Introduction
Authors often put their ideas and ideals into their works, and Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” utilizes literary devices to share her vision on religious beliefs. God is present in all Rossetti’s works, as her world views are heavily influenced by the Church (Şirket and Alban 27). The literary devices selected by the author present her point of view on the stigma from women who exhibit sexual behavior and stray away from God yet return to the path of traditional womanhood. This essay is an analysis of the structure, style, literary devices, and rhythm of “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti.
“Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti
There are many layers to this poem that express the author’s point of view on the presented topic. The first point that becomes apparent from the beginning is the poem’s perceived simplicity and upbeat rhythm. The poem’s structure aligns with the events described by Rossetti. As the feverish state of Laura begins, continues to progress, and the heat of her desire continues to increase, the author keeps each line short. However, the poem changes the format, with lines being out of order with the initial simplicity of the work.
While the structure of the poem is one of the most apparent features assisting with the storytelling, literary devices allow readers to interpret the emotions that the author has intended to add to her words. Many examples of imagery, mainly when the author describes the goblin’s fruits, evoke graphic symbols that can be attributed to a sexual desire. Rossetti even utilizes such a description as “pluck them and suck them” to describe the goblins’ offers (14). Anaphora is present within the poem, as many lines start with similar words, such as “like” or “one.” Rossetti uses this device in creating images of alluring aspects of Laura’s and Lizzie’s seducers, to the point of being hypnotizing.
Notably, the poem’s imagery often evokes holiness, faith, and God along its lines. As the author is known for her strong Christian beliefs, the poem represents the fall from grace. From the very beginning, Rossetti writes that the fruits of goblin men were “sweet to tongue and sound to eye,” drawing a connection between womens’ actions and the Original sin (6). Not unlike in the Biblical events, a woman falls for a sinful fruit, yet in Rossetti’s work, she escapes the eternal punishment through the stoicism of her sister.
Lizzie’s actions are also noteworthy for their faithfulness and determination. Rossetti acknowledges that it is hard to avoid this fall, as goblins caught Lizzie and opened “her mouth to make her eat” fruits of sin (15). However, the author compares the girl’s faith as a beacon that guides her through this challenge, from which she escapes uncorrupted. Despite her willingness to seek these creatures, Lizzie keeps her purity through acknowledgment and cautious behavior. Rossetti shows that Lizzie’s bravery is a determining factor for her protection, describing that she was not “pricked by fear” (17). Therefore, these lines highlight that one can push past temptation through sheer strength of will.
The holiness of a marriage is also represented in “Goblin Market,” as the sisters are depicted as wives with children at the end of the poem. After being absolved of sin, Laura was not ostracized for falling for a goblin’s fruit but instead accepted in society as an honorable wife, which is a primary objective for women in the Victorian era (Plourde 1083). Her salvation through her sister’s efforts highlights Rossetti’s attitude towards forgiveness and the importance of faith as a pillar of society.
The style of the poem adds another layer of complexity to Rossetti’s message. The story is written with easily accessible language that does not delve into lengthy descriptions or overextended metaphors. At the same time, it can be read almost like a children’s poem in regards to its form, although the contents certainly prohibit such a classification (Şirket and Alban 27). Moreover, the number of repetitions in the poem makes it appear as a nursery rhyme without being one. The very nature of the poem being close to explicit allows the author to directly juxtapose purity with sexual desires through this naive style of narration.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the author’s skillful application of literary devices and structural elements within “Goblin Market” concentrate readers’ attention on the topic of unbridled sexuality and salvation from its soul-consuming effects. Due to Lizzie’s sacrifice, Laura has been saved from the fate that has been a common outcome for people who gave in to unbecoming behavior. Rossetti wrote the poem with a style that turns such a delicate topic as temptation into a veiled warning that is described in great detail.
Through this poem, readers can understand the values of society in the Victorian era, as the author gives an in-depth look into societal norms and struggles of women of that time. Rossetti’s style of writing, combined with a delicate selection of words describing allegories on explicit topics, gives “Goblin Market” a unique value as a story with a highly mature topic that is rarely highlighted in society.
Works Cited
Plourde, Aubrey. “The Innocent Old Way: Reserved Interpretation and Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market”.” PMLA/Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, vol. 134, no. 5, 2019, pp. 1076-1093.
Rossetti, Christina. The Complete Poems. Penguin Books, 2001.
Şirket, Fulya, and Gillian M. Alban. “The Enchantment of Goblin Market.” International Journal of Media Culture and Literature, vol. 4, no. 1, 2018, pp. 25-36.