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.
The further emphasis on her hair contributed to an altered meaning of an anonymous woman being made into Lilith by her flowing hair symbolizing the destructive power possessed by the femme fatale.
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
children’s.
This is different from the earlier image of sin in Rossetti’s painting due to the fact that this version of beauty and femininity speculates that all women are evil, rather than good and virtuous. This ideal of good and evil is personified as benevolent and sinful female idols is Rossetti’s theme. His Lady Lilith, represents the body and sin, illustrates the dark side of his dual iconography, and stands in contrast to his Sibylla Palmifera, representing the virtuous soul.
Lilith is described as Adam's first wife, deceitful, enchanting with gold hair, and young in appearance while yet old as the earth. “...And subtly of herself contemplative, Draws men to watch the bright web she can weave, Till heart and body and life are in its hold. The rose and poppy are her flowers; for where Is he not found, O Lilith, whom shed scent And soft-shed kisses and soft sleep shall snare? Lo! as that youth's eyes burned at thine, so went Thy spell through him, and left his straight neck bent And round his heart one strangling golden hair.” The Sibylla Palmifera, on the other hand represents all that should and could be right about the idealize woman according to Rossetti.