In entirely unrelated news: whenever I write Redmond I can’t help but think of this article about werewolves as metaphors for domestic abusers in medieval literature, and how it unpacks the story Bisclavret:
“That Bisclavret is not an abusive husband is not the point. The wife has heard the stories. She knows abusive relationships. And she is convinced that she is in one—or about to be. These circumstances are what fuel her actions.
So, we are left with a very difficult question: what is ethical for a victim of domestic violence to do in order to escape their abuser?”
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“Telling him about her husband and promising her love in return, she convinces him to steal Bisclavret’s clothes, preventing his return to human form. There is no question: this is an act of betrayal. Bisclavret does not deserve this. But, it is what she clearly felt she needed to do to prevent the abuse she saw in the future. If her fears had proven true, would we blame her? “
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