Hello, all! Welcome back to my blog. Last time, we dabbled into Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, a novella about a Creole woman learning the power of her own body. This time, we’re going to discuss Christina Rossetti, an English writer during the Romantic era. More specifically, we will discuss her poem “Goblin Market” and the hypocrisy of Victorian society. “Goblin Market,” originally published in 1862, is a narrative poem that discusses the relationship between sisters Laura and Lizzie as they fight temptation from goblin men. Without further ado, let’s begin!
Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” describes the hypocrisy of Victorian gender norms. To Rossetti, stepping into the public sphere, a sphere typically run by men, by giving in to temptation does not make a woman impure. Rosetti first critiques Victorian gender norms by alluding to the fact that Victorian women are left vulnerable to predatory Victorian men that seek to take a woman’s innocence. Within the poem, Lizzie recalls the story of Jeanie, who fell sick and died before her wedding because she fell into temptation. Lizzie can resist the temptation of goblin men and protect herself because she is knowledgeable of the consequences; however, Laura is left vulnerable and is more easily willing to give in to temptation because she is unaware. The goblin men focus on Laura because she is innocent and unaware of her sexuality, making it easier for them to use and kill her like Jeanie. Rosetti further criticizes Victorian gender roles by addressing the fact that there are double standards. Men can, and are even encouraged to, be as sexually active as they want, whereas women are supposed to remain pure and save themselves for their husbands. Women like Laura nearly die by giving in to temptation as her hair turns gray and she begins to appear older after falling victim to sexual harassment. She is suffering through what appears to become a premature death, yet the goblins face no consequences for their actions and are even able to attempt seduction on Lizzie. Despite surviving the ordeal, the two sisters first face serious punishment and trauma whereas the goblins can continue with their ways for generations. Regardless, giving in to temptation does not make the sisters impure or ruined. Instead, they “redeem” themselves when they both become wives and have children. Therefore, the women are not impure or corrupt because they can still reach the ideal role of Victorian women at the time. While Rosetti argues against Victorian gender roles, she also does not deny marriage and motherhood were the ideals at the time.
Christina Rossetti describes the sacrifice for sisterhood and ‘redemption’ in a society where women live in a sphere of domesticity. Rossetti immediately establishes the connection between Laura and Lizzie when they first encounter the goblins at the market, as Laura warns her sister to not buy the goblins “fruits.” Laura expresses concern for her sister’s safety and purity. The ‘goblins’ are a symbol of men, and their ‘fruits’ are a symbol of sexual temptations and desires; Laura does not want her sister to succumb to either. If Lizzie is to give in, her purity and maiden status will be ruined. This is because their society has created their episteme that women are to remain sexually pure and innocent for their future husbands. Lizzie also wants to protect Laura as she states that her sister shouldn’t look at the goblin men. If Laura were to look at the goblins, she could easily give in to the temptations that they offer. Unfortunately, Laura eventually succumbs to the goblins by eating their fruit and giving them a lock of her hair—giving them a piece of herself, essentially removing her maiden status. She loses her youthful glow and begins to age rapidly after she gave herself to the goblins, implying that she will no longer be desired or accepted by men because she is no longer pure. Because Lizzie cares for her sister and hopes for her recovery, she attempts to outwit the goblins by paying for their fruit instead of owing them. However, the goblins use sexual violence and assault against Lizzie by tearing apart her clothing and grabbing at her. Even so, the goblins cannot defile her and Lizzie keeps her purity intact. Laura eventually heals from the incident because of her sister’s sacrifice, and the two eventually became wives and had children. Although both women have faced sexual temptations or acts in some way, they can ‘redeem’ themselves, based on the episteme of their society.
“Goblin Market” alludes to the Bible through a story of sin and redemption. Laura represents the “fallen woman,” also known as Eve, from the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. Within Genesis 3, Eve is tempted by the serpent to eat the forbidden fruit, just as Laura is tempted by the goblins who tell her to buy their fruits. Fruit represents sin in both of the stories, meaning that Eve and Laura giving in to their temptation, and eating the fruit, leads to their downfall. They are both aware of the consequences that come with eating the forbidden fruits, yet they are still coerced into committing their sins. Whereas Eve’s punishment is her banishment from the Garden of Eden, Laura faces what appears to be becoming a premature death as she begins to gray and age at a rapid pace. However, both women eventually receive redemption. Laura receives her redemption through Lizzie’s sacrifice. The goblins tore her clothing apart and forced her to eat their fruit, yet she managed to stand her ground and resist the temptation of the forbidden fruits. Lizzie, at this moment, represents Jesus Christ when he sacrifices himself to atone for everyone else’s sins. She is the more knowledgeable sister that warns Laura of the goblins and sacrifices herself for her sister’s redemption, just as a more knowledgeable and higher being warns Eve and sacrifices himself for her redemption.
At another point in her career, Christina Rossetti wrote a poem that tackled her brother’s obsession with painted women: “In an Artist’s Studio.” Born in a society that oppressed feminism, she never shied away from tackling the subject. Until next time!
-Selena Tomas, Blogger.
Selena Tomas- Managing Editor & Poetry Editor: Selena is a Senior at Lewis University majoring in English. She has a concentration in Literature and Language, as well as General Writing. Selena is a writing tutor at the Lewis University Writing Center, and the Presidential Advisor of Sigma Tau Delta. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in hopes of becoming an English professor. Outside Lewis, Selena enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her baby brother. She has two poems published in The Opal.