# Voltaire — Saint Joan character guide

> Voltaire in Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0017-the-maid-in-literature

## Who they are

Philosopher who wrote a satirical poem about Joan.

## In the story

### [The Maid in Literature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saint_joan_se/chapters/the-maid-in-literature)

Author of La Pucelle, a mock epic that burlesques Homer and uses Joan to ridicule the institutions and fashions of his day, though he is said to have let Joan off relatively easily compared to other characters.

### [Cruelty, Modern and Medieval](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saint_joan_se/chapters/cruelty-modern-and-medieval)

Mentioned as an example of an anti-clerical thinker, comparing Joan's stance to his.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saint_joan_se/characters/voltaire
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saint_joan_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/saint_joan_se/characters