The book ‘The Return of Martin Guerre

The book ‘The Return of Martin Guerre

The book ‘The Return of Martin Guerre’ focuses on identity, and both Davis and Finlay had similar and different arguments. They both wanted to know what happened in the case. Additionally, they had different arguments about Bertrande’s involvement in deception and her role in the case.

Both Davis and Finlay tend to learn what happened. “Arnaud arrived and stayed in the village for three years while Martin Guerre was away.” Davis believed there was an act of deception, also in the whole village, and Bertarande was Arnaud’s collaborator (Davis 3). On the other hand, Finlay argued that the “whole family and neighbors had been completely deceived from the outset, and Bertrande was a victim of deception before she met Martin in court and recognized her mistake.” Davis embedded habits and values while Finlay contrasted on Davis issue on material, migration, land and property sales, women’s work, inheritance, and judicial practice. Davis described Arnaud and Bertrande issue based on marriage and religion laws in contrast to Finlay, who did not consider cultural and social void. Davis believed Bertrande was willing to accept a false husband who is understood and pardoned by her neighbors, while Finlay felt Bertrande was not guilty. Davis argued that Bertrande knew Arnaud as an impostor from the beginning, therefore Bertrande was a collaborator, and their agreement to consider invented marriage arose from refashioning identities. Robert Finlay, claims that Bertrande had no real intention in her action and the imposter misled her. Davis responded by exploring how impostor assimilated himself to aid Bertrande; therefore, Bertrande did not object her affection to Arnaud. In addition, Davis refuted Bertrande’s role in crime as he/she described Bertrande as an independent woman surviving through a patriarchal system (Finlay 5). Finlay refuted a claim by Davis which portrayed Bertrande as a self-interested and pragmatic woman who ignored her gender despite the different events of her character in Cora’s book. Therefore, Finlay believed her innocent and is never accused or proved guilty of a crime. Davis’s reply to the rebuttal provided evidence that Cora’s account did not attest to Bertrande’s innocence since he questioned her participation in the crime. Davis says that Bertrande was being suspected of complicity by judges. Finlay refutes this claim by saying that Davis has no evidence for the sentiments; therefore, Finlay said that Davis based her arguments from both the judges and villagers while Finlay believed the primary sources do not substantiate Davis’s arguments.

According to Cora’s. Bertrande was guilty of her actions. Bertrande was aware that she was legally married to Martin, but she opted to marry Arnaud secretly. Bertrande defended Arnaud in court, and she sends money and clothing to the accused in Roux (Davis 53). Bertrande was a collaborator to Arnaud, and there was no marriage without prior agreement between the two. Therefore, Bertrande was aware of what she was doing and consequences, hence she opted to engage in the crime. Additionally, she was ignorant of what would happen if Martin return. Bertrande’s testimony in court, even after Arnaud returns from the trial in Toulouse, Bertrande was submissive to wifely duty, knowing well that there was a case against their marriage.

In conclusion, both Davis and Finlay wanted to know what happened in the case. Davis argued that Bertrande’s collaborated with Arnaud while Finlay refuted by claiming that Bertrande had no such intentions. Davis explained that Bertrande was aware of her crime. Therefore, Bertrande was mindful of her actions and therefore was guilty of the crime of collaborating with the impostor.