Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market

Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market" is a captivating poem that uses descriptive language in a haunting way to create a grim story for the reader. This poem's main message revolves around the theme of temptation and the possible negative consequences that may come up if one gives in. The story follows two sisters, Laura, and Lizzie, who come across a group of goblin men who are promoting their exotic fruits. The goblin men wander through the streets at late hours singing their chant, “come buy, come buy” (4) hoping to lure all those who stop to their tempting call. In this essay, I will argue that the main meaning and theme of Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market" is temptation and the dangers that follow by giving in as seen through the encounter between Laura and the goblin men.

The goblins are depicted as mysterious yet dangerous figures with an intriguing appearance, who can charm and draw in the attention of passersby. One goblin is depicted as having a "cat's face" (71), while another is said to have a "whisk'd tail" (72). Yet another goblin "crawl'd like a snail" (74) which adds to the obscure nature of the creatures and the overwhelming curiosity of Laura. The fruits the goblin men offer are described in a similar way; they are continuously described with a vivid sexual language that will ultimately appeal to the readers senses. They offer exotic fruits such as figs, pomegranates, and mulberries, which are described in such a seductive way that Laura cannot resist the urge to eat them. The fruits are described with phrases such as, "full and fine" (21) and "plump [and] unpeck'd" (7) emphasizing their scrumptiousness. Through the use of provoking language, the poem is able to depict the allure of temptation and how difficult it can be to