One of the elements of Goblin market that suggests that feminism is embedded in the poem is the theme of sisterhood present throughout the entire poem. The only human characters referenced in the poem are sisters Lizzie and Laura, there is no reference to a community, even following the traumatic events they both experience the response is initiated by the sisters without the assistance of others. Furthermore as the poem comes to a close in line 562 Rossetti states ‘For there is no friend like a sister’ this is quite an ambiguous thing to say considering that not all sisterly relationships would be as idyllic as depicted in the poem: from a feminist perspective however it becomes apparent that the concept of sisters may not necessarily mean in a genetic sense but more the connection between all women due to experiences that bind them i.e. motherhood; this in turn creates the idea that phrases in the poem such as ‘to cheer one on the tedious way’ means that the mutual understanding between women makes them more apt candidates for the proverbial ‘shoulder to cry on’ in times of hardship. On the other hand, in the context of Rossetti’s life the recurring theme of sisterhood being important and other relationships being potentially harmful (the fruit, considered to be representative of sexual desire ultimately does more bad than good) may be a swipe at her brothers, Rossetti’s brothers formed an artistic movement named the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, they encouraged her to write poetry but denied her request to join the movement itself. Rossetti writing about a mythical world which is inhabited by only women with the only males being hideous goblins, could be perceived as her showing that a male-dominated world that thought itself to be progressive and causing society to advance was at it’s source inherently misogynistic and even further that Rossetti and other female authors of the period did not need men at all.
A second aspect of the poem that makes it seem feminist are the multiple references to Biblical stories, particularly those which make out women to be antagonists, and creating a different perspective (similar to what Milton does in ‘Paradise Lost’). The most obvious case of this is the fruit, Lizzie is tempted by Goblins who are in possession of certain fruits and despite warnings by her sister she consumes the said fruit, this results in her falling ill and in turn means that Laura has to return to the market and undergo a crude baptism by fire so to speak in order for her to nurse the ailing Lizzie. The concept of enticing fruit ultimately bringing destruction is reminiscent of the story of Adam and Eve, in the story Eve is tempted by a presumably male Serpent into eating a ‘forbidden fruit’ which causes a literal fall from grace and inflicts ‘sin’ on the world, briefly afterward her husband Adam eats the fruit and faces the same fate. In the play the roles are reversed, instead of a perfectly innocent man losing his status due to the sinful exploits of his wife, two innocent sisters fall prey to goblin salesman with a sinister agenda. As well as subtly criticising the macabre actions some men commit it may also be a challenge to the blatant misogyny present in the Bible which during the period when the poem was written was slowly losing it’s credibility with the rise of logical scientific thinking. Another biblical tale which is reversed is that of Samson and Delilah, Samson has his hair removed by his lover Delilah and subsequently loses his strength. In Rossetti’s poem, Laura must give up some of her hair in order to pay the goblins, however rather than strength what Laura loses in the play can more accurately be described as her innocence.
Ultimately the themes present in ‘Goblin Market’ as well as the language employed by Rossetti suggest that the poem has feminism at it’s core which potentially reflects the opinions of the poet herself; but when analysed with context in mind it suggests that Rossetti may be using the poem as a release of emotions and an almost vengeful way of responding to disappointment and distress inflicted by those around her, just as Dante Alighieri does in ‘Inferno’.
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