Goblin Market: A Poetic Tale of Laura, Lizzie and the Goblins
Goblin Market
In the narrative poem, Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti, we can see many themes such as abuse, virtue, temptation, sexuality, and sisterhood being portrayed in the text. The Goblin Market is about two sisters, Lizzie and Laura, and the goblins that they encounter while fetching water down by the river one evening. The two sisters are very close to one another, and when they encounter the goblins, Lizzie immediately tells Laura to not speak with the goblins. Laura, ignoring her sisters plea, decides to stay by the river and is drawn to the goblins cries to buy their forbidden fruit. Lizzie, knowing better, then runs home, trying not to give into the same temptation her sister has. The main themes that stand out in this descriptive poem are the forbidden fruit(in other words, temptation), sexuality and exploitation, and finally sisterhood. These are all themes that we can relate to in our everyday life, such as being tempted by things that are not necessarily good for us, being so concerned for a family member that you would do anything to save them if they were in danger or harms way, and also being so blinded by your desire that you cannot see clearly to decipher if something is bad/good for you. Rossetti displays all of these relatable terms, among others, in her writing and wraps them up in a fantasy themed poem with sexual undertones. To start off, one of the biggest and most obvious themes in the Goblin Market, is the theme of temptation, and being obvious to the dangers of what you seek because you are blinded by your desire for the object you seek. For example, in the poem after Lizzie runs away from Laura and the goblins with her hands over her ears, Laura stays and lingers there and wonders at the goblins, caught in their trap, “She heard a voice like voice of doves, cooing all together, they sounded kind and full of loves in the pleasant weather.”(Rossetti lines 77-80) In this stanza we see Laura describing what the goblins sounds
In the narrative poem, Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti, we can see many themes such as abuse, virtue, temptation, sexuality, and sisterhood being portrayed in the text. The Goblin Market is about two sisters, Lizzie and Laura, and the goblins that they encounter while fetching water down by the river one evening. The two sisters are very close to one another, and when they encounter the goblins, Lizzie immediately tells Laura to not speak with the goblins. Laura, ignoring her sisters plea, decides to stay by the river and is drawn to the goblins cries to buy their forbidden fruit. Lizzie, knowing better, then runs home, trying not to give into the same temptation her sister has. The main themes that stand out in this descriptive poem are the forbidden fruit(in other words, temptation), sexuality and exploitation, and finally sisterhood. These are all themes that we can relate to in our everyday life, such as being tempted by things that are not necessarily good for us, being so concerned for a family member that you would do anything to save them if they were in danger or harms way, and also being so blinded by your desire that you cannot see clearly to decipher if something is bad/good for you. Rossetti displays all of these relatable terms, among others, in her writing and wraps them up in a fantasy themed poem with sexual undertones. To start off, one of the biggest and most obvious themes in the Goblin Market, is the theme of temptation, and being obvious to the dangers of what you seek because you are blinded by your desire for the object you seek. For example, in the poem after Lizzie runs away from Laura and the goblins with her hands over her ears, Laura stays and lingers there and wonders at the goblins, caught in their trap, “She heard a voice like voice of doves, cooing all together, they sounded kind and full of loves in the pleasant weather.”(Rossetti lines 77-80) In this stanza we see Laura describing what the goblins sounds
Cited: “Goblin Market” Christina Rossetti. April, 1862.