Analysis Of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market

A seemingly innocent poem, Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” follows the tale of two sisters and their individual encounters with goblin men. On its surface, the poem seems to tell a tale focused on seduction, lust, and sexuality, however, behind its fairytale frame, there are signs eluding to a more religious theme. These details, on top of the vivid sensuality that the narrator describes, suggest that the moral of the story, is that young women should avoid the enticements of extramarital sexual love.
To start, as Isobel Armstrong notes in her article quoted by Robin Sowards, Christina Rossetti’s poem “has the unplaced context-less-ness of a fairy tale,” because of its fairytale like simplicity. “Goblin Market” tells a story about two
This curiosity and longing is expressed explicitly when describing Laura’s “clasping arms and cautioning lips,” as well as her “tingling cheeks and finger tips,” further igniting desire (1505). Tempted to taste the goblins merchandise, Laura acknowledges that the fruits’ “hungry thirsty roots” grow on strange soils unfamiliar to her own, interestingly pointed out by Mermin. The fruit, in this sense, represents both the fear and interest displayed in Laura’s character, suggesting, as Mermin says, “a combination of sensuous richness, moral irresponsibility, and sinister eroticism” (Mermin, 110). In addition, the fruit seems to offer a path into a type of paradise, adding more emphasis to the fairytale-esque narrative the poem supersedes in displaying. Continuing, the goblins show their evil nature when Lizzie resists them, the juices being bitter to the taste when brought to aid Laura of her ailments. The unpleasantness of the fruit is thus representative to the “fiery antidote” to which Laura obsessively yearns for. The fruits, in this mood, are a false representation to what Laura actually wants. Instead of fulfilling her needs, the fruit feeds her ‘appetite’— much like the goblins themselves, once the fruit has served its purpose in consumption, they are no longer available. By offering herself
The poem's erotic and sexual nature, supported by the language of the poem, is extensively detailed showing the harm in acting out ones desires. In addition, by adding a religious connotation "Goblin Market" is furthermore sees as a Christian allegory playing out temptation and redemption; Laura representing the biblical Eve who falls into temptation, and Lizzie as Christ having sacrificed herself to save her