Structuralist criticism teaches the scholar of literature to look for recurring deep patterns in the framework of the composition of many texts. These comment elements or themes give us insight into the conscious or subconscious themes that are repeated time and time again throughout history.

One such deep structural pattern is the recurring concept of a virginal female character being tempted into sin by an evil male influence. The innocent pays dearly for her transgression, nearly loses her life, and is saved by the positive influence of another, more virtuous woman.

In “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti, two seemingly parentless young maiden sisters are called to by the evil, masculine goblins who offer them their fruits. Each day, the sisters endure the increasingly confrontational calls from the goblins hawking their wares. When one of the sisters, Laura, is tempted beyond reason, she must give a golden curl of hair to the goblins in exchange for the fruits they offer. She gorges on the sensuous feast of fruits and returns to her sister with tales of the pleasures she’s enjoyed. Her sister Lizzie scolds her and reminds her of another maiden who once dealt with goblin men and withered away. Laura reassures Lizzie that she’ll be fine, but when she realized she can no longer see or hear the goblin men, she begins to pine for the fruits they offered. She wastes away until her virtuous sister goes to the goblin men and purchases fruits and rubs the juices upon her face without enjoying the sensual pleasure of them herself. She returns to Laura who kisses the juices from her sisters face and is restored to health, grateful and chastened by her experience with the goblin men. Laura then expresses gratitude for the intervention of Lizzie and her sister’s virtuous nature.

Fifty years prior, Marianne and her sister Elinor in Jane Austen’s tale, “Sense and Sensibility” have a similar relationship. When Marianne falls for the dashing Willoughby, she lets all propriety go by the wayside. She spends scandalously unchaperoned time with him and provides him with a lock of her hair as if they were engaged to be married. After she’s risked her reputation and social standing on him, he abandons her for a more advantageous match with a wealthier woman. Devastated, Marianne jeopardizes her health and catches a fever that nearly kills her. Elinor saves the day enlisting Colonel Brandon to fetch their mother to nurse Marianne back to health. Marianne realizes the error of her ways and begins to take her sister’s advice and settles down.

126 years later, a popular movie (based on the novel by the same name) “Practical Magic” follows the structure. Sister Sally marries and settles down with a family. Her sister Gillian chases her impulses across the country and ends up linked with an evil man. Only the intervention of her sister Sally can rescue her from the consequences of her misdeeds. Gillian nearly dies in the process and decides to emulate her sister for her own well-being once she’s recovered.

Time and time again, young woman in literature and film fall victim to the evil influence of tempting male figures. They suffer gravely for the mistake, and rely upon a woman, often her sister, of better character to pull them back to the right path. This deep structure is used a cautionary tale to young women and reflects our society’s fear of sexually empowered young women.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Sense and Sensibility. Edited by Peter Conrad, D. Campbell, 1992.

Dunne, Griffin, director. Practical Magic. Village Roadshow Pictures, 1998.

Rossetti, Christina. “Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44996/goblin-market.