In chapter 22, “Departure,” of The Romance of the Faery Melusine, the author explores the aftermath of Raymondin’s violation of his vows due to curiosity, leading to an internal struggle both Raymondin and Melusine face concerning Melusine’s true nature. Raymondin’s and Melusine’s internal conscience alternates between who is at fault and how this relationship can prevail, Raymondin or Melusine: “He, through his curiosity, she, without it being her fault, by her very nature. And he no doubt threw the fault on her, and she told herself that they would still be happy but for his cursed curiosity” (142). Deep down, Raymondin acknowledges that his actions are his own responsibility, yet he continues to project his guilt onto Melusine’s nature. Melusine acknowledges that curiosity is damaging, but remains hopeful that Raymondin will overcome. The themes of curiosity as destruction and desire for knowledge not only depict the betrayal of a tragic love story, but also a broader metaphor about the way humans treat the natural world. 

The use of fragmented, Elliptical Syntax showcases stream-of-consciousness narration of the tangled thought process of Raymondin’s moral battle. Raymondin feels as if his curiosity is bound to her, “He, through his curiosity, she,” projecting his desire of overwhelming curiosity onto her. That idea that he is to inherently carry the curiosity of desiring the knowledge of what takes place on Melusine’s sacred Saturdays. Melusine’s inevitability cannot change who she is, “Without it being her fault, by her very nature”, by nature she is half serpent. This realization displays that Melusine cannot be blamed for what provokes his curiosity. In no way did Melusine taunt or consent to the action ot idea of Raymondin peering into her Saturday rituals. Raymondin understands her nature; his curiosity within him is self-created by his mind’s doing, though he chooses to harbor resentment, “threw fault on her” within his own insecurity and blame Melusine for his weakness, knowing she is not at fault. 

Throughout all the time Melusine held Raymondidn in such a high regard, as a true love with honor.  Melusine understood that Raymondine would have a sense of curiosity, “And she told herself that they would still be happy for his cursed curiosity”. Still, she was hopeful that their love and trust for one another would prevail over the corrosive thoughts of curiosity. The idea that curiosity can be a “curse” suggests that it may have harmful effects and would ultimately lead to one’s demise. Despite Melusine’s high optimism for this marriage, she understands that the possibility of destruction is held within the hands of her lover. Raymondin’s act of invading Melusine’s ritual is an act driven by his cursed curiosity, an example of humans’ desire for control.  

Melsuine part-fae and part-human straddles the line between human and non-human; she is the embodiment of nature: the other, and unknown to humans. Raymondin’s desire for control and knowledge over Melusine’s nature parallels how people treat the environment, viewing it as a place to conquer, dominate, and exploit rather than respect. Similar to Melusine, the environment is not at fault for its nature; the environment cannot control its unpredictability, therefore, cannot be blamed for its behavior. Meanwhile, humans’ response to nature, when nature reaches its limit, is to blame, or humans are set to find a new alternative way to dominate. The belief that “they would still be happy” despite their betrayal reflects a toxic sense of hope that humans can violate natural limits and maintain harmony with the environment. 

In conclusion, The Romance of the Faery Melusine becomes an allegory for humans’ own “cursed curiosity,” the continuous drive to pierce ecological boundaries in the name of knowledge, control, and power, even at the cost of irreparable damage.