The Wife of Martin Guerre, published by Janet Lewis in 1941, is based on a real-life account from the annals of 16th century French law. The story was later resurrected as a film titled The Return of Martin Guerre starring Gerard Depardieu.
On one level, the story is a simple tale, a tragedy, of deceit and loss among the Languedoc peasantry. On another level, one could read the tale as a symbol of time’s deception.
Martin Guerre has left his wife, Bertrande, for the ever-present wars down in the valleys. Eight years later another man, his double, returns to the village and claims to be Bertrande’s husband.
At first Bertrande believes him but her doubts grow over the years until finally the deception is revealed.
This is what happens as we journey through time. The one you married changes, grows old, literally turns into a different person. Bertrande clings to an illusion and refuses to recognize the truth of time, the truth of change.
On this symbolic level, Martin Guerre never really left. The years simply went by, the seasons unfolded one into the next and the young husband she knew was gone forever. Another man, an imposter, moved into his body. This was a change Bertrande could not accept. Even hanging the imposter could not bring back her Martin as she knew him. He was gone forever.