Goblin Market Thesis

The addiction to the magical fruits clearly impacts Laura because “she no more swept the house” (Rossetti). This section from “Goblin Market”, written by Christina Rossetti, uses the tidiness of the house as a metaphor for a relationship. The tidiness is set in play from the beginning of the poem, where Lizzie and Laura are introduced as sisters and they “aired and set to rights the house” (Rossetti). In the poem, goblins sell addictive fruits. The house is kept in impeccable conditions with the contribution of both sisters, however Laura refuses to work after trying the magical fruit . The sisters are separated by a barrier of beliefs. The idea of using a home to describe a protagonist's relationship with another is rather uncommon. Despite

that, Julia Alvarez effectively uses this metaphor in her novel, “In Time of The Butterflies”. However, rather than describing the relationship between a significant other, it is between the protagonist and antagonist. As a result there is a radical shift in ideology for the main character. Julia Alvarez uses the foundation of Patria’s home to describe her association with Trujillo.
The house remained stable when Patria avoided conflict with Trujillo and the regime. For 18 years, Patria lived a secure life because she followed a verse from the Bible. Patria “built [her] house house upon a rock” because “though the rain fall...the good wife’s house will stand” (Alvarez 148). Patria intended to avoid the rain; in this instance, the rain represents the government of Dominican Republic because she believes that revolutions against the regime would ineffective. The regime would simply “wash clean of writing no one knows how to read anyway” (117). After marriage, Patria keeps to herself and avoids Trujillo and his regime. With Mate and Minerva knees deep in the revolution, Patria plays the motherly role without relinquishing her ideology. Patria becomes more involved with the revolution “in spirit” (155). The revolutionary meetings were held in the backyard of Patria; she once asked the revolutionists to enter her house because it was raining outside. However they refused “knowing that it was just politeness on [her] part” (156).. While she is unable to control Minerva and Mate, Patria prevent her son, Nelson, from getting affiliated with the revolution, she wants them to be safe. With the revolution taking place in her backyard, Nelson is exposed to it. Patria sends him to school in the capital to prevent him from joining the invasion because she “could not bear the thought of losing [her] son” (154). Clearly, Patria is uninterested in the revolution and worries mainly on family; even Dede, cannot “imagine Patria unmarried without a baby on her lap” (9). Patria avoids Trujillo and the regime at all costs. However, Patria’s protectiveness for her family and avoidance from the regime changes.
Patria’s house worsens as her beliefs shift from religion to the revolution.

This concept is mentioned when Patria question her involvement with the revolution; she has a “vision [of her] own house tumbling down” (168). To express her true feeling about the revolution and her belief in god, Patria names her newborn “Raul Ernesto”. Patria is passively involved with the movement. She “would never have thought of naming my son after revolutionaries” (151). However, Patria steers away from religion and more towards the revolution after witnessing the death of “her own”. Instead of finding peace and tranquility at her church retreat in Constanza, Patria experiences the destruction of Trujillo’s regime. Trujillo's troops shoots a revolutionist right in front of Patria. She formerly believed that Constanza was the land of god, only to behold god abandon her in a time of need. Patria is determined to overthrow Trujillo because she is no longer going to “sit back and watch [her] babies die” (162). Realizing that the only way to bring justice is by getting involved, Patria willingly joins the revolution. With her newly gained courage, she allows Minerva and her organization in her own home, which eventually becomes the “motherhouse of the movement” (166). Unknowingly, she is involved with Trujillo. Feeling invincible, Patria pays nominal attention to her house, which is crumbling in the

sand.
With the foundations of her home gone, Patria succumbs to the regime and relies on god and Jefe for protection.

The fearless Patria becomes vulnerable after seeing her house “violated, desecrated, destroyed” (192). At first, Patria remains powerless without her home and her family. For, her sources of inspiration were either in captivity or destroyed. The devastating event clearly impacts her because she wants to “lie down and die” (200). After finally stabilizing herself, Patria worships Jefe and begs him to release her family from prison. During this time of weakness, she even offers to be “[his] sacrificial lamb” (203). Her ideology shifts back to the time, before she got involved. Patria no longer cares about the revolution but only wishes her family to remain safe. Even though the traumatic experience dragged her few steps back, Patria tries to resurrect and become her former self. Her intention is to “rise again” (205). While Patria relied on Jefe and god to help her recover, she continues to rebuild herself until she returns to where she left

off.
The transformation of Patria impacts the condition of her house and involvement with the revolution. After having a stable house, Patria had no house. In the “Goblin Market”, one of the sisters become addicted to the magical fruit and end up losing her sanity for it. After finally regaining her conscience back, she regrets her decision. However for Patria, she lost more than her sanity. She lost her family, home and confidence. With the magic fruit representing the revolution, did she bite down on a false mirage?