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British Drama

Notes announcing his presuppositions at the outset. Saint Joan may or may not offer a historically accurate
representation of its events, but at least we know that its author has tried to be accurate; and, in
addition, it offers all readers an example in the possibilities and limits of doing history, of attempting
to understand another era, as we would say, “from the inside out.”

23.2 Scene I

23.2.1 Summary

The play’s action begins in a room in Vaucouleurs, the castle of Captain Robert de Baudricourt,
military commander, in the spring of 1429. Baudricourt is berating one of his servants, who has just
informed him that there are no fresh eggs to be had that morning. Baudricourt is convinced that
someone, perhaps this servant himself, has stolen the hens-as well as the cows, for there was no
fresh milk to be had the day before. The servant informs Baudricourt that, on the contrary, the cows
have stopped giving milk and the hens have stopped laying eggs ever since the captain refused to
grant an audience to “The Maid.” The girl is still at the castle, still insistent upon seeing Baudricourt.
“She is so positive,” the servant says of her, noting that all the captain’s host is encouraged by her.
Exasperated at the girl’s stubbornness, Baudricourt summons her to him.
“The Maid” is, of course, Joan. Immediately upon meeting Baudricourt, she asks him to supply her
with a horse, armor, and troops for a military expedition to Orleans, where the Dauphin (a title for
the eldest son of the King of France or heir to the throne; in this context, the future King Charles VII)
is being besieged by the invading English armies, thus being kept from assuming the throne.
Baudricourt is shocked by her plans; he is even more shocked when the girl tells him that her plan
is actually the will of God. She tells him she has already secured the aid of Bertrand de Poulengey
(whom she casually calls “Polly”) and John of Metz (whom she similarly calls “Jack”), as well as
other soldiers and servants of Baudricourt.
Still astonished, Baudricourt dismisses Joan and summons de Poulengey. He questions him about
Joan. He suspects “Polly” of harboring untoward intentions toward the young lady. Polly insists
that there is nothing improper about his interest in Joan. “There is something about her,” he tells
Baudricourt, pointing out that Joan has inspired hope in French soldiers when neither the Dauphin
nor La Hire, one of his military commanders, can. He wonders if supporting Joan in her quest to rid
France of its English invaders, and to see Charles crowned as king, may not simply be the most
practical course of action. Polly calls Joan “the last card left in our hand. Better play her than throw
up the game.” When Baudricourt questions Joan’s sanity, Polly only replies, “We want a few mad
people now. See where the sane ones have landed us!”
After a further interview with Joan, Baudricourt—seemingly, hardly able to believe it himself—
agrees to give the Maid his support. He warns her that defeating the English will be more difficult
than she expects, but Joan is confident that she will be able to beat the “goddams,” as the English
soldiers are called: “One thousand like me can stop them. Ten like me can stop them with God on
our side.” She says she will teach them that they belong in England, just as the French belong in
France. As Joan departs, Baudricourt’s servant returns to make the unexpected report, “The hens
are laying lie mad, sir.” Baudricourt can only conclude, “She did come from God.”

23.2.2 Analysis
Scene I presents, on a small scale, many of the themes that will occupy the play on a larger scale by
its conclusion. For example, much of what seemingly persuades Baudricourt to support Joan is her
appeal to nationalism. Recall that, in the preface, Shaw called Joan an early advocate of nationalism,

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