Write a note on the dramatic
significance of the Epilogue in Saint Joan.
The purpose of an Epilogue in a
play is to call the attention of the spectators to some salient features in the
theme of the play. In many dramas the Epilogue is written in verse. The main
actor repeats it. But the epilogue of Shaw’s drama Saint Joan is different from
the usual epilogues. It is actually another scene. Shaw could have called it
Scene VII instead of ‘epilogue” and avoided some of the criticism. However,
that would have brought in other difficulties. This is not like the other
scenes. In the Epilogue, the scene depicted is the dream of one of the
characters, namely, Charles the King who was the Dauphin when the events of the
main play took place. The fact that Joan was canonized is revealed in the
Epilogue. Some of the persons who were dead by that time also appear like the
Bishop, the Chaplain, and the Soldier and, of course, Joan.
Shaw’s
Justification
The dramatist himself justifies
the necessity of the Epilogue on a couple of grounds. Joan’s history in the
world actually begins there instead of ending with her being burnt. It was also
necessary for the author to indicate to the spectators that she had been
canonized. It is true that the words of Brother Martin Ladvenu, “we do not
know, my Lord. It may have only just begun”, and later, “This is not the end of
her but the beginning”, at the end of Scene VI indicate to the spectators what
the author wanted to convey. But in the case of the canonization which the author
wanted to show by hook or by crook, the Epilogue is the sole medium. Getting
burnt is an accident of daily occurrence in human society but getting canonized
by the authority is a different matter.
The
impact of the
The martyrdom of St. Joan had a
remarkable impact on the various groups of people in the society. The author
wanted to indicate all these things and the Epilogue does it wonderfully.
Joan’s dogged opposition to the dictatorial tendency of the Churchmen had
terrified them at first. Therefore they tried her for heresy and burnt her. But
the impact of the martyrdom was such that they realized their mistake, made
amends and reversed the earlier decision. They excommunicated Bishop Cauchon,
dug out his body and threw it into a sewer when his dead body could not have
felt the spade and the sewer as the live body of Joan felt the fire when she
was burned. The king who did not care much to help her earlier took a very keen
interest in the retrial. Of course he was happy, not because the original
sentence on her was broken and annulled but because nobody could challenge his
consecration. He thanked providence that he had not been crowned by one accused
of heresy.
