Set, A Victim to Trust

Set hits all the right spots for me as a protagonist for a lot of reasons, amongst which is his being constantly wronged by people he trusts. I have noticed Set’s sensitivity to having his trust betrayed in multiple instances.

Before starting, as per usual, caution and warning. These are my inferences, but I shall be talking mainly about canon events. No speculations—merely analysis of Set being more trusting than he should when he knows better

1. First and foremost, and while it takes place in Chapters 40+, I think it’s the first betrayal that Set experienced.

Nephthys.

Nephthys was Set’s wife.

It is by nature that one would trust their wife, and for a man such as Set, a very trusting and very blindly loving character, he trusted her. While we still do not know the specifics, Nephthys nevertheless betrayed Set by running to Osiris in need.

We’ve been told she sought to bear a child to give the barren Set the child he so wished for (when he wanted a child merely for the fact that he believed it STRENGTHENS the love of two people) That in itself is a betrayal seeing as she didn’t understand Set’s pure intentions.

However the existence of two Nephthys’s and the latest revelation of her feelings toward Osiris is an entirely darker level of betrayal—she might have never even regarded him as a romantic love interest. Yes she may have respected him or held him dear—but that’s it…

2. In the same instance, Set was betrayed in multiple ways his older more knowledgeable brother, Osiris. First Osiris plotted with his wife behind Set’s back and gave her his own seed (despite the assumed lack of physical contact it’s still unethical in term of relationships.)

And he also betrayed Set regarding making Set barren—taking away from him the ability to create a child, something we know Set really held in high regards. (I mean this could be considered the first betrayal seeing as it took place even before his marriage to Neph)

Osiris’ proceeded to take Anubis, remove his soul, etc etc. This man knows no boundaries in regard to how much he has hurt Set. His desperation is something to behold.

3. His sister, Isis. It can go both ways in this case but while we focus on Set, let’s mention how he counted on her to accept his request of becoming his queen when he wanted both of them to get back at Osiris. She refused (due to her feeling betrayed by set). And he was broken.

Unfortunately in retaliation, our totally unstable Set decided to find Isis and kill her. But her betrayal doesn’t stop here. Isis further betrayed Set when she cursed him to never find happiness with Anubis, his only true love in this manhwa, his son.

Not only that but in the moment of his realization that she had witnessed the rape happen and kept quiet, he was shocked and u could not assume that the betrayal he felt was also on an entirely new level :/

It was reveleaed that he was aware of the curse and we obviously felt the coldness that had enveloped these previously tight siblings. So bitter…

4. While less mentioned and more often looked over, Set was also betrayed by none other than Sekhmet. We overlook it because we are aware that the God of Destruction is not trustworthy, and yet Set believed in Sekhmet’s words on two accounts:

Firstly when she whispered “words of jealousy” in his ear—in other words “told him of Nephthys’ affair”, and secondly when she convinced him to visit Horus chamber at night to commence with his evil plan—failed evil plan, might I mention.

In both occasions she had an ulterior motive that only benefited her amusement. First case was to watch Osiris’ plans fall apart, second was instigating the mirror (presumably).

5. This is also another less obvious case of betrayal that I believe Set is aware of but refuses to face. Have we all noticed how QUICK his parents were to turn away from him? We are now aware that Geb only cares for his Wife. But what bout the mother?

One would think he’s not even her son. You can clearly tell that Set still perceives them closely by his using “Mother, Father” to address them. But it’s obvious his disdain at their reappearance…

A small afterword, while I did say that I will prioritize a canon summary of all those instances in this thread, I can’t help but wonder slightly abt Set’s ability to trust. Yes, he should likely have trust issues, but I think the fact remains that Set is a trusting character.

I’m saying this in regard to Horus. He bares no ill will at Horus if you come to think of it. He is merely doing as he has to, to maintain his position. He doesn’t care for a young child being his mother’s toy. At the end of the day. set perceives Horus as a child.

And I think that this innocent look he has regarding Horus, may make him trust the young boy once he comes to realize what transpired in truth during that forsaken night. I can also see this soft spot he has toward Horus in his refusal to kill the boy despite his chances. Recall:

It’s a thought I fancy thinking I hope you enjoyed the thread and that no typos/errors escaped me. I did my best with this thread and pulled through at last, sorry for the tardiness. Love y’all, support ennead