Dark Desires

One of the strongest emotions all people experience is desire, but we are taught through society techniques that may suppress these temptations. However, there are times in which we give into these temptations and fall prey to these cravings. Thankfully there is guidance provided from those we love, along with time, and patience, that make us aware that if we give into our desires we become vulnerable and weak. Which allows others if they wish, to control and manipulate us. In the poem Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti, Laura is tempted by the goblin market men to buy the fruits they sell, which in the beginning of the poem doesn’t mention that there will be any consequences from consuming them. However, Lizzie is confident that “their offers should not charm us, their evil gifts would harm us” and out of fear and lack of knowledge runs away from the goblin market men and their tempting fruit. Laura on the other hand is not fazed by her sisters warning and decides to pursue the goblins due to her desire for knowledge. This scene is similar to a scene from the 1992 film of Dracula, which was not in the novel, where Mina stumbles upon an Arabian book that displays an illustration of a man and women in obscure sexual positions. She is extremely embarrassed by what she has stumbled upon because Lucy caught her glimpsing at the illustration; however, rather than criticizing Mina for looking upon something so un lady-like she giggles and encourages her to look on. Lucy like Laura easily gives into the temptation of knowledge, but Mina like Lizzie fears the consequences and is not easily persuaded. However, the difference within similarity between Mina and Lizzie is that Mina eventually gives into the temptations, while Lizzie even when the goblins “held her hands and squeezed their fruits against her mouth to make her eat” refused to give into the desires, which in the end saves her sister and makes her a stronger female character compared to Mina.