In the following paper I will discuss the question whether or not Christina
Rossetti was influenced by Christian and Gender topics, as well as the
question of criticism of the society and in what extent she used them in her
poem “Goblin Market”...
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to the topic
2. Form, structure and stylistic composition
3. The Victorian Fantastic
4. Selection of interpretations
4.1 Christian Symbolism
4.2 sexual motives
4.3 Criticism of society
4.4 Female hero
5. Deceptive Ambiguity of the goblin speeches and behaviour
6. Conclusion
7. References
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
The primary objective of this paper is to examine whether Christina Rossetti's poem "Goblin Market" functions merely as a fairy-tale or if it incorporates complex layers of Christian symbolism, gender issues, and social critique of the Victorian era.
- Interaction between Victorian literature and Christian religious influence.
- Stylistic and structural analysis of the poem's composition.
- Exploration of the "Victorian Fantastic" and its role in the narrative.
- Interpretation of the goblin figures and the representation of the female hero.
- Critique of social issues, specifically focusing on the theme of prostitution.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 sexual motives
As many authors in the Victorian Age, Christina Rossetti was also using sexuality and sexual motives in her works. The scene of Lizzie at the goblin's place and the redemption of Laura will be used as an example to show this.
At first the scene of Lizzie at the goblins will be dealt with, it includes lines 329 to 446. The beginning is marked by friendly acting goblins trying to tempt Lizzie to eat with them voluntarily, they “hugged and kissed her: squeezed and caressed her” (GM 348f), like men use to be kind and cheerful to women when they try to seduce them, even after her first rejection they still try to convince her to stay and taste their fruits. But after Lizzie's final rejection to eat with the goblins and her demand to get back her silver penny, they become angry, they “began to scratch their pates,...grunting and snarling,...their looks were evil, they trod and hustled her, elbowed and jostled her, clawed with their nails” (GM 390-401), they even “held her hands and squeezed their fruits against her mouth to make her eat.” (GM 406f.), a clear metaphor for rape, they want to force Lizzie to eat their fruits, and the fruits can be interpreted as male sex organs. But Lizzie holds on and keeps her purity and in this case her virginity, she stood “like a fruit-crowned orange tree”(GM 415), a symbol for the virginal bride. The goblins got more and more angry and beat her but Lizzie would not open her mouth at all she even ”laughed in heart to feel the drip of juice that syrupped all her face, and lodged in dimples of her chin”(GM 433-435), so she won at last and the goblins let of of Lizzie because of her resistance, they gave her the penny back and went away. All of this can also be a description of rape, a group of men, seeing a beautiful woman, trying to convince her to go with them and after repeatedly declining, trying to force her to do what they want her to, even satisfying their sexual desires by force.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to the topic: This chapter establishes the thesis that "Goblin Market" contains deeper religious and social symbolisms beyond its surface as a children's fairy-tale.
2. Form, structure and stylistic composition: This chapter analyzes the stylistic devices, rhyme schemes, and meter used by Rossetti to create the poem's specific atmosphere.
3. The Victorian Fantastic: This chapter explores the literary genre of the Victorian Fantastic and how it serves as an escapist medium for the author and her contemporary readers.
4. Selection of interpretations: This chapter examines various thematic layers, including Christian symbolism, sexual motifs, social criticism regarding prostitution, and the archetype of the female hero.
4.1 Christian Symbolism: This chapter identifies parallels between the poem and Biblical narratives, specifically the Fall of Man and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
4.2 sexual motives: This chapter interprets the interaction between the sisters and the goblins as metaphors for sexual seduction, rape, and the preservation of virtue.
4.3 Criticism of society: This chapter connects the poem's narrative to the Victorian reality of prostitution and the exploitation of vulnerable women.
4.4 Female hero: This chapter redefines the concept of heroism by focusing on Lizzie's passive, loving sacrifice to save her sister.
5. Deceptive Ambiguity of the goblin speeches and behaviour: This chapter investigates how the changing behavior and speech of the goblins reflect the "disturbing disorder" they represent.
6. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that the poem is a complex, dense work influenced by the author's cultural, religious, and social environment.
7. References: This chapter lists the secondary literature and sources utilized throughout the research.
Keywords
Christina Rossetti, Goblin Market, Victorian Era, Victorian Fantastic, Christianity, Gender roles, Sexual motives, Prostitution, Social criticism, Female hero, Symbolism, Literature analysis, Laura and Lizzie, Allegory, Temptation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores whether Christina Rossetti's poem "Goblin Market" acts as a critique of Victorian society and if it contains deep-seated Christian and gender-based symbolic meanings.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the text?
The text focuses on Victorian literature, the "Victorian Fantastic" genre, Christian morality, sexual metaphors, and social issues like prostitution.
What is the primary research question?
The author investigates to what extent Rossetti used her poem to criticize society and incorporate Christian and gender-related themes, rather than writing a simple fairy-tale.
Which scientific methodology does the author apply?
The author uses literary analysis, examining specific textual passages, rhyme structures, and stylistic devices, supported by secondary academic literature and monographs.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the formal structure of the poem, the concept of the Victorian Fantastic, various symbolic interpretations, and the analysis of the goblin figures' behaviors.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Christina Rossetti, Goblin Market, Victorian Era, Christian symbolism, sexual motives, and social criticism.
How is the figure of Lizzie interpreted within the text?
Lizzie is interpreted as a "female hero" whose passive, self-sacrificing behavior serves as a Christ-like act to redeem her sister from the "fallen" state.
What does the author conclude about the poem's suitability for children?
The author concludes that while "Goblin Market" can be informative, it is likely too heavily laden with adult themes, such as sexual seduction and social despair, for an innocent child.
- Citar trabajo
- Jörg Rohde (Autor), 2010, Christianity and Gender in Christina Rossetti's “Goblin Market”, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/202876
