Patriarchy in "The Wife of Martin Guerre"

Paper Summary:

Janet Lewis's novel, "The Wife of Martin Guerre," takes place in the isolated French village of Artigues. The writer discusses how the novel is set in 1539, a time in which the patriarchal system was still to be found operating in villages, such as Artigues. It looks at this system, which was designed to give collective security to a household through obedience, though it meant relinquishing individual independence. This system, though comfortable at times and secure, was inhibiting, and the restrictions and limitations for both the men and the women play an important role in developing the central characters in the novel, Bertrande and Martin, as well as influencing and controlling their actions and decisions.

From the Paper:

"The man Martin Guerre, firstborn son of the Guerre household is a good example of the ways in which the patriarchal system influence characters lives. From birth his role in life is defined for him. He is to unite the houses of de Rols and Guerre, work under his father, contributing to the prosperity of the household and eventually become the cap d'hostal. Unfortunately, although Martin is said to "be capable of all that is required of a man" he finds the restrictions of the patriarchal system more than he can stand to live with. From a young age we can see that his born power of women gives him a childish arrogance, demonstrated with the assault on his new wife at their wedding ceremony. His feeling of superiority, encouraged by the tradition of male dominance develops into a stern dislike for authority. Bertrande notes soon after the birth of Sanxi that Martin sometimes felt "impatience at this inferior position." Martin finds the authority of his father so stifling that he appears unable to resist following his own whims on two notable occasions. This first, the bear hunt, results in a severe physical punishment from his father, which though Martin accepts it unquestioningly, appears to have little effect on his independent streak. To continue to live under his fathers rule while continuing into manhood provokes Martin so forcefully that he appears unable to help himself when he defies his father once again, this time escaping punishment. The restrictions imposed upon him by society further influence him to remain absent from his family, as he apparently "found the experience of liberty sweet' and preferred power over his own actions to the company of his wife and child."

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