The Return Of Martin Guerre Summary

“The Return of Martin Guerre” by Natalie Zemon Davis provides the read with an interesting case of a present, Arnaud du Tihl, stealing Martin Guerre identity and almost getting away with it. The story create two campus of thought on Bertrande’s motive. One side being defended by Davis, and arguing she masterminded the whole plan. While Robert Finlay arguing she was innocent. Davis argument is the most believable with too many questions and too many assumption, and to neatly package together that points to Bertrande being guilty of helping Amaund du Tihl stealing Guerre identity. The story of Martin Guerre is not the first case of stolen identity, but it is one of few times that the real person was punish for it being stolen. The story takes
Davis points to four pieces of evidences; how Arnaud greeted everyone by their name?, different body types, Bertrande’s behavior, and character of Bertrande’s testimony during the trial. These points show Bertrande’s help Arnand du Tilh to take his identity. Arnaud ability to act is on full display when on trial. He was able to cite many things that real Martin Guerre did in his childhood all the way up to his departure. The word he deliver his testimony seem rehearse and planned. When Arnaud appear for the first time around Guerre hometown he was able to bring up things that happen ten to fifteen years earlier, and being able to talk about business with Pierre Guerre. Davis points to Le Sueur’s account of the trial to how Arnaud was able to learn about Martin life before he left. “Bertrande and Arnaud did not go directly to Artigat…by stayed at the inn for some days when she tended him for an illness.” Bertrande told Arnaud everything on the life of Guerre and all of his trappings. Davis backing to this is that Arnaud never meet Guerre and that is what Finlay points to they could have met in prison or maybe Arnaud heard of Guerre in his travels. Guerre trying to escape the law/his life more than likely would not tell a soul where he is from, like alone what Bob the farmer did to him when he was ten years old. Now here is where Bertrande shows her true colors. Although Martin and Arnaud had similar face structures and select few more similar. Arnaud and Martin did not look alike at all. The neck was embarrassedly different. Martin was taller and thinner then Arnaud. Martin skin was darker and Davis points out more than likely had different accent, like an New England accent compared to Alabama one. The best evidence is the differences in shoe sizes between them. Martin shoes were larger then Arnaud according to the Shoemaker. Other brought up the pointed out that real Martin could