Robert de Baudricourt A gentlemanly squire from Joan's district, Lorraine he is the first person of position or rank to back The Maid's plans. Her belief in the rightness of her own conscience and her refusal to yield to the authority of the Church have caused Shaw and others to refer to her as the first Protestant to be martyred by the Catholic Church. She is, however, inexperienced in the ways of the medieval society and ignorant of the jealousies of the feudal system. Throughout the play, in all sorts of situations, Joan's basic honesty and her innocence shine through all of the hypocrisy of the others, and when her judges use complicated ecclesiastical terms to trap her, her basic common sense makes them look stupid. Until her capture, she proves that her military strategy is flawless. Early in the play, she establishes her superiority in terms of military tactics and strategy, always knowing where to place the cannons and other artillery. For the public, Joan, according to Shaw's Preface, offers her brilliant ideas in terms of voices from heaven which speak to her. Based upon the historical character, Shaw presents her as a simple country girl who is uneducated but not unintelligent. Joan of Arc, often referred to as The Maid Joan is, of course, the central character of the play.
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