Saint Joan Women and Femininity Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Scene.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.

Quote #1

STEWARD: [whispering] "She wants to go and be a soldier herself. She wants you to give her soldier's clothes. Armor, sir! And a sword!" (1.49)

Women soldiers were completely unheard of at this time.

Quote #2

ROBERT: It is the will of God that I shall send you back to your father with orders to put you under lock and key and thrash the madness out of you." (1.56)

Robert's statement reveals the complete lack of power that women had at this time. Young girls were at the mercy of their fathers until they got married. Then they were at the mercy of their husbands.

Quote #3

THE ARCHBISHOP: "This creature is not a saint. She is not even a respectable woman. She does not wear women's clothes." (2.57)

The whole cross-dressing thing is one of the main things that gets Joan executed at the end.