Joan of Arc, and why did the reference to her warrant third degree burns? Now, almost twenty years later, I am just beginning to unpack some of these questions about Joan of Arc, and how her story is relative to the feminine condition of past and present day societies.
If one were to come to know Joan of Arc by the biased depiction of her in Shakespeare's historical play Henry VI: Part 1, one might conclude that she was a coniving peasant whore who repeatedly inconvenienced English nobility with her cunning and unexpected physical prowess. Ahh, but as a student of uteran power, I must never immediately trust the testicular perspective. A little research into the history of Joan of Arc as left within documents and writings, has opened my eyes to appreciate her uniquity. The Historical Association for Joan of Arc Studies is a non-profit organization instituted for the purpose of conducting, publishing, and encouraging valid scholarship on Joan of Arc. I visited thier website for a while in order to introduce myself to the life, trial, and death of this now cannonized woman. Joan of Arc was born around January 6, 1412 and on May 30, 1431 she was burned alive at the age of 19. There are several extraordinary events which filled her nineteen years which I will discuss, but the striking effect of her birth and death dates flanked by the method of execution is extraordinary alone.
Joan of Arc was continually referred to as having been a pious child. By the summer of her 13th year, she claimed to have had frequent visions wherin angels spoke to her and told her that it was her duty to chase out the English garrison in France and ensure the Dauphin Charles would rule as king. The most unbeleivable and extraordinary tales of her journey are supported by the conviction with wich she spoke. She was certain and bound by her religious beleif that it was God's calling on her life to serve in whatever capacity necessary in order to fulful her task.
In a conversation with a male friend of mine, he suggested the impossibility of a seventeen year old girl to fight among military ranks in any battle, no less several and be successful as Joan had been. He suggested that she must have used male soldiers as human shields to protect herself in battle. He was flabbergasted by her cannonization and confused by the fact that he had never heard of her (apparently he didn't think the line from Coming to America was as memorable as I). I was thouroughly dissapointed in his patriarchal disbelief. My disappointment wasn't a result of his surprise as much as his inability to wrap his mind around the fact that women can do anything men can do without sacrifice of thier morals.
Joan of Arc walked fearlessly into situations where no woman or man would have gone, armed with only her faith and conviction. How many of us today male or female live our lives with the same strength? Could you make a pilgrimage to the White House and convince Joe Biden to give you audience with Barack Obama in order to convince him that you should lead the military in order to restore civil balance and correct the world's image of the US by ending wars thus redeeming Obama's political position? If one could, they would probably be ostracized or assasinated. Which is exactly what happened to Joan of Arc. However, for all intents and purposes, she was successful. French and English observers at her execution are said to have sobbed audibly. Following her torturous death, complicit parties were said to have been terrified that they would be condemned to hell for thier involvment in the murder of such a holy woman. While the residual guilt could not prevent the initial witch hunt and condemnation of Joan of Arc, it really does make one question the motives of men where they relate to women in positions of power. It is as though they know the just nature of the woman's role but refuse to consider it first. It is far too often not considered in time to prevent the incessant subjugation of women throughout the world.
Perhaps the most disappointing part about my gentleman friends' ignorance is that his opinion of Joan of Arc and her ability or inability to be dynamic and extraordinary is a direct reflection of his belief in me. So I don't beleive that I was Joan of Arc in my former life, but I beleive that I could have been. I know that there are countless nameless faceless women who are the embodiment of Joan of Arc. But he doesn't. It is unfortunate when a relationship has to end before it begins based on something that the other person will never understand. Sad. I guess it is a little scary when you find yourself in the presence of a fearless warrior woman with no idea how to control her. Funny Eddie, real funny.
If one were to come to know Joan of Arc by the biased depiction of her in Shakespeare's historical play Henry VI: Part 1, one might conclude that she was a coniving peasant whore who repeatedly inconvenienced English nobility with her cunning and unexpected physical prowess. Ahh, but as a student of uteran power, I must never immediately trust the testicular perspective. A little research into the history of Joan of Arc as left within documents and writings, has opened my eyes to appreciate her uniquity. The Historical Association for Joan of Arc Studies is a non-profit organization instituted for the purpose of conducting, publishing, and encouraging valid scholarship on Joan of Arc. I visited thier website for a while in order to introduce myself to the life, trial, and death of this now cannonized woman. Joan of Arc was born around January 6, 1412 and on May 30, 1431 she was burned alive at the age of 19. There are several extraordinary events which filled her nineteen years which I will discuss, but the striking effect of her birth and death dates flanked by the method of execution is extraordinary alone.
Joan of Arc was continually referred to as having been a pious child. By the summer of her 13th year, she claimed to have had frequent visions wherin angels spoke to her and told her that it was her duty to chase out the English garrison in France and ensure the Dauphin Charles would rule as king. The most unbeleivable and extraordinary tales of her journey are supported by the conviction with wich she spoke. She was certain and bound by her religious beleif that it was God's calling on her life to serve in whatever capacity necessary in order to fulful her task.
In a conversation with a male friend of mine, he suggested the impossibility of a seventeen year old girl to fight among military ranks in any battle, no less several and be successful as Joan had been. He suggested that she must have used male soldiers as human shields to protect herself in battle. He was flabbergasted by her cannonization and confused by the fact that he had never heard of her (apparently he didn't think the line from Coming to America was as memorable as I). I was thouroughly dissapointed in his patriarchal disbelief. My disappointment wasn't a result of his surprise as much as his inability to wrap his mind around the fact that women can do anything men can do without sacrifice of thier morals.
Joan of Arc walked fearlessly into situations where no woman or man would have gone, armed with only her faith and conviction. How many of us today male or female live our lives with the same strength? Could you make a pilgrimage to the White House and convince Joe Biden to give you audience with Barack Obama in order to convince him that you should lead the military in order to restore civil balance and correct the world's image of the US by ending wars thus redeeming Obama's political position? If one could, they would probably be ostracized or assasinated. Which is exactly what happened to Joan of Arc. However, for all intents and purposes, she was successful. French and English observers at her execution are said to have sobbed audibly. Following her torturous death, complicit parties were said to have been terrified that they would be condemned to hell for thier involvment in the murder of such a holy woman. While the residual guilt could not prevent the initial witch hunt and condemnation of Joan of Arc, it really does make one question the motives of men where they relate to women in positions of power. It is as though they know the just nature of the woman's role but refuse to consider it first. It is far too often not considered in time to prevent the incessant subjugation of women throughout the world.
Perhaps the most disappointing part about my gentleman friends' ignorance is that his opinion of Joan of Arc and her ability or inability to be dynamic and extraordinary is a direct reflection of his belief in me. So I don't beleive that I was Joan of Arc in my former life, but I beleive that I could have been. I know that there are countless nameless faceless women who are the embodiment of Joan of Arc. But he doesn't. It is unfortunate when a relationship has to end before it begins based on something that the other person will never understand. Sad. I guess it is a little scary when you find yourself in the presence of a fearless warrior woman with no idea how to control her. Funny Eddie, real funny.
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