In The Romance of the Faery Melusine the violation of Melusine’s boundaries when her husband Raymondin disregards their agreement of her seclusion on Saturdays, reflects the patriarchal fear of autonomy in women and the unknown. When boundaries are violated domestically or politically it creates distrust in partners, severing a relationship which brought prosperity and safety to them and their society.
On the first meeting of Melusine and Raymondin he comes to her in a position of weakness. “too broken to have any pressing need for the unknown” (Lebey, 23). He has killed a family member and fears the retribution of his family, leaving him isolated and ready to flee his homelands. Melusine offers him an alternative to this fate by joining in a marital alliance with him, promising “without me, without my counsel, you cannot escape being accused of murder…if you listen to me, and take account of what I say, I promise to make you the greatest lord of your line and the wealthiest” (25). She is offering a partnership that will not only save him from the consequences of his actions but also improving on the position he held before the crime he committed. In return she asks for a marriage between the two and his acceptance of her maintaining a boundary of her body and time.
He agrees to this martial alliance, in part for its favorable promised outcome but also because he is enamored with her beauty. It is a beneficial relationship, marriages of his position were often made for the alliance of two families and territories, desire for the spouse was not necessary. Though in his reasoning he is pulled by the thoughts about her of “whom he wanted to know more and more, and above all to possess” (27). This attitude towards Melusine as being a possession was and is a mindset of some who dehumanize women or wives, as they do not find them to be equal to men. A woman can be to some another territory to conquer and rule over.
When Raymondin does agree to her terms, unlike when he first meets her “he began to feel a man again, full of vigour” (26). This alliance has strengthened him, not only in his mind but in his position in the world. He is not alone, but now part of team.
In political alliances, while each partner maintains their own territory it does present a united front that is larger than they are on their own. Like in the marriage of Raymondin and Melusine, political alliances give access to shared monetary and defense resources. If a foreign or domestic threat strikes at the alliance, they are attacking a united front. When kingdoms and countries form alliances it is to benefit both and within this political relationship there is an emphasis of mutual respect for each other’s autonomy.
Melusine does keep her promise of the alliance. Raymondin and the heirs she births into the world accomplish and conquer many things, pursuing their own journey of the unknown. Her upholding of their alliance benefits both as well as their family. The marriage is not without problems as the children have various forms of deformities, but Raymondin is still made happy by the marriage and the success it has given him.
Raymondin has kept his vow as well, respecting Melusine’s boundary of not seeing her on Saturdays. Though as time has passed Raymondin has grown comfortable in this position of power and forgets the position he once occupied which his wife secured for him with her power and resources. Relationships both personal and political evolve with time but also can stagnate when not nourished. It is only when a cousin of Raymondin, a part of his family he once feared for retribution, calls into question Melusine’s fidelity in claiming this time for herself does Raymondin think to violate his marital vow.
This is an interesting departure of commitment for Raymondin to Melusine. Raymondin has had the privilege to age, he is no longer fueled by a need for the unknown in the world outside of the castle Melusine built for him. He has conquered parts of the world as has his sons, which he is reminded of while reading a letter from them before he breaks the boundaries of his wife’s territory. This coupled with the suggestion of his cousin about Melusine reignites this desire for the unknown, because Melusine with her boundary was not entirely his possession like he hoped for when they first met. She still maintained the autonomy of her own body, her territory. She had not been conquered and enveloped into his territory. His cousin reminds him of this inadequacy, setting off the events that will lead to the destruction of the marital alliance.
Raymondin often refers to honour, in his first meeting of his wife and then while he prepares for the violation of their agreement. Later Raymondin declares, “women do not know, know nothing of what we call Honour!” (138). While he has thought of Melusine and himself as one, he conveniently separates her from himself in this statement. Implying woman do not have the capability of honour like men, it categorizes Melusine’s position as his partner as not being equal. After she sees this disrespect towards her and all she has provided him in their long relationship the alliance is broken and the power they both held together.
There are consequences of this broken alliance with violating her boundary, Melusine’s fate is now to be separated from Raymondin and her soul unable to reach a Christian afterlife. She then explains after Raymondin is out of power, “no man will be able to hold the country in such peace as we have seen” (142). Outside of him not having the same strength as their united front, betraying her reflects on his character and will change the perception of any alliance he hopes to make after. Raymondin is now isolated and not trustworthy in the political and personal realm. He is a now target for those who were not strong enough to conquer his empire when it was strengthen by his marital alliance. Making Melusine’s prophecy true, because once a great territory loses its footing it is nearly impossible to recover. There will be stain of his betrayal in his life and heirs with the fallout of the turbulent political environment he created by not honouring the sovereignty of another.
Work Cited:
Lebey, André, and Gareth Knight. The Romance of the Faery Melusine. Skylight, 2011.