Analysis of Goblin Market

Christina Rossetti hits a balanced mix of children’s ideas along with adult themes in Goblin Market. However, the poem is aimed at adults since Rossetti uses imagery, similes and descriptive language to carry the theme of Christianity, temptation, relationships and sex throughout the poem.

The language used to describe the fruit in the first verse is already introducing a sexual theme to the poem. “Plump unpecked cherries/ Melons and raspberries…Swart-headed mulberries, Wild free-born cranberries,” The passionate words, sexual sounds are very intentional and though sex is never explicitly mentioned, it is constantly referred to. Language often suggests a sexual growth, or readiness, “All ripe together”.

The assault on Lizzie is not told as a rape, but the sexual allusions are there; “held her hands and squeezed their fruits.” The violent acts inflicted upon her are not kicks and punches, but far slower and more thought out. “Tore her gown and soiled her stockings/ Twitched her hair out by the roots,” The poem suggests more than a violent act of ang

The only human men who are mentioned are Laura and Lizzie’s husbands in the final verse. Even though they’re mentioned they’re not involved in the poem, and the lesson of unity in the final verse does not include them. Womanpower is seen to triumph over ‘men’ rather than the stereotype of men controlling their wives and female relations.

Knowing these views were prevalent in society, the goblins representation as foreigners holds much more bearing in Victorian society than is perhaps does now. When Laura plants the seed of the peach, she “set(s) it by a wall that faced south;” the goblins exotic fruits will not grow in Laura’s British garden.

The classic stereotypes of women and seen in Goblin Market, but though Rosetti uses them they’re not idealised as the best way to live. Rosetti seems to almost mock society’s rules, “Laura rose with Lizzie: Fetched milk and honey, milked the cows, Aired and set right to the house, Kneaded cakes of whitest wheat”. The jobs a woman should be doing are all represented in the poem, but the rewards are not received for doing these. Laura is not interested in the menial tasks she is supposed to do, “Laura in an absent dream.”

There is support for the idea that Goblin Market has many child-like elements, but rather than being aimed at children, these techniques are used for effect not to increase understanding.

Some topics in this essay:
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