Goblin Market Rossetti’s most famous poem Goblin Market on the surface could be interrupted very literally but deep down the lines lead the reader down a path of extreme confusion. Goblin Market is about two sisters, Lizzie and Laura. They visit a market in which a group of male goblins insists they “come buy, come buy” (5) a variety of fresh fruits from them. Lizzie knows better and moves on but Laura gets entranced and eats some of the fruit. This leads to a very bizarre list of events in which Lizzie, must save her sister from death. Laura visits the goblins, trades a lock of her golden hair for the fruit, but ends up being attacked by the goblin men who try to force the fruit down her throat. She then returns to her sister, Laura, who Lizzie tells to “hug me, kiss me, suck my juices” (468) for her to get better. Laura after having a very intimate interaction with her sister gets better. The sisters grow up and tell their children “For there is no friend like a sister” (563). Not only are the events very peculiar, but they can be …show more content…
Not only does the poem contradict Sowards claim, but seems to do it quite clearly. I say goblin market is a poem written about global vs. domestic market representation. Both theses of these markets are portrayed throughout the poem, through Laura’s encounter with the goblins, as well as the sister’s extreme actions in order to save each other. The global economy is shown indiscreetly through the huge variety of foreign exotic fruits that are listed repeatedly and the domestic economy is shown by to small local qualities of the two sisters. By focusing on just what the goblins represent, Sowards overlooks the deeper problem of both the goblins and the sisters compare each other to represent two conflicting markets, global against