ough the lay chain of command instead of the Church or how she had never taken third vows, dedicating herself to God (p.93). If Joan’s connection with God is not through the Church, then what connection with God does the Church have? Joan is undermining the authority and ability of the Church’s representation of God, and is therefore denying the Church. If the Church’s power is questionable then the Church’s influence on the French will diminish, and as a result the Church must either kill Joan or prove her to be a fake.For the most part, Charles uses Joan as a way to make himself look better. The question of power and the influence of the people is the main issue in the abandonment of Joan. Charles’s decision to abandon Joan may make him seem as a terrible, ruthless ruler, but it really ensures that he is the rightful king of France, because his decision, politically, ascertains that he is a powerful and wise king. If Charles stayed behind Joan and if she continued to fail, then that would only make him look bad and it would also show that he is weak king relying on a woman. Charles must also side with the Church over Joan because the Church’s influence is on a much larger scale than with Joan. Charles relationship with the Church becomes tighter and his power as king of France becomes stronger when he ditches Joan. Joan’s divine mission is truly fulfilled because she does crown the true king, she does help to push the English and Burgundians out of France, and she does help to unite France under one wise and powerful king. ...
