Goblin Market Through The Queer Perspective

Goblin Market Through the Queer Perspective

Introduction

In modern politics, there are various groups coming out in protest of years of homophobic and discriminatory policy. Gender studies and cultural identity have become prominent issues that are relatively new in the world of critical discussion and debate. Many discussions surrounding gender studies, and more specifically critical Queer Theory, stem heavily from previous studies on the critical feminist theory that played a huge factor in the acceptance of social norms for women over the past couple of centuries.

Queer Theory To better understand the effects and discussions surrounding Queer Theory, it is important to understand what exactly queer theory is as well as discuss how it

This can be seen in her classic Victorian poem published in 1862 titled “Goblin Market" which highlights many of the issues women experienced between two hypothetical spheres that divided society at the time. The poem focuses on two sisters, Lizzie and Laura, who get seduced by so-called “goblin men” and their struggles combating the consequences of falling for the “goblin men”. Throughout the poem, Rossetti focuses on the dynamic of two spheres between the goblins and the sisters, which many scholars have interpreted as the symbolic representation of the patriarchy persecuting the sphere of women. This idea is further reinforced by Rossetti’s history working at an inmate home which further suggests the correlation of the Goblin Market being written as a feminist piece to criticize the patriarchy. This is backed by researcher Jan Marsh who published a paper that “suggest[s] a link between the impulse that led Christina to apply for a position there and the writing of the poem, which would be additionally consonant with the dating of both.” (Marsh 239). Marsh refers to Rosetti’s volunteer work at St Mary Magdalene’s House of Charity where she spent her time caring for what she called “fallen women” who were ex-prostitutes which is widely considered to be her inspiration for the piece, Goblin Market. Her works focused on promoting

A researcher named Jill Rappoport from the University of Kentucky found that “‘Eat me, drink me, love me’ (line 471). Laura’s feasting off of Lizzie is a form of spiritual communion. Yet Lizzie implores her sister not only to ‘eat’ and ‘drink’ her, but also to ‘kiss me, suck my juices’ (line 468), confusing critics who are not sure how to reconcile the homoerotic frenzy of this scene with the religious economy of a single wafer and sip of wine.” (Rappoport 862). Reppoport’s analysis only takes a few instances that correlate to the symbolism of the fruits that the “Goblin Men'' in the story offered to the sisters as bait to be abused by the patriarchy. There are many other lines that portrayed more homosexual behavior between Lizzie and Laura such as one scene where they “Kiss’d and kiss’d and kiss’d her: Tears once again” (line 486) describing them engaging in more intimate erotic behavior. The fact that their sisterhood and their escape from the patriarchy came from intimate action between each other demonstrates a level of understanding that homosexual activity was outside of the norms of the time and that homosexuality is a form of recovery from a traumatic experience. This light on the sisterhood between these two characters exposes Rossetti, in which introducing homosexual norms as the Goblin Market was a protest against norms