The only task Adam and Eve were given by God was to not eat one singular fruit. Even the first of God’s creations had a lack of restraint and self control. I proudly admit that I would eat the fruit without a second thought. Restraint is useless in a world that everyone takes what they want. That is how I live. Every soul has a desire and they will eventually give into it. The proof of this lies in the story itself, people are only driven by their wants. Every being has an endless appetite that will never be satisfied and consumes you, but you have to feed it. I feed mine and I witness people feeding their temptations every day, from buying a sweet fruit or indulging in their secret desires.
The consequences Adam and Eve face after they conceded are not the moral of this story. This biblical tale is merely just a reflection of human nature. They are weak, they give into deceptions and illusions. They walk into traps perfectly curated to fool them. And if things do not go as simply as desired you can just take and take, like Adam and Eve picked the forbidden fruit from the tree. Both knew it was wrong but walked into the trap nonetheless. I have bared witness to foolish people walking into these traps. I have used these same methods myself and the weak will fall for it every time. People are driven by allure, their temptations, and desire all for a moment of satisfaction.
Editorial Commentary:
The poem Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti focuses on the subject of desire and temptation in the Victorian Era. It was considered a taboo all around, but especially for women in the time period. This was somewhat due to high societal and religious standards and pressures. The poem, Goblin Market refers to the biblical story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit. In the story of Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve are granted by God to eat whatever they want, except for a singular forbidden fruit. The story is about the struggle of temptation and desire, similar to the themes in Goblin Market. The fruits the monstrous merchant men sell to women in the market allude to the forbidden fruit in the story of Adam and Eve. Even the women in the story of Goblin Market knew they “must not buy their (the merchant’s) fruits” to remain a part of Victorian Society (43). As the story progresses we see the women fall into the trap the Goblin man speaks of. The Goblin Man’s point is that people will go to far lengths to get what they desire, whether it is the innocent desires of a woman or the horrifying urges of a Goblin Man.
A goblin man would see this illustration as intriguing and alluring. The art depicts the story of the forbidden fruit and focuses on the scene of Adam and Eve before they take a bite of the wretched apple. For a goblin man, this image shows suspense and tensions because he wants Eve to give in and fall for the trap. A goblin man knows the end of this story. They would find comfort in knowing that Adam and Eve concede and gave in to their desire. This same motivation acts in their jobs as merchant men and their predatory actions.
Citation:
“Adam and Eve Public House: The Ridgeway, Mill Hill.” COLLAGE,
collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/view-item?key=SXsiUCI6eyJ2YWx1ZSI6ImFkYW0gYW5kIGV2ZSIsIm9wZXJhdG9yIjoxLCJmdXp6eVByZWZpeExlbmd0aCI6MywiZnV6enlNaW5TaW1pbGFyaXR5IjowLjc1LCJtYXhTdWdnZXN0aW9ucyI6MywiYWx3YXlzU3VnZ2VzdCI6bnVsbH0sIkYiOiJleUowSWpwYk1WMTkifQ&pg=21&WINID=1605105437100#CiIwetJ6f6gAAAF1tbabow/319606
Rossetti, Christina. “Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation,
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44996/goblin-market.