Comments on Significance of the Epilogue in Shaw's Saint Joan

Go to The Effulgence Within - Add a comment - Go to Significance of the Epilogue in Shaw's Saint Joan

Re: Re: Re: Joan the warrior, indeed

Dear GM, she was indeed a tragic figure way back in 1431. I wonder if humanity or the evolutionary process has done even one good bit with the passage of time. It seems to have stuck like the proverbial clock, the book on Indian independence by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, Freedom at Midnight, where it says it was 10 minutes to midnight (to Freedom) but those 10 minutes seemed like eternity. Likewise, we have seen no progress in the goodness of man. I was thinking of giving a write on this aspect. Or in the timeframe, 500 years is too short a time? I seem to have stuck here. So, it will be good to look at your take on what puzzles you, soon. Or better still, whenever you are ready to.

posted by anib on November 5, 2018 at 11:24 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Re: Joan the warrior, indeed

Anib, I heartily agree that the story of Joan of Arc, "matches closely that of the Hindu thought, the independence and the strength of the individual spirit that does not much care what the scriptures say." This is a strength that can emerge in any religion, and Joan had it aplenty.

But she is a terribly tragic figure, attacked and hated by both sides, betrayed by her king and allies, and that must have been a horrific wound to the soul. I wish I could know that she is all right, but the universe can be very cruel, and I shudder to think that our blogger Joanofrance could be all that is left of the bright and noble spirit of Joan of Arc. I know this is just an off-beat theory, but what if we are being given clues to come to a greater understanding of the workings of karma and grace? The excess of karma, and the scarcity of grace? If it were true, it gives me great pause and nagging doubt about the goodness and fairness of the universe. I have other reasons for this doubt, which I may soon post about. But I will not diminish the memory of Joan of Arc here with such misgivings. She was a shining star of history, and let us remember her that way.

posted by GoldenMean on November 5, 2018 at 9:27 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Joan the warrior, indeed

Thanks GoldenMean, and am glad you could read. Prior to the Epilogue there are two more parts I shared. Remember, it was your mentioning to me long back of this bloger, Joanoffrance, and i promised to write on Joan of Arc. Yes, what you comment on her writings, I too have noticed. But she doesn't write very often, I guess. I'll do some more research on the historical account of Joan sometime, which is very well documented. I'm fascinated on the story of her life which, surprisingly, matches closely that of the Hindu thought, the independence and the strength of the individual spirit that does not much care what the scriptures say. Cheers

posted by anib on November 5, 2018 at 8:47 PM | link to this | reply

Joan the warrior, indeed

Joan being an evolution of life force is an interesting way to put it. I would be more specific and would be willing to bet that Joan was a re-incarnation of a very excellent male warrior, possibly French, who volunteered an embodiment as Joan, to save the nation of France from the domination/tyranny of England. She accomplished that, put the French king back on his throne, and then he abandoned and betrayed her to the English.

It would be fascinating to know who and where she has been since then. But you realize, of course, that we have a blogger here on Blogit, who was told that she was the reincarnation of Joan of Arc, but she rejects that, and says it is a lie. However, this blogger is certainly re-enacting the warrior mode in her posts here, in a New Age kind of way..... she goes by Joanofrance, right here in Religion & Spirituality.

If she really was Joan of Arc, that would be really sad, because this Joan is full of anger and rejecting the God and Savior who Joan of Arc loved and followed. She rejects this entire planet as the realm of Lucifer, says Jesus is really Lucifer, and she curses all of us who do not agree with her. What a shame.... this would be a de-volution, and not an evolution of that particular soul.

posted by GoldenMean on November 5, 2018 at 8:04 PM | link to this | reply

Re: Aba Brother

I appreciate your close reading of the play. It's no easy job to be able to convey succinctly the zist of the story, I'm haappy at your words that I have been able to put across what I intended to. Thank you dear sis.

posted by anib on November 2, 2018 at 3:11 AM | link to this | reply

Aba Brother

Oh, I just love this Epilogue. It gives the reader/viewer a sense of satisfaction to the unfortunate and miserable reality of the historical tale of Joan. We humans tend to crave our happy endings, and, though this isn't exactly that, Shaw, imho, did a great job of giving his audience a worthy alternative. Thank you for this post. I truly enjoyed reading it.