Gossip Networks

The story of Martin Guerre is surely an interesting one. It's easy to see why such varying mediums picked it up as a basis for their interpretations. Seemingly however, the more accurate accounts portrayed by Natalie Zemon Davis bring to light great historical implications.

Arnaud du Tilh aka. Pansette aka. 'new Martin' is by far the most fascinating character  in Zemon's investigation. His motives could keep readers fascinated, historians busy, and authors inspired. I think, from a historical perspective, the gossip networks Zemon brings up on pages 39 and 40 to hit on one of the most fascinating aspects of the book. The fact that Arnaud was able to ascertain so much information about a single person through gossip. Not only the amount of information, but the sheer accuracy of it. Enough to buy the initial belief of Martin's family and friends. I don't think this point can be underscored enough.

As Zemon points out, Bertrande and several others must have known at some point that Arnaud was not Martin Guerre. This is almost self-evident. However, it must be said to, like in the case of his sisters, that there was quite a few people who were convinced that Pansette was Martin. Unless, as Zemon seems to discredit so readily, Martin and Arnauld did meet and plot out some scheme, Pansette learned of SUCH intimacy between Martin and Arnauld through these gossip networks. This goes to show not only how into each other's business villagers were, but the accuracy and intimacy of such knowledge. Events that took place between two individuals in private, could spread so far in the 16th century. As Zemon points out many had selfish reasons to espouse the identity of pseudo-Martin. With this said, there must have been such accuracy in his initial statements to those he met in Artigat. Knowing this has changed how I view gossip from similar instances of place and time. Surely, these things inherently grow and embellish over time, however it gives much credence to what other villagers have heard about their fellow neighbors when taken with a grain of salt. Zemon, didn't elaborate too much on these notions, but I find them to be the most fascinating of the book and some of the more informative.