Throughout the 19th century, sex out of wedlock was restrained on all women. This is a time where women were not to have or speak of sex until they were married. Any woman who had sex was deemed unpure and would not be capable of marriage. In this society, women were to get married, take care of the home, and give birth and take care of the children. In the 1800s men became “weak” and were not able to take control of their sexual desires, therefore, causing taboos to open. This is a time where prostitution began to flourish. This relates to Laura, she was tempted and was became “weak” to the goblin’s fruits. She was intrigued and had to know how they tasted. She then gave in to temptations and when she took their fruit, she became impure, which is why she became ill. Like the women having to fight the urges to sexual temptations, Laura was now impure to find a husband. This is why when Laura took of the fruit, the goblins took a lock of her hair, to symbolize her impurity. 

Sexual repression and its causes. reasons and effects. Victorian Era. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2021, from http://victorian-era.org/sexual-repression-in-the-victorian-era.html.