This post is about Chapter 14: Betrayal

This chapter focuses on Raymondin being deathly curious about what Melusine is doing privately during the one day he can’t see her. From what I can understand it seems to prove what I thought in my previous post where Raymondin was tempted/egged on to seek the truth. From this quote on page 121, “There where he had never been before. Neither he, nor anyone, except her – and – who else? He believed there must be someone, but without entirely believing it”, it seems Raymondin is driven by jealously and paranoia. Once the thought of Melusine doing something behind his back with another person (implied a man) he becomes “Suddenly frantic” (121). I like how in this chapter we focus on Raymondin’s perspective and are given more of a reasoning why he breached the trust between him and Melusine, despite all the love he held for his wife he is still human and allowed his insecurities to drive him. Admitting being unable to understand why he wasn’t deathly curious before, “He could no longer understand why he waited”. I would like to point out while this can be seen as infidelity, a man being possessive, alongside possibly control, Raymondin’s jealously soon shifts to concern.

“Suddenly a terrible idea seized him. Suppose he came from the parapet, out of the high airs? Could it be the Devil…? The painful thought of what he might be undertaking, despite his grief and shame, slightly relieved his jealousy, and even strengthened him. Ah! If that should be the case he would be sure to win, since he fought on the side of God! And above all, to save her! It seemed to him that when he rescued her she would thank him for overcoming the evil.” (121)

One can see this as him deflecting/downplaying his jealously but he has little evidence to go off of that Melusine could be cheating. As she only spends one day a week without letting anyone see her, and Raymondin more alludes to someone, aka anyone, seeing something he’s can’t as the main reason for his jealously. I see this part as Raymondin now seeing it as an odd situation, why is Melusine going off on her own for a single day every week? I believe he thinks something else is going on and is shown even more terrified that his beloved wife could be in danger. This serves as a sympathetic way to tell the reader that while Raymondin’s actions were unfounded and aren’t justified, they are understandable. Showing the situation is black and white, and it simply isn’t a breach of trust or Raymondin not believing in his wife enough.