This picture illustrates the pleasures and fun we could have in the world if people were a little more reckless. I like to think of myself as reckless. I have no concept of restraint but my friends and I have that in common, and the little demons in this picture remind me of them. But in this picture the smaller men are in a position of power and the bigger man is weak. With just a little kick from the man, the little demons could be knocked down one by one, but the man is weak and feeble. He has allowed himself to be taken advantage of. I have seen people go from headstrong to weak within minutes. People think they are strong in their intentions but then they allow themselves to be beaten and fooled. The man’s fragility comes from the works and the actions of the little goblins. Together they have the power. My associates and friends strive to live like this. Together we can conquer and we can overpower any obstacle standing in our way to get what we want and we have succeeded many times.
The face of the impish demon on the man’s arm excites me. It is the face of devilish satisfaction. We see the other ones are hard at work but this demon’s cheeky look would invigorate most but his jaunty grin inspires me. The little devil on the right ready to swing his ax displays the difficulty it takes to be the predator, but I just want a taste of the satisfaction he felt when he swung the ax and claimed his prey. Whether it is luring in the prey with the sweetness of fruit or maiming the prey with the swinging of an ax- it is all the same. The predator gets what he is craving and desires no matter what. There is no longing and temptation for the predator because the best would act on his temptation immediately.
Editorial Commentary:
This piece titled, The Headache by George Cruikshank illustrates the mischievous actions of these little goblins like men. The meager demons are illustrated as if they were inspired by the descriptions of the merchant men in Christina Rossetti’s poem Goblin Market. A goblin man would be drawn to this image because they represent mischief, recklessness, and sins. The demons depicted are acting impudently putting this man in distress. They find enjoyment in their actions similar to the sadistic merchantmen in Goblin Market.
The demon on the very left and the demon on the very right are what catch the audience’s eyes first. The illustration forces you to look at their detailed expressions. The demon on the left has a cheeky look of excitement, similar to the excitement the goblin men feel when they are luring someone into their traps. But the look of focus, determination, and exhaustion on the demon with the ax shows the hard work and effort that goes into being the trickster or the predator.
The demons working together to inflict pain and destruction is similar to the dynamic of the merchant-men described in the course of the poem. The men and demons both aid each other to take on their victims. The man in the illustration is larger than all of the little devils combined, but he succumbs because they fooled him and used their little tricks on him. Similar to the way that the women in Goblin Market have the will power to steer clear of the goblin men, but they often fall victim to them because of their seductive traps and forceful nature.
Citation:
Cruikshank, George. The Head Ache . 1835,
collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk/view-item?key=SXsiUCI6eyJ2YWx1ZSI6ImRldmlsIiwib3BlcmF0b
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SJ9&pg=43&WINID=1606353201659#CiIwetJ6f6gAAAF1tbabow/18300.
Rossetti, Christina. “Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation,
www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44996/goblin-market.