Fidelio

I am posting this excerpt from Paulo Coelho’s The Witch of Portobello that I also posted on my now-private old blog some few years ago. I have so many things to say about infidelity, but that would make a thesis (or a mission statement). Obviously, I am against it and I have no respect for people who practice it. I have even stronger feelings against women who are infidels.

About a month or so ago, a high school batchmate “humiliated” another high school batchmate who, allegedly (as I would like to give the other woman the benefit of the daw…I mean, doubt), is having an affair with her husband in her Facebook status.

I bet my life you guys are shaking your heads right now.

To make the status-posting worse, this woman has her kids in her friend list.

IKR?

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut

photo credit: thirtyframesasecond

Anyway, two women in the book are talking about infidelity and how women, who are “victims”, react when they find out about their husband’s affairs. One of the women referred to the ultimate playboy, the Greek god, Zeus, and his official wife, Hera:

“….Immediately after the ceremony, however, the great king of Olympus returned to his playboy lifestyle, seducing any woman, mortal or immortal, who happened by. Hera, however, remained faithful. Rather than blame her husband, she blamed the women for their loose behavior.”

“Isn’t that what we all do?”

“Then she decided to give him a taste of his own medicine and find a god or a man to take to her bed….

…Zeus was horrified by her behavior, but Hera was leading an independent life and didn’t give two hoots about her marriage….

Zeus, afraid of losing his beloved, pretended that he was getting married again. When Hera found out, she saw that things had gone too far. Lovers were one thing, but divorce was unthinkable.”

“Nothing new there, then.”

“She decided to go to the ceremony and kick up a fuss, and it was only then that she realized Zeus was marrying a statue.”

“What did Hera do?”

“She roared with laughter. That broke the ice between them, and she became once more the queen of the skies.”
“Great….

If your man gets himself another woman, don’t foget to laugh.”

“I’m not a goddess. I’d be much more vengeful.”

And, yes. That’s what we do. We are more vengeful…but only to the other woman. We find it in ourselves to forgive our just-as-guilty-husbands.

Well, who am I to judge what women do? I haven’t experienced anything like this. I mean, I’ve been cheated on, but I wasn’t married to the guy and we broke up when he had the guts to confess.

Still, though. Facebook status? In her attempt to humiliate the other woman, wasnt she just embarrassing herself and her children?

P.S.

They’re still together.