I would totally read that thesis if someone were to ever write it, even though I'm not typically much for reading academic essays outside of research for my college assignments. Based on your comments, Raoul is definitely the victim, enough that it makes me wonder if de Mattos had some bias against him...

And that image of Raoul trying to muzzle his heart just hits me right in the feels </3 It makes you really understand why he later thinks "if any one was to be pitied, it was he, Raoul. It would have been quite natural if she had said, "Poor Raoul," after what had happened between them.".