Saint Joan: Scene 3 Summary & Analysis

It’s April 29, 1429, and Dunois, 26 years old, walks along the south bank of the Loire river at Orleans. Dunois is a capable, practical, broadly built man. His page sits beside him, watching the water. Dunois calls on the west, “womanish” wind to blow in his direction. The page pays little attention to Dunois’s frustrations: he is too busy watching the kingfishers fly across the river. Although Dunois is annoyed by his page’s divided attention, he can’t help but find the birds lovely.

Suddenly, Joan approaches. She identifies Dunois as the Bastard of Orleans and introduces herself to Dunois before complaining that her troops have sent her to the wrong side of the river: the English are on the other side, and she wants to attack immediately. Dunois explains that it’s too risky to launch an attack before his troops are sufficiently ready. He accuses Joan of being impatient, but she is convinced they can fight the English immediately, as they have God on their side. Joan and Dunois discuss their mutual love affair with war.

Joan tells Dunois that, when they reach the forts across the river, she will be the first up the ladder. Dunois calls her a daredevil, but she insists that this isn’t so: she is merely “a servant of God.” Joan and Dunois argue over when to attack the English. Since the French need to sail up the river to attack the English from the rear, they must wait for God to “change[] the wind,” for which Dunois has prayed incessantly. Joan concurs and tells Dunois she’ll pass along their prayers to Saint Catherine, who will make God give them the wind. Suddenly, the page informs Dunois that the wind has come. In awe at the miracle he’s just witnessed, Dunois pledges allegiance to Joan and gives her command of his army. Joan cries and embraces Dunois. Shrilly, the page praises Joan.