While women's bodies change (and, as traditionally thought, their minds and hearts as well, being creatures of passion and emotion), it is nevertheless change which is typical - all women, or most in Joan's time, would have naturally gone through the changes of puberty, menses, and pregnancy. This was familiar and expected profanity, the result of Eve's ancient transgression. Joan, however, went through even greater changes. By acting and looking like a man, she expressed the fearful and reviled "chaotic and dangerous flux" like no other. Her fluctuations did not remain in the female realm only, but carried her over into the domain of the male. By assuming a male persona, taking action on her own initiative, altering history and establishing a monarchy, she had recreated herself in God's image. Her insistence that she acted in cooperation with the archangel Michael only meant that she had authority and power from God himself to transform the mundane, secular world - in essence, making her a priest
Apr 01 2006, 1:05 PM