The Return of Martin Guerre

This symbol of a lifelong union between a man and wife should represent stability and togetherness, but for Martin Guerre and Bertrande de Rols, their marriage bed represented dysfunction, incompatibility, and ridicule. The instability of their marriage had its origins in the unsuccessful first attempts at consummating soon after the conclusion of the wedding ceremony. Eventually, this problem was remedied by yet another woman, which may have further emasculated Martin.

Martin had grown up in a household full of women, led by two overbearing men, his father and his uncle. Martin’s impotence was the likely result of an over-pressured situation on a young boy with few encouraging male role models. When he first found himself in his marriage bed with Bertrande, Martin likely had little understanding of what was required of him. In contrast, Arnaud du Tilhhad an excess of knowledge that he gained during his hedonistic youth pursuing women and other pleasures. The marriage bed Arnaud shared with Bertrande was perhaps a steadier one, representing the happy union Bertrande may have hoped for in Martin.