Goblin Market - Poetry

Goblin Market

Goblin Market is the story of two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, who return to their childhood nursery after many years' absence. Dressed in deep mourning and surrounded by piles of old toys and books, a rocking horse and a doll's house, they both discover and invent the world of their adolescence from an adult perspective. Similar to Eve in the Garden of Eden, this poem illustrates how woman of the Victorian era were drawn to temptation. This poem also examines the sexuality and eroticism faced by both men and women during this time period.

Lines 32 to 66 mainly discuss how Laura’s impulsive attitude is drawn to these goblin men and how Lizzie, the more timid of the two sisters, is trying to protect her and steer her away from this temptation. “Laura bowed her head to hear, Lizzie veiled her blushes,” (34-35) show’s how Laura is physically trying to listen to what these goblin men are saying and Lizzie is covering these blushes that appear on Laura’s face. Goblins are usually referred to as grotesque creatures that are thought to work for evil or mischief. In this sense, these men are evil and are trying to entice Laura with their fruit to come to them for either sexual reasons or to be poisoned. “Who knows upon what soil they fed, Their hungry thirsty roots?” (44-45). In looking at the fruit as knowledge, this could refer to dangerous, unorthodox philosophies. They are trying to quench their “thirst” by tempting and alluring Laura into buying the poisoned fruit. Laura is being told this by Lizzie to show that the fruit of these goblin men are poisoned and harmful. Lines 44-45 illustrate how these goblin men are craving innocent and naпve woman and it can be interpreted in two ways. First, it can be related to social status implying that these goblin men are like animals and have no money so that in turn they steal and feed on the remains others have left. On the other hand, it can be interpreted in a sexual manner implying that who knows what woman these men have been with and what types of diseases they are carrying. Lines 49-52 reinforce Laura’s temptation:

You should not peep at goblin men."

Lizzie covered up her eyes

Covered close lest they should look;

Laura reared her glossy head

Laura is tempted by the cry of these goblin men and is drawn to look back at them. She is instantly confronted by Lizzie who cover’s her eyes. Line 49 show’s that Laura and Lizzie have both been morally educated to not even look at them, let alone to enter into an economy of exchange with them. Yet Laura turns her head to look back at these goblins that are tempting her. Lines 56 to 61 show how these goblin men tempt Laura once again:

One hauls a basket,

One bears a plate,

One lugs a golden dish

Of many pounds' weight.

How fair the vine must grow

Whose grapes are so luscious

One goblin man is holding this basket, one holds a plate to place the fruit on, and another holds a golden dish. These men have everything prepared in such a way, that a young naпve woman is bound to turn and see what exactly these men have to offer. This enticement allures Laura to do exactly that and she is poisoned. Rather than having a regular dish, these goblin men have a golden dish which is another way for these goblin men to attract Laura. Line 61 shows that these are not ordinary grapes, but grapes that are so “luscious” and sweet. Lizzie replies “No, no, no, their offers should not charm us, Their evil gifts would harm us” (64-66). Again, Lizzie is telling Laura that these goblin men are putting on a show to tempt you to come to them and that the fruit and golden dishes will only hurt you. Line 66 is interesting because, even though their fruit is referred to as “gifts,” they really are the total opposite. First off, Laura gives a lock of her hair in order to get the fruit and in the end, these “gifts” only hurt her. Usually, a gift is associated with something that is given out of personal pleasure and sincerity, however in this case it is given to do harm. These six lines show that these goblin men have planned this “alluring” method before hand and have carefully chosen items that will draw attention to them.

On a social/historical level, Goblin Market is about women's encounter with the male-dominated marketplace and their different