# XXV: How Women Talked Together explained — Domnei

> Chapter companion for Domnei by James Branch Cabell.

## What happens

In the Women's Garden of Nacumera, Dame Melicent finds Callistion grieving beside the corpse of Diophantus, Demetrios' son. Callistion, now ruling through her own son, confronts Melicent about her beauty and the love of Demetrios. Their conversation reveals shared sorrow and jealousy, as Callistion threatens to destroy Melicent's beauty but ultimately refrains. Melicent speaks of her love for Perion, which Callistion cannot comprehend, and the two women share a moment of understanding about the pain of loving men who value fleeting beauty.

## Themes in this chapter

### Beauty and Its Perils

Melicent's beauty is both a source of power and a target of Callistion's jealousy and threat of mutilation.

### The Nature of True Love

Melicent contrasts her transcendent love for Perion with Callistion's possessive, grief-stricken love for Demetrios.

### Woman-Worship and Domnei

The conversation explores how women are idolized for their beauty yet suffer from the fickleness of male desire.

## Character check-ins

### Melicent

Confronts Callistion in the garden, speaks of her love for Perion, and shows compassion despite the threat.

### Callistion

Grieves for Demetrios, threatens Melicent's beauty, and reveals her own past love and pain.

### Demetrios

Recently dead; his love for both women is discussed, and his son Diophantus lies murdered.

### Perion de la Forêt

Mentioned by Melicent as her beloved, described as eagle-like and resolute.

### Orestes

Implied as the murderer of Diophantus, mentioned in the narrative.

## Key lines

> For all we women know, my sister, our appointed curse. To love the man, and to know the man loves just the lips and eyes Youth lends to us—oho, for such a little while! Yes, it is cruel. And therefore we are cruel—always in thought and, when occasion offers, in the deed.

Callistion says that women are cursed to love men who only value their youthful beauty, which leads to cruelty in return.

_Callistion articulates a cynical view of love and beauty, contrasting with Melicent's idealistic love for Perion._

> For of that mutual love she shared with Perion, so high and splendid that it made of grief a music, and wrung a new sustainment out of every cross, as men get cordials of bitter herbs, she knew there was no comprehension here.

Melicent realizes that Callistion cannot understand the deep, sustaining love she has with Perion.

_Highlights the thematic contrast between true love and possessive love._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/domnei_se/chapters/xxv-how-women-talked-together
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/domnei_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/domnei_se/chapters