This week, “The Faery at the Fountain” reading really caught my interest. I say this because I was fascinated by the way that mermaids are the center of the story, but the terms “mermaid” nor “merpeople” are never ever used, simply alluded to. I am not quite sure what it was, but I felt myself on the edge of my seat waiting for the “Merpeople” word to be dropped, but the author just kept indirectly hinting away bit by bit. Two questions from this story remained unanswered for me with the first being who the other ladies were. Were they other mermaids? Were they spirits, or were any of the ladies even real? Are they, as a group of three celestial beings in a christian story, supposed to resemble the holy trinity? Being a Christian story, it doesn’t seem to possess the typical ‘forgiveness’ or ‘repent your sins’ type of theme (especially considering the main character murdered his family members), but instead takes the theme of deception and not owning up to one’s wrongdoings. The second question I had after reading this story is why Raymondin? He is quite-literally fleeing home after killing his family members… has he done something of more importance in the past? Why does he get away with murder and still receive the riches of the world? In my opinion it seems like a strange character to be involved with merpeople and I wonder if there is another layer/reasoning behind it that I am missing. 

In comparing this story to other readings we have had so far, something that immediately clicked for me was the way that Melusine will disappear every Saturday without explanation. This reminds me of Oannes, who also disappeared into the horizon/water every evening. You know they are going somewhere but neither story directly addresses where. Are they off to a place of higher existence? A place where all of this ‘hidden’ and ‘undisclosed’ knowledge unbeknownst to mankind is? I’m not sure what is happening, but I sure am curious to know more about this mystical place that merpeople seem to be running towards when they disappear.