What I found interesting about Tuesday’s readings is that all three texts are intertwined. “The Legend of Melusine” and “The Faery at the Fountain” are the same story with “The Legend of Melusine” providing more of a general overview of the tale. Both stories mention that Raymond and his uncle (The Count of Poiters) were on a boar hunting trip in Colombier which accidentally ended in The Count dying by the hand of Raymond. This relates to “The Great Old Hunter” who is, Aimery the Count of Poiters, and ends with him giving his intent to go boar hunting in Colombier the following day, possibly the day he dies (pg 15). It was fun piecing these together in chronological order and building almost a movie in my head.
Although these texts don’t mention it, there are a few ways they relate to the character traits of mermaids/sirens. “The Legend of Melusine” and “The Faery at the Fountain” both describe Melusine as extremely beautiful, to the point where it’s “love at first sight” for Raymond and even lessens his guilt of killing of his uncle, “His former sadness, his remorse, even his exhaustion he threw off in exasperation.” (The Faery at the Fountain pg 27). “The Faery at the Fountain” describes Raymond possibly being deceived by Melusine, “If some of this was inclined towards deception, he did not notice but followed her willingly” (pg 28). Going back to “The Great Old Hunter” it says “She sang a lay so beautiful and sweet That birds who came to hear her song Soon after sang it too… Whose eyes, wide open, great and singular, are the best rulers of a bird” (pg 13). This relates to Sirens as we know are a hybrid between woman and bird and sing beautiful “lays” as mentioned in “Odysseus and the Sirens”.
One thing I found interesting was how Melusine is depicted as being involved in some sort of sorcery, “Dear friend, I give you these two wands whose stones have special virtue…preserves from accidental death by weapons…gives victory in any dispute or combat” (The Faery at the Fountain pg 28). In the same text she says, “you must promise not only to take me as your wife, but never again to doubt – you understand, never, sir knight – that I would conduct myself honestly and in a Christian manner, beyond any sorcery” (pg26). Even though she denies her involvement in sorcery, it sounds like sorcery to me.
Hey Jonah, interesting blog post! I felt the same movie-building vibe as I was reading through these stories too, which for me felt a bit strange as I haven’t read anything other than a textbook in a good three or four years. It felt like there was a lot of imagery pointing to mermaids and sirens without either term actually being used, and had I not been in this class it all probably would have gone over my head. And I also totally agree with you, Melusine does seem to have some pretty intense sorcery-like powers through the wands, rings, and fortune-telling abilities. I wonder if thats the case for all sirens/mermaid beings or if that is just reserved for Melusine.
Hi Jonah, you’re right about the different pieces of the stories coming together to become more coherent as we read more. I like how you connected the description of the sirens to the way that Raymond was seduced by Melusine. What I find fascinating is that the seduction from Melusine is in a sexual context, but with the Sirens the forbidden fruit is knowledge. I wonder if the translations of this story can change how the seduction is perceived by readers.