After reading the text from Chapter 14, “Betrayal” pg. 119-125, I had an epiphany. While Raymondin went against Melusine’s wishes, he was also betrayed by his lover. Not knowing Melusine’s secret drove him insane, “It was as if his reason, blind to other issues, was confined to a desperate will to know, which ended almost transforming him into another being” Pg. 120. This line from the text is reminiscent of other sub-human creatures we have learned about in class. Sirens for example, hold knowledge, and with knowledge comes power. Raymondin’s desire to know all leads him to become someone other than who he is, simply because of his own selfish desires. Even though he went against Melusine’s request, his betrayal felt justified because at least he was fighting to save her from “the devil”, which are really his own internal demons he was trying to save himself from, not to mention, “[…] he fought on the side of God” Pg. 121.

Another interesting thing to note is how it brought Raymondin peace in having the thought of killing the faun within the tapestry, “[…] a lively faun with open legs, and on its forehead two long horns that seemed to mock him” Pg. 119. The way the faun was posed with its legs, almost resembling what Melusine in her true form would look like, although a split tail wasn’t mentioned in her reveal to Raymondin. The betrayal for Raymondin may also be in how he can’t find peace in killing her, unlike the faun. Besides the obvious dishonesty between the two, this was the ultimate betrayal, given his love for Melusine.