Joan of Arc Essay -- Essays Papers

Joan of Arc Jeanne d’Arc, or La Pucelle, the Maid of Orleans became a national heroine and patron saint of France in the fifteenth century. She was born to Isabelle de Vouthon and Jacques Darc, small peasant farmers in the town of Domremy, near Champagne. She was the youngest of five children, and grew up learning to attend in the fields and housekeeping duties. She was quite skilled in sewing and spinning. Although illiterate, Joan was taught about religion and was known to be a pious child who spent a lot of time in prayer and petition, often kneeling in the church in quiet humility. People in her community thought of Joan as exceptionally advanced and mature for her age and had the reputation of being a tender hearted individual, especially to the poor. At around the age of thirteen, Joan became conscious of these voices or â€Å"counsel† that she heard. These voices were supposedly those of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret, believing that they had been sent by God. At first, she reported just hearing a voice, later, the voice(s) were accompanied by a figure. She was somewhat reluctant to speak of these voices. It was these voices that revealed her saintly â€Å"mission† gradually, that it was her divine mission to free her country from the English, aid the dauphin gain the French throne, and became certain that she was to go and help the King. It was then she felt urged to present herself to the commander of the King for a neighboring town, Robert Baudr...