Guerre Bear

Close Reading of the Bear Killing (24-25)

            ‘A year went by, during which Bertrande was aware of no other sentiment for her husband than a mild gratitude for his leaving her alone.’ (23) At this point in the novel, the young couple has lived side by side for over a year and there is still a certain distance between them. The thing Martin’s wife is most grateful for is that he has not paid her much attention. Despite this apparent remoteness, a certain amount of affection has gradually developed, which the incident with the bear brings to light.

            Bertrande witnesses her husband’s excitement as he triumphantly returns to his father’s house having just killed a bear. ‘He was exultant’ and ‘the door burst open,’ but rapidly his exuberance subsides as the reality of the punishment that awaits him becomes apparent. He ‘recounted, more briefly than he had intended, the adventures of his day.’ Martin was so proud of his accomplishment and we can see his youthful excitement quickly and sadly subside. After a brief exchange, his father punches him and then returns to the prayers. Martin says nothing, his mother only catches her breath, and the rest of the household prays and then disperses to bed. This is the first time Bertrande is really able to sympathize with him and the author abbreviates the other’s responses to allow for this wonderful moment in which she emotionally becomes the wife of Martin Guerre.

            We get this image of the entire household asleep while the young couple, ‘enclosed in their bed,’ shares an intimate moment. Their conversation is juxtaposed to that between father and son just a few lines before. She is the first to break the silence by asking if he is awake. We can imagine the two of them just laying in bed, unable to sleep, him in pain and her kept up by concern for his wellbeing. His response is brief, but less so than it was to his father. With three short sentences we can imagine him gradually expanding to accommodate for her response. And, in a whisper, she sides with him expressing her private allegiance. Again he responds in several short sentences but this time he ends with a question. He values her opinion, he admits he was afraid, he opens himself up and she responds fervently and positively.

            In this scene an enormous amount is said without words, first from father to son, in the violent punishment without a verbal disapproval, and then from husband to wife, as he gently rests his arm on her shoulder. Martin agrees silently, with his heart, just as his father might have with his son’s brave actions but could not verbally acknowledge without undermining his authority. He exposes himself and an opinion he could not have given to his father. Bertrande realizes that this validates their relationship. ‘Martin belonged to her.’ When Martin’s mother explains to him that his father had to physically punish him, she indicates that the women in this novel understand these formalities and also the warmth that lies beneath them.