Blog 1: Goblin Market

Warning to all those reading, there are sexual themes and violence in this blog post!

            Goblin Market is a very sexual poem, filled with sexual desire and the relationship between men and women versus women and women. fruits were the first symbol that caught my eye. Fruit can symbolize various things, but mostly fertility and sexuality. It is no coincidence that these goblin men are selling such things. Christina Rossetti instantly makes any audience realize that whoever these men are, they are not good. There are good and bad statements to this poem. The good statement is a very feminist one. Women watching out for other women, an example would be Lizzie watching out for Laura and even going as far as putting herself in danger to give Laura what she wants. Even after Lizzie warned Laura constantly about the dangers of buying the fruit, even though Laura desired it. Buying the fruit is obviously a hint towards virginity or desire, and this can be proven by Laura's payment method when she buys fruit. “Buy from us with a golden curl. She clipped a precious golden lock, she dropped a tear more rare than pearl.” (Line 125) To maidens, virginity is of huge importance and to keep it they must watch out for whatever can take it. In this case, these goblin men will take it. When she cuts her curl, this shows that this exchange is sexual in nature, and once she bites into the fruits it is like nothing she has ever experienced, much like experiencing sex for the first time. The bad of this poem is that after Laura tasted the fruit, she became obsessed and started to go downhill. This is an example of sexual desire, her need to taste the fruit again. Lizzie then goes to buy some for Laura and it is obvious they do not want money. Lizzie’s interaction with the goblins is much different, and it is very obvious that they were trying to rape her as seen in this passage “Tho’ the goblins cuffed and caught her, coaxed and fought her, bullied and besought her..” (Line 424) It goes on to say that they tried to force her to taste the fruit, much like men trying to force a woman to have sexual relations with them. This is all for her sister, showing that connection between women that is so often overlooked in literature. It is also a representation of the stage in a woman’s life where their virginity is of huge importance to have a happy life. They have to wait for the appropriate time to taste the fruit. When they taste it too soon, suddenly they won’t be able to taste it anymore since the desire for men is in virgin women. An example of this is Laura being unable to hear the goblins cry anymore after eating or having sex with them. “Laura turned cold as stone to find her sister heard that cry alone, That goblin cry.” (line 255) The only person who stays with Laura in this is Lizzie which is directly shown to state that men only want sexual interactions with women and thusly that is what the relation between men and women is. Whereas the relationship between women and women is passionate, caring, and loving. Lizzie did all this for her sister because she loves her and would do anything for her. It is not only a poem about sexual violence and desire, but the precious connection that women have with one another, blood related or not. “For there is no friend like a sister.” (Line 562)