Goblin Market

The poem starts by describing the cries of the goblins and their tactics for luring fair maidens to buy their fruit. Every evening two sisters, Laura and Lizzie listen to the goblins cry, one more curious than the other. The sexual nature of the goblins makes Lizzie shy and embarrassed while Laura cannot resist her temptation to peek at the creatures. Once she sees the goblins, she desires their “fruit” even more; and soon sweet toothed Laura tastes the honey. Giving in to this temptation and her sexual desires makes Laura a ruined woman. She is willing to give up so much, even her reputation, just to get a piece of their fruit. She sucks and sucks until her lips are sore and her payment complete.
After leaving the goblins, Laura longs for another taste of their sweet fruit, and is now obsessed with finding the creatures again. Lizzie warns Laura about the consequences, but it is not enough. Laura becomes heartbroken when she can no longer hear their cries. She yearns for their fruit and desires their honey. One taste of fruit increased Laura’s sexual desires, which she could no longer keep hidden. In the 19th century a publicly sexual woman was looked down upon for fear she would not make an adequate wife or mother. In true Victorian womanhood, a woman must remain a model of patient endurance, for which she is ultimately rewarded with marriage and property. Lizzie on the other hand, still pure, can hear the goblin cries and wishes to purchase their fruit to crave her sisters urges. Seeing Laura depressed sends Lizzie on the hunt for fruit. Once she finds the goblins, however, they attack her sexually, but Lizzie does not give into the temptation. When she leaves the goblins, she feels as if she defeated them. Their fruit did not manage to ruin Lizzie, and in fact made her stronger.
When she returns home she greets Laura and allows her to suck the honey that lay upon her face. Laura rejoices in the fact that Lizzie has not tasted the forbidden fruit and upon her own taste she realizes that the juices are not the same as they once were. They were tainted and bitter. The initial temptation has worn off and Laura realizes the consequences of heading down a ruined path. By understanding the repercussions faced by ruined women early enough, Laura is able to change her ways. Both women grow up to have families and lives, not defined by their forbidden encounters with the goblins. Not all women are as lucky as Laura, and either never realize or realize too late that their path of destruction will never give them the life they truly want. A ruined woman is just that, ruined.
-Victorianruin303

(1) Allingham, Philip V. “Wilkie Collins and The Women Question.” Victorian Web. Faculty of Education, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay Ontario.

(2) Rossetti, Christina. “Goblin Market.” Victorian Web. Oct. 17, 2005. Dec. 12, 2012.