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Analysis Of Lilith's The Awakening

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Analysis Of Lilith's The Awakening
Rossetti’s transformation of the female image into one of Lilith – includes long blonde hair. Transforming the female image from one of virtue into Lilith shows the change in how men were beginning to view women during the 19th century. Lilith, being Adam’s first wife is described as deadly and seductive.
It is believed that she was the predecessor of the femme fatale. Femme fatale is defined as a character of mystery and seduction, charming her lovers into compromising, dangerous traps. Lilith seems to setup this archetype, by having being created as an equal to Adam and not wanting to be with him any longer, refusing to be. Instead, choosing to consort with demons and have their offspring rather than Adam’s, despite the fact that they die every day. Her hair plays into this image as well, with representing a lethal charm, enticing a man only to strangle them in webs of her hair.
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Meaning that any New Woman, free of male control, could scourge the patriarchal Victorian family could in fact be Lilith incarnate. A lot of these views on how to depict Lilith steams from the confronting of the Women's Emancipation Movement and the controversy over family planning in the 1860's.
Rossetti's choice of Lilith as subject for his icon implies that her personality traits were essential to the meaning of his work. This is crucial due to the fact that prior to this and Faust, there had been no reference to Lilith ever before. There were many other strong, prominent women that Rossetti could have choose to depict, but he chose her. The independent woman who is evil and cruel, laying men to traps and stealing others children. Giving way to the idea that men were viewing women rights and freedom as an endangerment to men’s lives as well as their

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