The Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti can be interpreted in many ways, a possible reading of the Goblin Market can be the influence that drugs have on a person. Drugs cause psychological addiction and become associated with the release of pleasure inducing endorphins. But these pleasure come with a life threatening cost. As evidenced by the text, Laura goes through a traumatic experience, craving for the fruit and suffering the mental and physical consequences of an addict.
Laura’s addition begins with the first time she consumes the drug. Her description “Sweeter than honey from the rock, Stronger than man-rejoicing wine, Clearer than water...” (129) indicates that Laura has never experienced anything like this before. The pleasure she felt …show more content…
Laura exhibits this trait when “She no more swept the house, Tended the fowls or crows, Fetched honey, kneaded cakes of wheat, Brought water from the brook. ”(293-295) Laura could no longer follow her regular routine because the drug has occupied her mind. She suffers from depression sitting down “listless in the chimney-nook And would not eat.”(297) She loses her personality, the fun-loving sister that had accompanied her sister during routine chores. Rossetti uses Laura to demonstrate the mental effects of addiction and abuse with Laura’s behavior. This loss of mental stability and routine lead to damage in the physical health. Laura begins to have physical hallucinations about the fruit as “she dreams of melons as a traveler sees False waves in the desert” (289). These are clearly a part of the withdrawal and addiction symptoms that she is experiencing. When she “sat up in a passionate yearning And gnashed her teeth for baulked desire, and wept As if her heart would break,” (267) Laura is experiencing physical pain mixed with emotional pain. This is natural among addicts who are constantly looking for anything that can satisfy the craving. Failure to do so, results in violent, unnatural
Laura’s addition begins with the first time she consumes the drug. Her description “Sweeter than honey from the rock, Stronger than man-rejoicing wine, Clearer than water...” (129) indicates that Laura has never experienced anything like this before. The pleasure she felt …show more content…
Laura exhibits this trait when “She no more swept the house, Tended the fowls or crows, Fetched honey, kneaded cakes of wheat, Brought water from the brook. ”(293-295) Laura could no longer follow her regular routine because the drug has occupied her mind. She suffers from depression sitting down “listless in the chimney-nook And would not eat.”(297) She loses her personality, the fun-loving sister that had accompanied her sister during routine chores. Rossetti uses Laura to demonstrate the mental effects of addiction and abuse with Laura’s behavior. This loss of mental stability and routine lead to damage in the physical health. Laura begins to have physical hallucinations about the fruit as “she dreams of melons as a traveler sees False waves in the desert” (289). These are clearly a part of the withdrawal and addiction symptoms that she is experiencing. When she “sat up in a passionate yearning And gnashed her teeth for baulked desire, and wept As if her heart would break,” (267) Laura is experiencing physical pain mixed with emotional pain. This is natural among addicts who are constantly looking for anything that can satisfy the craving. Failure to do so, results in violent, unnatural