The 'Goblin Market' Interpretations-Erotic

In our last English Lit lesson we were concentrating on different interpretations of 'Goblin Market' by Christina Rossetti. There we five main categories of how you could interpret the peom, these are:

• Erotic
• Feminist
• Marxist
• Redemptive
• Moral

The category my group was given was eroctic. So I will be concentrating on how you could say 'Goblin Market' is purely about sex etc.

You could argue the whole poem is about sexual frustration, temptation and release. Perhaps that Rossetti, being a devout Anglo-Catholic, portrays sex as a sinful act that should not be given in to. Some critics have even suggested that 'Goblin Market' has aspects of repressed sexuality and therefore hints at homosexuality. However I am not so sure of this, purely because of who wrote the poem and when.

The poem contains many innuendos and sexual imagery from the start. For example all the fruits the goblins sell could represent parts of the body, such as "plump unpecked cherries" The description of unplucked cherries also suggests virginity. The two girls in the poem are made out to seem very innocent and sweet, however then one of them gives in to the goblins and her innocence is lost and destroyed. So Rossetti could have been giving a religious message about sex. That you shouldn't give in to temptation otherwise you will be punished for being sinful. Or she could have been illustrating how young girls rush into sex and are very vulnerable to it, thus showing how much damage and pain this can bring. For example when Lizzie tries to buy the fruit for her sister she appears to be sexually as well as physically abused by the goblins. So she is making sex seem very dangerous and negative-especially in the long run. These views could have been influenced by the things Rossetti saw and experienced whilst volunteering with helping prostitutes and single-mothers.

So the girls, Laura and Lizzie, are made to seem very innocent at the beginning of the poem. For example they are described as "maids". However when Laura hears the tempting goblin call of "come buy" it's as if in her mind she is fighting herself not to give in, but she quite quickly does. This is shown when it says "last restraint is gone"-it's as of her desire has overcome her. Laura then shows her vulnerabilty by cutting a lock of golden hair and giving it to the goblins as payment. This could be symbollic of the belt of chastity being cut. Also with the line "she never tasted such before" we see Laura's sexual tension being released. This could have an underlying message from Rossetti, that sex is enjoyable; however she feels that girls become addicted and can't stop once they give in - again this shows links with prostitution.

This picture shows Laura giving her golden hair to the goblins.

There are many phrases used in 'Goblin Market' that seem/sound very erotic and, in parts, very graphic. These include "sucking fruit globes", "sweeter than honey from the rock" and finally "she sucked and sucked and sucked the more, fruits which that unknown orchard bore; she sucked until her lips were sore". All of these quotes could be interpreted to represent sexual acts or just sex itself ( I won't go into detail!!). These quotes also make sex sound rough, the picture formed in your head when you interpret these terms in a sexual way isn't pleasant. They make sex sound quite vulger.

Then later on when Lizzie enters the goblin clearing she seems to be sexually abused by the goblins. They could represent dirty, seedy men who "leer" at girls and entise them (again Rossetti could have drawn from stories she'd heard from the prostitutes she helped rehabilitate at St Mary Magdalene's penitentiary). Lizzie's sexual abuse is shown in "held her hands and squeezed their fruits against her mouth to make her eat"- It could be interpreted to be symbollic of the fact the goblins are forcing themselves on her.

Despite their supposed abuse, Lizzie doesn't surrender to sexual temptation. She keeps in mind what she is there for (her sisters well-being) and she refuses to succumb to the tempting offer the goblins make. This is metaphorically shown in "would not open lip from lip"- she won't say a word and will also not let them invade her body (she is a closed book in every crude way). Even though Lizzie has the same wants and desires as her sister, she puts her faith in her sister first. This could mirror how Rossetti feels- she would put her divine love of God before fulfilling her earthly sexual desires.

So overall I think 'Goblin Market' can be interpreted to be completely erotic, as many lines in the poem are impossible to read without sexual implacations springing to mind (unless you're a child). However I think even if the poem is entirely focused on sex, it's not just pure erotica. I think Rossetti has linked in a moral message about sex that may be linked to her strong religious views. This view is that it is not sinful to have sexual feelings and desires, but it is sinful to act upon them. Therefore explaining why Laura is effectively destroyed by her eating of the fruit or symbolically giving up her virginity and innocence voluntarily. She, along with her sister, pay a high price for her brief moment of bliss and satisfaction.

The poem could also be showing how Rossetti felt with regards to her sexuality etc.

Hope this is right!!!!!