University of Virginia Library

The Cause

One must be aware, if painfully
so, of the irony which makes that
cartoon amusing. Yet one must
also be aware that Joan of Arc
discovered the power of a man
who has committed his life to a
cause (one hesitates to discuss
the nature of the cause, when the
word nationalism is so often
coupled with the word pernicious,
and when Uncle Sam is busy making
men safe to be Americans).
Anouilh evokes the image beautifully
when he has Joan explain
to the Dauphin Charles that
"when you're as scared as you
possible can be, then the worst is
over, and you can do what you
have to do." It is certainly remarkable
that she succeeded.