What is a Goblin Market?

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Hello Readers! 


And welcome back to Poetry corner. 

On today’s episode we will be discussing another favourite of mine, that is classic feminist literature. I am of course talking about the wonderful, Goblin Market, by Christina Rossetti, published 1862. 

Please find the poem at the link, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44996/goblin-market and experiment with your own analysis. But for now, I’m going to focus on the feminist portrayals and issues that exist within the text. 

Following two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, Laura is tricked into consuming fruit sold by Goblin men, which ultimately destroys her. With the theme of consumption (in a sexual and sinful nature - as represented by the fruit), the poem tackles female domesticity and what is acceptable behaviour when confronted with temptation and natural/ unnatural desire. As stated by the Poetry Foundation, Rossetti often focuses on “The inconstancy of human love, the vanity of earthly pleasures, renunciation, individual unworthiness, and the perfection of divine love” as recurring ideas. 
Although taking an anti-feminist view with female pleasure being sinful, Goblin Market actually unknowingly empowers its female protagonist, Laura. From a modern perspective, a female poet writing about female sexual experiences, whether or not they renounce it, is ornately feminist and heightens the conversation of feminine sexuality. Laura also acts on her instincts; and although she suffers from that, she is saved by familiar love in the end, “For there is no friend like a sister In calm or stormy weather”(Rossetti, pp20), which is not only a powerful feminine image but also lessens the impact or seriousness of Laura’s sexuality. 

Despite criticisms, Laura and the natural language all push female sexuality. Which in modern society is a large talking point for female equality and feminism. The fact these ideals were unknowingly explored in a text, such as Goblin Market, gives the discussion more importance in literature as a whole. 

Please let me know your thoughts on this wonderful poem. Take care.















Bibliography 

  1. Rossetti, Christina, “Goblin Market”,  https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44996/goblin-market , 1862. 
  3. Rossetti, Christina. “Goblin Market”, “And other poems”, Penguin Publishers, 2015, pp1-20

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