Saint Joan Literary Elements

Drama; Tragedy

English

The action starts in 1429 AD and takes place in different locations throughout France.

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The tone of the play is often cynical and foreboding. Most audience members know Joan's eventual fate of being burnt at the stake, and therefore all of the action unfurls towards a tragic end. Most of the characters are also acting in service of their own ends, and with the goal of maintaining power. This creates the impression that most people are self-interested and willing to do terrible things to maintain the status quo if it serves their goals.

Even if the play is sometimes referred to as a play without a villain, we could consider Joan the protagonist and those who sentenced her to death the antagonists.

The major conflict is the war between France and England; a secondary conflict exists between Joan and the various noblemen and Church officials who see her as an obstacle to their hold on power.

The audience hears a report of Joan's execution (which takes place off-stage).

Joan prophesies her own death when she says that France will get to the point when all the English will be gone, but that she won’t be alive to see it.

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There are allusions to several other literary texts, including The Book of Hours and Boccaccio.

See the separate "Imagery" section of this ClassicNote.

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There are many similarities between the life of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, who was sending Joan visions, and Joan’s own life. Both women converted to Christianity at an early age, convinced many to follow their examples, and died as martyrs at about the age of 18.

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There are almost no stage directions in the play, but the characters are characterized in a direct manner at the beginning of every scene. Through those descriptions, we are presented with the full picture of a character, including his or her social status, appearance, and personal traits.