Challenge: can you develop another student's ideas or challenge what they say? Remember this is important for A03.
Can you also make any links to the context?
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What is Rossetti's agenda (message) in 'The Goblin Market'? Think about the big picture!
Challenge: can you develop another student's ideas or challenge what they say? Remember this is important for A03. Can you also make any links to the context?
19 Comments
Sadiya
1/16/2014 03:09:00 am
One of the agenda of Rossetti in Goblin Market is to show that everyone especially women should be careful of temptations because the poem defines using female characters like Laura and Jeanie to show how a simple act of woman giving attention to a source of temptation is enough to cause her downfall. Although, Rossetti sympathises with the challenge of resisting our temptations through Laura’s recovery at the end implying that a woman who has temptation is not necessarily doomed to a life full of impurity. Despite of her wrongdoing Laura still regains her purity through devotion and love of the sister. However, by making Laura gain her purity and sisterly love again, Rossetti emphasises for ‘fallen women’ in society, which seems to be something uncommon for a time when female sexuality before or outside marriage were considered as unforgivable sins. This shows that Rossetti was against the cruel approach of society towards ‘fallen women’. Moreover, in the end she conveys the message that sisters should love one another, showing the importance of family in every individual’s life. Also, we sense female heroism and self-sacrificing by a woman, which does not seem to exist in Victorian era, proving that Rossetti disagrees with the existing male dominating, unbalanced society during her time. Rossetti in real life, who was a deeply religious woman emphasised with defenseless women, considered as ‘fallen woman’ in society by also helping them to find their way back to God. She cannot be considered as a feminist in a modern sense but she did understand certain challenges women faced and did not think they deserved to be detested and rejected by society.
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Jaspreet
1/16/2014 05:02:21 am
In connection with this the fruits throughout the fruits represents temptation and the goblins could represent Satan. Throughout the poem Christina Rossetti underlines the dangers of the fruit and goblin men. The goblins could be symbolic in how Rossetti sees men in general, the goblins are animalistic in appearance and when they speak they hiss etc. The men are portrayed as evil, ugly creatures that "leer" at women and force themselves on them, which could be suggested from the repetitive quote "come buy" showing how desperate the goblins are to lure maids to buy their forbidden fruits, in order to make them 'fallen women'. With the use of Laura and Jeanie (as you have mention), she expresses how women are easily trapped into a source of temptation without knowing what the consequences are, as they weren't well-educated in the Victorian era. Lizzie attempt to gain forgiveness for Laura's sin, shows parallels with the Christian redemptive story of Jesus on the cross. The abuse Lizzie suffers in the story is reflective of Jesus death to forgive humans of their sins, so Lizzie suffers to ensure Laura can be redeemed for her sins. Rossetti emphasizes how the strong bond of sisterhood is able to overcome such challenges of facing temptation and bringing women closer to God. Rossetti creates the view that it is not sinful to have sexual feelings and desires, but it is sinful to act upon them, which led to Jeanie's death.
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Jaspreet
1/16/2014 05:04:37 am
I sorry about not proofreading it, as I mention 'the fruits' twice in the first sentence which doesn't make sense. Sorry again.
Jaspreet
1/16/2014 05:08:25 am
What is wrong with me? Sorry for not proofreading my other reply.
jaspreet
1/16/2014 05:15:54 am
*In connections with this the fruits throughout the poem represent temptation and the goblins could represent Satan.
Iman Hussein
1/16/2014 06:00:12 am
Even though Rossetti does not include any actual male characters within this poem,we see the goblins as males,which have very negative connotations as Jaspreet has stated.However,both Laura and Lizzie are seen as virtuous but this certain aspect of their life has stripped their innocence away.I think Rossetti's agenda is to show that women and men are similar yet in different ways,this is shown by the ending where Lizzie is seen as a heroine by saving her sister,which highlights her strength.The theme of sisterhood is also very important,"‘For there is no friend like a sister’ Rossetti might not have only meant it in a biological sister relationship but that all women have some sort of connection which binds them together making them stronger as a group.
Anisha
1/16/2014 04:48:34 am
At the end of the poem Rossetti infers that members of one family are the true heroes and that are always there for you when help is needed. It has been suggested that Rossetti did dedicate this poem to her own sister which suggests that Rossetti needed to express how important the role of women are. Not only was Laura, Lizzie’s hero she was strong against the goblin men and resisted their temptation but also had the strength to go back and support her sister. Like Saydia I agree that Rossetti cannot be considered as a feminist in a modern sense but she did understand certain challenges women faced one being the huge temptations they faced.
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Jaspreet
1/16/2014 05:41:38 am
I agree with Sadiya on that Christina Rossetti highlights society is unbalanced with men being dominate over women, as people disregard 'fallen women' by claiming that there is no hope of forgiveness for their sins. Rossetti suggests how women in particular Laura in the poem have the power to act and obtain an ending that they desires, claiming that women are equal to men but are neglected their power in society. The poem shows Rossetti’s sympathy with ‘fallen women’, even though she disapproves their actions.
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Elisha
1/16/2014 06:18:34 am
I think Rossetti was trying to show us how easily women could be influenced by men at the time , especially young innocent women . But the main theme running through the poem is sisterhood .Laura supported her sister despite the fact that she eventually gave into the goblin men.Lizzie is seen as a strong women who resisted temptation , which can be Rossettis way of telling us that although women had little power over many things they still had a choice over some things like Laura had a choice to also resist the goblin men .
