Justice, Betrayal, and Transformation: A Tale of Two Wives
Materials Needed:
- A copy of Marie de France's "Bisclavret" (available for free online via the Poetry in Translation archive or similar academic sources).
- A detailed summary of the Martin Guerre case. The book The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis is ideal, but a reliable online source (e.g., a university history page or encyclopedia entry) is also sufficient.
- Access to a word processor or notebook and pen.
- Optional: Access to the internet for extension research.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:
- Analyze the complex motivations and societal pressures that influenced the actions of Bisclavret's wife and Bertrande de Rols.
- Compare and contrast the two women's choices, justifications, and fates using textual evidence and historical context.
- Evaluate how concepts of justice, identity, and community judgment are portrayed differently in a medieval lai (folklore) versus a 16th-century legal case (folk law/state law).
- Synthesize their analysis into a creative project that demonstrates deep understanding from a unique perspective.
Lesson Activities
Part 1: The Hook - A Question of Loyalty (15 minutes)
Begin with a discussion based on the following scenario:
Imagine your spouse reveals a secret about themselves—not an affair, but a fundamental, shocking aspect of their nature that they have hidden from you. This secret makes you fear for your safety and your place in society. You have the power to expose them, which would lead to their ruin but secure your own safety. Or you can protect their secret, risking your own well-being and living with the fear.
- What do you do?
- Is there a "right" answer?
- At what point does self-preservation become a betrayal?
This discussion frames the central dilemmas faced by the two women we will be studying.
Part 2: Guided Analysis - The Cases (45 minutes)
Read and analyze each story, focusing on the wife's perspective. Use these guiding questions for discussion.
Case Study 1: The Wife of "Bisclavret" (A Lai)
- After reading "Bisclavret," identify the exact moment the wife's love turns to fear. What triggers it?
- Is her reaction understandable? Why or why not? Consider the medieval context regarding the supernatural and the unknown.
- Her punishment is to have her nose bitten off, a mark of shame passed to her female descendants. Is this justice? What kind of justice is it (royal, divine, folk)?
- How does this story function as a piece of folklore or a cautionary tale? What is the moral?
Case Study 2: Bertrande de Rols, Wife of Martin Guerre (History & Law)
- After reading the summary of the Martin Guerre case, discuss Bertrande's situation. Why would she accept an impostor as her husband for three years? What social, familial, and economic pressures was she under?
- What motivates her to finally expose him? Is it a crisis of conscience, a property dispute, or pressure from her family?
- The court in Toulouse must decide who is telling the truth. How does this formal legal system compare to the swift, community-based "justice" delivered by the king in "Bisclavret"?
- In the end, Bertrande has to beg for forgiveness from the real Martin Guerre. Was she a victim, an accomplice, or a cunning manipulator? Can she be more than one of these things?
Part 3: Comparative Synthesis - Two Women, Two Worlds (30 minutes)
Create a Venn Diagram or a detailed T-chart to directly compare the wife of Bisclavret and Bertrande de Rols. Use the following categories to guide your comparison:
- Motivations: (Fear, love, social pressure, economic gain, piety)
- Agency: (How much power did each woman have to make her own choices?)
- The Betrayal: (What was the nature of their betrayal?)
- System of Justice: (Folklore/courtly vs. formal legal system) -
- Outcome & Legacy: (What was their ultimate fate and how are they remembered?)
Discuss the completed chart. Which woman do you find more sympathetic? Which story feels more "just"? How does the genre—fairy tale versus historical record—influence your perception of their actions?
Summative Assessment: Creative Application (60-90 minutes)
Choose one of the following projects to demonstrate your understanding of the characters, themes, and historical contexts. This project should go beyond summarizing the plots and instead offer a creative interpretation grounded in textual evidence.
Option A: The Barrister's Closing Argument
You are a lawyer in a modern court of historical opinion. Write a persuasive closing argument (500-750 words) defending either Bisclavret’s wife or Bertrande de Rols. Argue for their acquittal or for a more lenient judgment based on the psychological, social, and cultural pressures they faced. Use specific evidence from the story/historical account to build your case.
Option B: The Lost Diary
Write a series of three to four diary entries (totaling 500-750 words) from the perspective of either Bisclavret’s wife or Bertrande de Rols. These entries should capture key moments of decision: the day you learn the secret, the moment you decide to act, and your reflection after the final judgment. Focus on her inner world—her fears, justifications, and conflicting emotions.
Option C: The Screenwriter's Pitch
Adapt one of these stories for a modern audience. Write a 1-2 page pitch for a film or a limited TV series episode. Your pitch must include:
- A modern setting for the story.
- An updated version of the central conflict (e.g., instead of a werewolf, what could the "monstrous secret" be today?).
- A description of how you would portray the wife to make her a complex, relatable protagonist for a 21st-century audience.
- A key scene written out in screenplay format (approx. 1 page).
Assessment Rubric for Creative Project
- Analytical Depth (40%): The project demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the character's motivations, societal constraints, and the central themes of the source material.
- Use of Evidence (30%): The project creatively and accurately integrates specific details, events, or plausible inferences from the text/historical account to support its interpretation.
- Creativity and Voice (20%): The final product is original, engaging, and maintains a consistent and compelling tone/perspective.
- Clarity and Mechanics (10%): The writing is well-organized, clear, and demonstrates a strong command of grammar and style.
Extension & Enrichment Activities
- Deeper Dive into Justice: Research the historical concept of "trial by ordeal" or "charivari" in medieval and early modern France. Write a brief reflection on how these real-world practices of folk law shed light on the events in either story.
- Literary Context: Read another of Marie de France's *lais*, such as "Lanval" or "Yonec." Compare how the female characters in that lai navigate their own difficult circumstances. Is there a common theme in how Marie de France portrays women and power?
- Cinematic Adaptation: If possible, watch the 1982 film The Return of Martin Guerre (starring Gérard Depardieu). Compare the film's portrayal of Bertrande to the historical account by Natalie Zemon Davis. What did the filmmakers change, and why do you think they made those choices?