The Nature of Truth in the Killing of the Doves

The passage in which Bertrande’s housekeeper kills the doves is a notable scene in The Wife of Martin Guerre. I find it especially interesting because I believe it can be read in two ways. The dove, likely symbolic of greater characters in the story, can be representative either of Bertrande herself, or of the people around her. 

Bertrande is certainly a typical dove figure in this novel. She carries out her life as the picture of innocence and sweetness, caring only for her beloved husband and child. Her innocence, however, is destroyed by her relationship with her husband’s impostor. Thus, the bird that the housekeeper kills parallels Bertrande’s situation as its “dark blood [drips] slowly from a cut in its throat into an earthen dish.” As the moment progresses, a “barred gray cat” approaches to “put out a rasping pale tongue and [lick] the blood.” While this cat, finding pleasure in the dove’s demise, could represent the impostor, I find it to be more representative of the people Bertrande is surrounded with, such as her husband’s family and the people of her village. They do not actively participate in her ruin, but they allow it to progress. They also find some enjoyment in the consequences, for the people in Artigues love the man they believe to be a changed Martin Guerre. These people are blind to the horror of Bertrande’s situation, just as the cat is blind to the horror of drinking innocent blood. In this case, the housekeeper herself acts as the impostor husband, who continues his actions even as Bertrande deteriorates. In the same way, the housekeeper continues with her execution even as “the living dove [turns] its head this way and that, [struggling] a little.” It is thus with “pity and comprehension” that Bertrande regards the small bird. 

On the other hand, the passage could be read as a depiction of the despair of those who love Martin Guerre’s impostor. Bertrande’s determination to have the impostor ruined leads to the loss of all happiness from the lives of those around her. Thus, she is no better than the housekeeper, who creates a pile of “soft gray-feathered bodies.” She fills the dish so high with blood that it “[spills] over slightly,” just as Bertrande’s accusation fills the village and the household with nothing but melancholy. Crucial too is the sense of indecency and pointlessness that comes with the killing of doves. Perhaps Bertrande’s bitterness is unnecessary, for though she is in misery, she should perhaps try to save others from feeling pain. 

Bertrande responds to this idea in the dialogue following the killing of the doves. As she says, “What would you have me do?...The truth is only the truth. I cannot change it, if I would.” Bertrande defends herself with a statement that seems very commonsense. An individual cannot manipulate the truth, for there is only one truth. It is an individual’s responsibility to strive for this truth. It is also a necessity, for living alongside falsehood is uncomfortable and upsetting. The housekeeper, however, responds in an interesting way, saying “Madame, I would have you still be deceived. We were all happy then.” Her reply resonates with us just as much as Bertrande’s questioning. Though a bold statement, it seems possible to readers that maybe happiness is more important that truth. If people are satisfied with a falsehood, then perhaps it is selfish to attempt to open their eyes. 

This ambiguity is key in Lewis’s The Wife of Martin Guerre. On a basic level, it is represented by the ambiguity of the symbol of the dove, which can represent either Bertrande or her surroundings. Lewis’s novel asks important questions about the nature of truth, its subjective interpretations, and the individual’s role and responsibility in relation to this truth.