Nature
Shaw evokes elements of the natural world to symbolize freedom from institutional bonds. While most characters in Saint Joan subscribe to ideologies espoused by institutions like the Church or the monarchy and justify their actions…
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Tables
Tables, which Shaw writes very purposely into Saint Joan’s stage directions, represent institutional order. Tables appear throughout the play to symbolize the power and influence of the social institutions actively at play in any…
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Joan’s Armor
Shaw uses Joan’s armor and male attire to emphasize how boldly and incessantly Joan subverts the misogynist norms embraced by medieval society. Joan’s armor—and, more generally, her decision to wear men’s clothing—is a frequent…
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