Evil is as Evil does...

The “Goblin Market” uses ideas based on Christianity and the Victorian age’s expectations about the role of a ‘good’ woman to depict evil.
In the beginning of the poem we learn that evil creatures known as goblin men exist. The goblins roam the earth, tempting all man-kind with their delicious, yet cursed, fruits. The goblin men are described as so gruesome that they are more alike with animals than with men. Rossetti states, “One had a cat’s face / One whisked a tail / One tramped at a rat’s pace / One crawled like a snail / One like a wombat prowled obtuse and furry / One like a ratel tumbled hurry-scurry.” All of the animals described here are considered to be lowly, at the bottom of the barrel as far as animals go. The goblin men, with their animalistic physique, can be a likened to the evil serpent who invaded the Garden of Eden. The serpent, a prime example of a lowly creature, tempted mankind with fruit as well, specifically with an evil apple. The goblin men also have evil apples.
Evil is also highlighted in the actions of Laura, contrasted with those of her sister, Lizzie. In the Victorian age women were expected to be docile, pure ‘homebodies’ who did not stray far from the house and who did not let their curiosities run amuck. The image of a good woman is portrayed by Lizzie, who is described as “White and golden,” “Like a lily in a flood,” and “Like a royal virgin town.” Lizzie is content in acting like an obedient maiden should act, unlike Laura, who cannot resist the temptation to stay out all night with the goblin men, drinking from their forbidden fruits. Evil is depicted in the actions of Laura, for which she is punished by becoming a lifeless, languid and depressed person who is only saved by the good graces of her heavenly sister.

“My Last Duchess” also depicts evil in several ways. Again we see the image of evil highlighted in the acts of a woman who does not act accordingly to society’s standards. Evil is also depicted in the jealous murder of a hard-headed Duke.
The Duchess is at first described as beautiful. But we soon learn that “she had a heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad,” and that she was “too easily impressed: she liked whate’er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.” From these lines we can conclude that the Duchess was a flirtatious woman. In the society she lived in being a flirt was highly unacceptable. Good women do not flirt or act promiscuously, only evil women do that.
On the other hand, the Duke can also be viewed as evil. He is described as over-bearing, egotistical, sexist, jealous and demanding. While talking to his guest the Duke states, “Sir, t’was not Her husband’s presence only, called that spot Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek.” The Duke assumes that his wife can only ever find joy from him, and when she finds it elsewhere he becomes insanely jealous. The Duke is also caught complaining that he didn’t have the words to say, “Just this Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss (the mark).” Even though the Duke was unhappy with his wife’s behavior he did not have the guts to tell her so. He is also quoted as saying, “Notice Neptune, though, Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity.” This line implies that the Duke wishes to tame his wife into complete submission. She is to act according to his wishes only. In the end of the poem we find out that the Duke has murdered his last duchess, putting an end to her ‘shameless’ smiles. Evil radiates from this man, who thinks it’s alright to demand perfection from his wife, and to kill her for the imperfections she cannot, or will not, change. It is up to the reader to decide who is the more evil of the two, the flirtatious wife or the murderous husband.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Imagery in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is packed full of imagery. However, there were two in particular that really caught my eye.
The first was of the iceberg that the sailors passed on their way to the South Pole. I thought that this image was so beautiful. Coleridge wrote, “And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold: And ice, mast-high, came floating by, as green as emerald.” Later, Coleridge also wrote, “The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound!” Coleridge painted a perfect picture in my mind of the ship's surroundings in the South Pole. My favorite part was when he described the height of the iceberg as mast-high, and the color as emerald green. He could have just stated that the iceberg was really tall and green. But the way Coleridge described it makes the iceberg sound beautiful and majestic. I also enjoyed that fact that the iceberg’s sounds were included in the description. This only added to the enchantment of the picture.
The second imagery used, which I found even more fascinating than that of the iceberg, was the one that described the thirst of the cursed sailors. Coleridge described it as, “And every tongue, through utter drought, Was withered at the root; We could not speak, no more than if We had been choked with soot.” He also wrote, “With throats unslaked, with black lips baked, We could not laugh or wail; Through utter drought all dumb we stood! I bit my arm, I sucked the blood, And cried, A sail ! a sail !” After reading this I almost felt thirsty for the poor sailors. The images of the soot, the black lips baked and the drought were the most powerful to me. I also loved the part where Coleridge described how the ancient mariner had to bite his own arm and suck his own blood just to get enough moisture in his mouth to speak. I think the imagery used here really drove home the point that the sailors were cursed men. I could almost feel their anguish just by reading about it.

English 200-013-07s