Out of sight out of mind Narrative From Day One, story three is a based on the love lives of four main characters contending with
lust and lies they create to hide their actions in an effort to protect their honor and marriages. This story reflects on the lives of
King Alfonso, Queen Maria and a handsome young couple who would be conspired against in the name of lust. The people lived in Naples during the 15th century, a time in which people marriages were arranged and one was able to maintain a love outside of marriage as long as it was not obvious. The couple was described without being named and makes me wonder if this is a true story and the events actually took place. The man is depicted as a honorable, noble character of high moral and wit that is beyond the grasp of his wife and the king. Although his wife is considered to be his equal in beauty and charm she is unable to resist the temptation of the king’s advances. Surprisingly, the lady, as I will refer to her, was able to forget her
husband and the love she had for him during the few weeks he was gone. How could this be called love? It is more like out of sight out of mind. She was showered with gifts from the king who had sent her husband away on business. The
lady did not deserve to have a faithful
loving husband if she can not be a faithfully loving wife. Was the husband unfaithful? No, he was working to take care of his wife. The husband did not accuse the wife of having an affair, even when he saw what was going on, he simply observed the situation. Eventually he realized the truth and considered that his best option was to say nothing so that he would not be punished. King Alfanso was more interested in spending time with the lady that with his reputation, after all he did meet the lady by going from one home to other in a disguise with a carnival. Eventually the king arrived at the coupled home and not only the best hosts but also the most beautiful woman in town. The king became so infatuated with the lady that throwing a succession of banquets for the nobility was all he could do to keep his lust hidden from the rest of the world. It is possible that the king’s imagination had taken over but it seems just as possible that when he looked into the lady’s eyes they made a connection. At that moment the king devised a plan to send the husband away to make his pray susceptible to his will. Although the king was successful in his pursuit of the lady, he failed to notice the fall of honor opening the door of jealousy and vengeance. Even when the king saw the antlers hanging on the wall of his mistress’s house he was unable to recognize the meaning of this symbol. In some cultures, when animal
horns are placed on or in a home it means that adultery has occurred within that home. Cabron is a slang term (in some dialects of Spanish) that is used to address adulterers, meaning that person has put the horns on the innocent one. The most interesting part of the story is the king actually read the inscription on the antlers “I am wearing the horns, everyone see that, But there is one who wears them and doesn’t know it.” How could he not realize his wife is now a cabrona and that he is wearing the horns? Queen Maria wanted to be an honorable, loving woman but she walked through the door her husband opened and into the arms of a secret love affair with vary gentleman who was married to her husbands mistress. This story is not a love triangle; it is a box, a box that is filled with lies, deceit, and betrayal.
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