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Intro
Based on a historical event, The Wife of Martin Guerre is set in the French village of Artigues in the mid-16th century and opens with the wedding of 11-year-olds Martin Guerre and Bertrande de Rols. Martin’s and Bertrande’s families arranged the marriage when the children were born in order to end a feud, and neither Martin nor Bertrande want to be married. When Bertrande approaches Martin after their wedding, Martin boxes her ears, sending her back to Madame de Rols. The wedding guests watch as Martin and Bertrande are put to bed together. When Martin’s father, Monsieur Guerre, leans over the bed, his torchlit face frightens Bertrande. To Bertrande’s relief, Martin falls asleep without touching her. That night, the housekeeper brings the young couple a special feast and prophesizes that the couple will have a happy marriage.
When she turns 14, Bertrande moves in with the Guerres. For several years, Martin and Bertrande ignore each other. Bertrande takes on a wife’s duties around the farm, and she grows to respect the safety that Monsieur Guerre’s authority provides. One day, Martin disobeys Monsieur Guerre by going hunting. When he returns, Monsieur Guerre strikes him, knocking out several teeth. That night in bed, Bertrande comforts Martin. Against family tradition, Bertrande’s starts to feel loyal to Martin over Monsieur Guerre.
As Bertrande matures, her love for Martin develops. She later gives birth to a son, Sanxi. One day, Martin announces to Bertrande that he is going to leave Artigues to avoid Monsieur Guerre, whom he disobeyed by planting reserve seed. Promising to return when his father’s rage has subsided, Martin departs. But years pass, and Martin does not return. Martin’s mother, Madame Guerre, dies. Soon after, Monsieur Guerre falls from a horse and dies. Although he is now master of the house, Martin still does not return. Bertrande travels to Rieux to ask about his whereabouts, but no one has heard from Martin. Bertrande fears that Martin has died. Pierre takes over the estate.
Eight years after Martin’s departure, Bertrande finally feels at peace. One day, there is a tumult in the courtyard, and a man claiming to be Martin (later revealed to be Arnaud du Tilh) is brought inside. At first, Bertrande does not recognize the man. With the master’s return, the farm thrives, and the family—gathering again around the hearth—is happy. Bertrande becomes pregnant. Soon, however, Bertrande is suspicious that her husband is an imposter. While the new Martin resembles the old Martin, his manners are unrecognizably gentle. Bertrande sees nothing of the short-tempered Guerre men in the man. Bertrande can’t decide whether she is deluded or whether she is committing the sin of adultery.
In torment, Bertrande tells her suspicions to Martin and the priest, both of whom say that her husband simply changed while abroad. When she insists that the man is not her husband, everyone decides that Bertrande is mentally unwell. Bertrande’s poor health causes her to lose her baby. When the Rochefort soldier—a man who knew Martin Guerre from the war—visits Artigues and Martin does not recognize him, Pierre takes Bertrande’s side and files an accusation against Martin. Martin is taken away in chains while Sanxi weeps.
Bertrande and Pierre travel to Rieux for Martin’s trial, at which numerous witnesses take the stand to testify whether they believe the defendant is the real Martin Guerre. One witness, Jean Espagnol, testifies that the defendant is Arnaud du Tilh, a man who boasted of a deal he made with the real Martin Guerre to go to Artigues and impersonate him. Bertrande also testifies against the defendant, but she cries in opposition to the death sentence with which he is charged. The court of Rieux defers the trial to the court of Toulouse. Bertrande returns to Artigues. While she is sure of her case, Bertrande regrets the misery she has caused. The housekeeper laments Bertrande’s conviction. Martin’s youngest sister begs Bertrande to drop the charges.
Bertrande goes to Toulouse for the second trial. Ultimately, half of the witnesses testify that the man is Martin Guerre, while the other half testify that he is Arnaud du Tilh. Bertrande testifies that she simply knows that the man is not her husband. Just as the court is about to acquit the accused man, the real Martin Guerre appears, dressed in armor. The court summons Bertrande, who instantly recognizes the man as her real husband and kneels before him, begging for his forgiveness. Martin affords Bertrande no mercy, and he condemns her for her betrayal. Arnaud du Tilh—who had meant to pose as Martin only long enough to steal money but then ended up falling in love with Bertrande—begs for Bertrande’s forgiveness. Bertrande rejects his plea, stating that disrespected her most by loving her. Arnaud du Tilh is later hanged outside the Guerres’ house.
It is not known whether Martin Guerre returned to Artigues. Although it is also unknown, it is presumable that Bertrande died, worn out by love and hate.