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Sadik
1/16/2014 07:09:15 am
Through the Goblin Market, Rossetti underlines how vulnerable women were in the contemporary context. Although desire for fruits is a plot that lacks mundane realism, if viewed from a perceptive viewpoint it can be interpreted very differently. The fruits symbolise all worldly affairs and temptation, ranging from material objects to ultimately, men. Through this, Rossetti is displaying to what extent a young woman can control her desires. She makes the reader question if desire and lust is a sin or if it's the actual act itself that's sinful. I think we can all agree that to indulge in a point blank sin is sinful, but is the thought of committing a sin also sinful?
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Nasra
1/16/2014 07:12:47 am
I agree with Elisha that one of the main themes is the love between Laura and Lizzie (two sisters). I think this is shown by the fact that they are together throughout almost all of this poem and even with Laura disregarding Lizzie's advice there is never any conflict between their characters. The only points when they are separated are when they enter the goblin market. This is needed for the "goblin men" to lure in their prey and have them feed on their fruits. Laura becomes vulnerable without he sister and does not think to question why her "golden curl" is worth as much as a coin. However,by using two sisters Rossetti allows us to make a clear comparison between them. When Laura went to the goblin market she was "curious". It was like an adventure for her and so she sought out what they had. on the other hand for Lizzie, her sole goal was to save her sister. Therefore, I believe that the lack of judgement by Laura and the bravery by Lizzie put together portrays the importance of their relationship.
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Safiya
1/16/2014 07:21:27 am
In the 'Goblin Market' I believe that Rossetti's agenda is that fallen women could be saved. In the Victorian era, 'fallen woman' became an outcast because they were considered unpure in society and therefore looked down upon. Laura was 'dwindling' indicating that she was gradually wasting away. This is the consequence of Laura not being able to resist the temptation, similarly to Jeanie who died because of this. However, the theme of feminism and sisterly love Lizzie saves her sister by almost sacrificing her own life. This suggests that Rossetti's agenda is that if women consolidated their relationship and made sacrifices for each other they could save themselves like Lizzie did for Laura.
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Maninderjit
1/16/2014 06:23:00 pm
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Muna
1/16/2014 07:27:08 pm
- at the beginning of the Goblin Market, it begins with 'maids heard the goblins cry' which portrays that the unmarrired women are being targeted which could link in with the lack of knowledge of the time. The significance of 'Apples and quinces' portrays temptation and links in with the story of Adam and Eve - how if the fruit gets eaten, God would punish them as they were suppose to resist them selves. Rossetti deliberately includes this to depict how Laura could not like Eve resist her temptations and ate that apple.
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Sade
1/16/2014 07:39:33 pm
Towards the end of the poem, Rosetti states that the women are now "wives" which suggests that they have now made a new bond with men however, after reminiscing about their encounter with the "fruit merchant me" which are the goblins, they come to the conclusion that there is no friend "like a sister". Rossetti creates emphasis that the bond that a woman shares with a man is nothing in comparison to a bond between sisters, maybe even a making reference to a sisterhood within religion and men hinder this
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Nasreen
1/16/2014 08:36:57 pm
However the goblin's desperate attempt to lure maids to buy the forbidden fruit is shown in the repetition of "come buy" which could represent how individual thoughts can be tempting to misguide people into sinful actions. Rossetti expresses the need of religion for protection for these sinful thoughts which is emphasised by the idea of sisterhood in the poem "there is no friend like a sister". This links into nuns as they seek religion as protection against evil in society. Rossetti intention was to create influence of religion through the strong bond of sisterhood.
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Hannah
1/16/2014 08:43:06 pm
The Goblin market on face value can be taken to be a open case of obvious temptation where a young innocent maiden is lured into the hands of evil reflecting the story of Adam and Eve. However, looking further into the poem it is clear to see that Laura finds herself attracted to the dark and twisted ways of the Goblins, to the point where she's known to be 'longing for the night'. Rossetti uses Laura to present a young woman accountable of her own downfall, where she is her own tragic tale of foolishness. Her naivety towards making contact with the goblins suggest no real fear of them and what they could potentially do with her. In her mind, they seem blissfully innocent and pose no threat, as 'she heard a voice like a voice of doves cooing all together: they sounded kind and full of love' - This then would show how she's so engulfed in their fruits that she sees them as harmless, putting herself at risk. Rossetti further presents Laura as someone who is too quick to make such acquaintances,despite the goblins unusual,fearful appearances, Laura continues to stretch 'her gleaming neck'. Rossetti uses this to present how even when warning is given through most obvious of signs, women are still accountable for their own choices to endeavor into such dark realms.
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A Ahluwalia
1/17/2014 02:07:14 am
Whilst it can be argued that through Laura Rossetti highlights that 'women are still accountable for their own choices to endeavor into such such dark realms', what view does she present through Lizzie and the animalistic treatment that was enforced on her by the goblins?
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sana
1/17/2014 02:58:20 am
in addition to the description of the goblins comes the line 'win the fiery antidote' which could be attributed to deadly venom that could be associated to the malicious snake that had once infiltrated adam and even and made them susceptible to evil.
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