Unlike his mother, Raoul thrived in the harsh circumstances into which he was born. From his teenage days as a bouncer at his mother's brothel to his numerous con schemes and career as a burglar, he's always made the best of the situation and tried to claw his way to the top. He had a fairly comfortable life going before his mother took him aside and suggested the marriage to cousin Emma. He had heard from his "Uncle" Beranger of the family's history and his mouth watered at the chance to become an heir to the fortune and power implied. He had no idea what he was really getting into when he agreed to go to Lafayette and do his duty in perpetrating the family line.
What he found, on his arrival, was a girl barely eleven for his bride and a supernatural clan of byzantine inclinations. It took him time to adjust, but he gradually was able to grow used to the reality of life among the Brasseaux and Prejeans, probably because of the affinity of the blood flowing through his veins. Though he was something of an outsider, his marriage to Emma and their prolific progeny gave them status in the eyes of the Matriarch and the other elders of the family, and Raoul used this to the best of his abilities to gain ground in the complicated family politics. To his surprise, his wife proved to be a useful and eager ally in his schemes, and the two wove their way through the years, gaining power and influence.
The beginning of the end was when the Jean-Michel Embraced Emma. At first, both of them were anxious at the new opportunities this would open up for them, but as time went on, his wife grew more distant and it became obvious that she was pursuing her own agenda, one which he was not a part of. In addition, without a living wife to continue to produce children, he was swiftly losing status in the household. Currently, he is desperate to find a way to regain face. He is even contemplating marrying one of Jocelyn's children. The situation isn't helped by Gil and Gui's hostility towards him and he fears he will be pushed out if he doesn't find some leverage soon.
Raoul is an utter bastard and a schemer, always looking to advance his own position at the expense of others. He is adept at manipulating people into doing what he wants, but tends to not be subtle about it, using intimidation and blatant emotional manipulation to force their hand. In person, he tends to come off as brutish and somewhat sleazy, and his taste for causing others anguish is hard to miss.
Raoul hates his wife. First, for not including him in her affairs since her Embrace, which he sees as a deep betrayel, and second, because her distancing of herself from him has made his position in the family more tenuous. Because he was not born in Lafayette, most of the family still treats him as something of an outsider, now more than when he was married to one of their own.
He doesn't love his mother, either, but finds her to be a useful tool. He knows her buttons better than any other and uses them to get what he wants from her, even going so far as to rape her on several occasions (the first time was when he was fifteen), in order to keep her submissive to him. He is, however, utterly unaware of who his father is and barely gives Beranger a second thought most of the time, despite how often he was around when Raoul was growing up. Also, despite what his mother may think, he is aware of what Sevis is up to with her (in fact, he suggested it) and is proud of the boy in general.
When he first came to Lafayette, he feared the kindred. This fear slowly turned to a wariness as he got used to them and has now transformed into hatred. They dominate the family and he knows he has little chance of coming into what he now considers his rightful inheritance while they exist. Further fueling his anger is his indignation at having his wife stolen from him to become the pawn of another. Thus, the brunt of his rage is focused on the Tzimisce. As for Father Sicard, he finds the man pathetic and laughable, dismissing him entirely, while he is actually quite fond of Henri and has pondered trying to turn him against the others (though he's not sure how, given the Ravnos' ever-changing inclinations).
He tends to avoid the Brasseaux when he can, both because he has no interest in their affairs and because he fears unwittingly raising the ire of the Matriarch and her lapdogs. He is, however, cordial towards them and has even had some rather friendly discussions with Gerard and Jocelyn over household affairs. He has only recently become aware of his sister-in-law's resentment for his wife and has been nurturing it slowly, hoping, perhaps, to ally with Ida in her attempt to gain control of the family.