Brief Summary: Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market"

 

Brief Summary: Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market"

Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market" is a narrative poem that captivates with its rich imagery, intricate symbolism, and timeless themes. First published in 1862 as part of a collection bearing the same name, "Goblin Market" has since become one of Rossetti’s most acclaimed and analyzed works.

Summary

"Goblin Market" tells the story of two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, who encounter goblin merchants selling tempting fruits in a dark and ominous glen. The goblins' wares are irresistibly delicious but dangerous, as consuming their fruits binds the eater to their malevolent power.

Laura succumbs to temptation and exchanges a lock of her hair for the goblins' fruit, plunging herself into a feverish and wasting state. Lizzie, steadfast in her resistance, goes to great lengths to save her sister, ultimately risking herself by confronting the goblins to obtain their fruit and cure Laura’s affliction.

Themes

"Goblin Market" explores the consequences of yielding to forbidden desires. Laura’s impulsive consumption of the goblins’ fruit represents the dangers of succumbing to temptation, leading to physical and spiritual decay. Lizzie’s selfless act of redemption and sacrifice embodies the poem’s theme of salvation through resistance and sisterly love.

The goblins’ fruits are laden with sexual undertones, symbolizing both the allure and peril of female desire. Rossetti intertwines themes of innocence and experience, depicting Laura’s fall from grace and Lizzie’s purity and resilience against the goblins’ seduction.

Central to the poem is the bond between Laura and Lizzie, portrayed as selfless and sacrificial. Lizzie’s determination to save her sister underscores themes of loyalty, solidarity, and the strength of familial bonds.

Literary Style and Techniques

Rossetti’s use of vivid and sensory imagery immerses readers in the enchanting yet foreboding world of the goblin market. Descriptions of the goblins, their fruits, and the glen evoke a sense of eerie allure and danger.

The poem is rich with symbolic elements that invite multiple interpretations. The goblins symbolize temptation and corruption, while the fruits represent forbidden pleasures and their consequences. Hair, traditionally associated with femininity and purity, becomes a symbol of sacrifice and redemption.

"Goblin Market" employs a lively and rhythmic meter that enhances its storytelling quality. The poem’s rhyming couplets and repetitive refrains create a musical cadence that reinforces its fairy tale-like narrative.

Critical Reception and Influence

Since its publication, "Goblin Market" has garnered widespread critical acclaim for its complex themes and innovative use of language and symbolism. Initially interpreted as a moralistic tale for children, the poem has since been reevaluated by feminist critics who highlight its subversive commentary on Victorian gender roles and sexuality.

Rossetti’s exploration of female agency and desire in "Goblin Market" continues to resonate with contemporary readers, inspiring adaptations in literature, music, and visual arts. The poem’s enduring relevance lies in its timeless depiction of human temptation, redemption, and the enduring power of sisterhood.

Christina Rossetti’s "Goblin Market" remains a masterpiece of Victorian literature, celebrated for its lyrical beauty, profound symbolism, and thematic depth.

Through the enchanting yet cautionary tale of Laura and Lizzie, Rossetti invites readers to contemplate the complexities of desire, the consequences of temptation, and the transformative power of love and sacrifice.

As a pioneering work in feminist and allegorical literature, "Goblin Market" continues to captivate audiences with its enduring relevance and timeless storytelling.