An analysis of Natalie Zemon Davis' interesting book "The Return of Martin Guerre".

Although most, if not all, would assume the lives of peasants are insignificant in the greater scheme of things, the popular story of Martin Guerre unfolds via peasants making major, life-altering decisions based on self-interest. The individual lives of the peasants do make a difference. Natalie Zemon Davis tells the tale of peasants looking out for themselves in The Return of Martin Guerre, and rarely do they allow others to interfere with their own goals …

…which gives credibility to his writing. Davis uses questionable foundations for her book, but she certainly has something important to tell; peasants of this time made decisions for themselves out of self-interest, without regarding the emotions of others. These decisions have rattled the courts of centuries past and the minds of today's historians. The tale of Martin Guerre is one of manipulation, vice, and pride; the only gifts recognized by peasants as having any use.