Janet Lewis's short story, Martin Guerre's Wife, describes a woman's quest for truth, faced with the breakdown of practices and beliefs patriarchal and traditional religious beliefs of his community. Set in a rigid 16th century society, which demands submission and silence in exchange for stability, authority and security, Bertrande faces a dilemma: sacrificing the happiness of her family and community for her own conscience, or sacrifice one's conscience for one's family. The heavy price society exacts for stability, authority, and security manifests itself through stifling traditions, the choice between truth and lies, and the question of identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay In Martin Guerre's Wife, Martin rebels against the tradition in which he was raised. It is a consequence of the inflexible justice he receives from paternal authority. The novella takes place in the French village of Artigues, known for defending “the feudal structure”. Every aspect of life was controlled by this structure for over 300 years, like "the rubbing of garlic on Sanxi's lips." This repetition of tradition can be stifling and restrictive. Martin rebels against the paternal authority conferred by society. The inflexible justice he receives from his father, “the accumulated authority of antiquity,” leads to his departure. When Monsieur Guerre discovers the real reason for his son's departure, he is shocked and disappointed, reflecting society's reaction to disobedience. Lewis uses the character of Martin to explore how individuals in society can act under constraints and rigidity, and how such rebellion shapes them. Bertrande's choice between truth and lies highlights how his own needs must be overcome in the needs of the community. Bertrande, at the cost of his own downfall, goes against this unwritten social rule. When Bertrande finds her husband for the first time, she experiences “a suspicion” that she hopes will pass. On the contrary, suspicions grow stronger, to the point of endangering his physical health. When she reveals this to the other members of the "mesnia", she is told not to think about such things. After Martin's arrest, the village begged her to drop the charges, to which Bertrande responded: "How can I deny the truth?" Martin's youngest sister says this is "only the truth for you." This governess wishes that Bertrande was “deceived again… we were all happy then”. The priest also tries to convince Bertrande that if there was evil, God would reveal it in due time. This is characteristic of the priest, a significant member of this society, educated and experienced and whose word is law. This represents the pressure that society places on those who disobey, and the underlying pressure that everything must be done for the good of the community, a collective society without individuals. Since there is no individual in such a collective society, there is no individual identity. . Every individual identity is submerged in a communal identity. As the title indicates, Bertrande, as a woman, has no identity, she is simply "the wife of Martin Guerre". In the 16th century, women were considered subordinate to men and second-class citizens. Their only role was that of wife and mother, and, in a village like Artigues, of agricultural laborer. Everything they did was for the good of the family and, in general, the community. During Arnaud's reign and during the trial, Bertrande is faced with the dilemma of identity: is she.