There are people in history that become an inspiration to people in later years. These people do only what they think and feel is the right thing to do. Many years later they are recognized for their achievements and honored for them. Joan of Arc is one particular woman who had a great impact on the history of France. She helped to lead them to victory over the English during the Hundred Years War. Her motivation and determination gave the French army a new cause to fight.
Her perseverance to be allowed to fight for what she believed in inspired them and many others to a great extent. Joan was born in 1412 to a peasant family. At birth she was given the name Jeanne dArc. Joan was brought up as a Roman Catholic, which later had a great impact on her decision to join the French army. It is said that the voices of St. Michael, St.
Catherine, and St. Margaret told her to go and fight with the army (Michlet 1957).
She listened to the voices for some time before deciding to actually do what they were telling her to do. When she finally decided to go and attempt to join the army. She was at first rejected by Captain Robert de Baudricourt and, not allowed to fight. She accepted this for the time being until the Saints came back to her and told her to try again. Once she went back again to ask permission to fight, she won the hearts of the people who then helped to convince Baudricourt, she would be perfectly capable of fighting (Pernoud).
Joan went through the same training as everybody else. After the training was finished, she began to fight. The determination that she possessed was more then most of the other soldiers, this gave them a new energy and excitement about fighting and they were more determined then ever to defeat the English. The newly found energy is what gave the French what they needed in order to defeat the English. After the war was over the English learned that it was Joan who inspired the French to win, which made the English extremely determined to seek revenge on her. They began to correspond with French officers who knew her well and, plotted her arrest.
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She was tried for witch craft because, there wasnt any possible way of proving this because of the lack of evidence. The charge was then changed to heresy (Michelet).
She was found guilty and burned at the stake in the town square. Even as the flames began to reach her, she still proclaimed that the voices she heard were the voices of God. Pope Benedict XV Canonized Joan of Arc in 1920 (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Joan of Arc is one of the most interesting woman that has ever walked this earth. She fought for what she believed in regardless to what everyone around her said.
She wasnt afraid of what people thought of her, she was going to do what she wanted no matter what it took. In spite of the time period that she was in, she was ahead of her time in her thinking. Many woman back them would never dream of fighting with men in combat . she felt that woman should have the same privileges as men such as fighting in the army, or working to earn their own money. These ideas werent even made realistic goals for woman again until the late eighteenth century. Many woman find Joan of Arc to be an inspiration to follow through with what they believe in. Many people dont think they should follow through with their dreams because of what other people might think. Joan went through every obstacle in order to do what she thought was the right thing to do. IN the present day Joan is seen as a figure of peace. She helped to bring peace about in Europe when it seemed there would be no end to the fighting.
If it werent for Joan of Arc the French army never would have had the great revival of nationalism that led them to victory. Joan was one of the few people who admit to hearing voices of God and not try to ignore them. Instead she listened to them and did what they told her to do; follow her heart. Joan of Arc is an inspiration to me in such a way that I would like to be more like her and have the same amount of determination that she had to achieve my goals. When she had the option to give up and forget the whole situation she didnt. She still refused to being a typical female of the time period and fought for her beliefs.
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She went for her goal even when people tried to discourage her. Her determination is very admirable. Joan of Arc taught me to go for my goal and not to worry about what other people say about my beliefs. She taught me to stand up for what I believe in and to mot let anybody try to convince me otherwise. She is truly an inspiration.
Bibliography:
Jules Michelet (1957) Joan of Arc, The University of Michigan Press Ann Arbor. Joan of Arc: (1999) Joan of Arc Catholic Encyclopedia [online] www.newadvent.org/cathen/08409c.htm [2000, September 9] Joan of Arc: Coat of Arms of Jeanne dArc (Jan.
4, 2000) [online] www.heraldica.org/topics/france/jeannedarc.htm [2000, September 9] Regine Pernoud (1961) Joan of Arc, New York NY Grove Press Inc..
