Chapter 53: Mermaids – Summary & Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
While touring a French chapel, Avery studies mermaid motifs and reads the legend of Melusine—a two-tailed freshwater mermaid who married Count Raymond of the House of Lusignan. Melusine forbade her husband to see her during her weekly bath, where she would revert to her true form. When Raymond spied on her, chaos ensued, and Melusine eventually left the kingdom forever. Avery reflects that this story repeats across many versions: the female creature who does not conform to her lover’s expectations is ultimately rejected.
Avery wishes Henry were with her; they are both curious and enjoy wandering—Henry with his camera, Avery with her reading. But lately their relationship has felt strained. Henry recently criticized her for being on her phone during lunch, and though he had playfully pushed her phone down before, this time he walked away without a kiss. Avery attributes this to “The Ebony Effect”—Henry’s lingering attachment to his ex-fiancée.
After unexpectedly encountering Ebony at the cottage, Henry insisted it was fine to stay there, but his hollow laugh and changed posture betrayed his unease. Avery realizes she may be second-best. She decides she will not let the entire trip be ruined by Henry’s accident with his camera or by Ebony’s presence. As she reads more about Melusine, Avery sees the legend mirrored in her own situation: women whose true selves are deemed too complicated are driven away. She asks herself if she still has the courage to be with Henry.
Key Events
- Avery stands in a small chapel, reading about the Melusine legend from her ebook, a tourist pamphlet, and a translation of Jean d’Arras’s fourteenth-century book.
- She enjoys the myth’s details aloud with Ebony, who is with her.
- Avery reflects on her relationship with Henry: they are compatible in their curiosity, but Henry’s recent criticism of her phone use feels different.
- She recalls Henry’s description of why he left Ebony—significant issues related to Ebony’s brother’s death—noting that he showed discretion but his voice betrayed attachment.
- Avery remembers Henry’s hollow laugh and changed posture when they saw Ebony at the cottage, leading her to question whether Henry truly wanted to end that relationship.
- She determines not to let Henry’s camera accident or Ebony’s presence ruin her trip.
- Avery connects the mermaid myth to her own fear of being rejected for being “too complicated.”
- She grapples with whether she can remain with Henry knowing she might be second-best.
Character Development
- Avery shows a capacity for self-reflection, using the Melusine legend as a lens to examine her own romantic situation. She confronts her insecurity about being second-best and demonstrates a growing resolve to value her own worth.
- Henry is revealed through Avery’s memory: he remains emotionally entangled with Ebony, despite being the one who left. His body language and hollow laugh contradict his verbal reassurances.
- Ebony appears only through Avery’s observations, but her presence alone triggers tension. The chapter underscores her lasting impact on Henry without giving her direct dialogue.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The Mermaid Myth / Melusine Legend: Serves as a central allegory. The mermaid’s fate—rejection after her true form is exposed—mirrors Avery’s fear that her own complexity will cause Henry to leave or to never fully choose her.
- “The Ebony Effect”: Avery’s term for the lingering shadow of Henry’s previous relationship. It symbolizes unresolved emotional baggage that can undermine a new partnership.
- Curiosity and Compatibility: Avery notes that she and Henry are both curious and enjoy exploring, but this shared trait is threatened by their differing priorities (camera vs. reading) and by Henry’s unspoken regrets.
- Rejection for Non-Conformity: The chapter argues that women who do not fit a partner’s idealized image are often pushed away, whether in myth (Melusine) or reality (Ebony, possibly Avery).
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 53 deepens the novel’s examination of how past relationships haunt the present and how individuals interpret myths to understand their own lives. Avery’s intellectual engagement with the Melusine legend becomes an emotional turning point: she moves from passive acceptance of being second-best to active questioning of her worth. The chapter also reinforces the recurring motif of water creatures (snake-ladies, mermaids, seal-women) as symbols for women whose true natures are feared or rejected. By placing Avery in a chapel—a space of contemplation—the novel invites readers to consider whether love can survive when one partner views the other’s full identity as a monster.
Study Questions and Answers
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Question: How does the Melusine legend parallel Avery’s relationship with Henry?
Answer: Both the legend and Avery’s situation involve a man who initially accepts the woman’s nature (a mermaid/being Avery herself) but later spies on or criticizes her, leading to a breach. Avery fears Henry will reject her as Raymond rejected Melusine, because she is “too complicated”—like Ebony was. -
Question: What does “The Ebony Effect” tell us about Henry’s emotional state?
Answer: It reveals that Henry has not fully moved on from Ebony; his body language and hollow laugh after seeing her indicate regret and unresolved feelings. Avery suspects he left Ebony reluctantly, making her worry she is just a consolation. -
Question: Why does Avery decide not to let Henry’s accident or Ebony’s presence ruin her trip?
Answer: Avery chooses to claim some agency over her experience. By refusing to let external events spoil her time in France, she begins to assert her own desires and emotional boundaries—a small but significant step toward valuing herself over her role as Henry’s accommodating girlfriend.