Comparing Goblin Market By Elinor's 'Sense And Sensibility'

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In Christina Rossetti’s poem “Goblin Market” at the end there is a statement
‘For there is no friend like a sister
In calm or stormy weather;
To cheer one on the tedious way,
To fetch one if one goes astray,
To lift one if one totters down,
To strengthen whilst one stands.’ (Rossetti 562-567)
The statement essentially explains there is no relationship that can compare to the unexplainable bond sisters share. The two pairs of sisters Laura and Lizzie from Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” and Elinor and Marianne from Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” fulfill the statement in the end of “Goblin Market” highly and have shocking similarities.
Lizzie and Lauren from Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” have a strong sisterly bond and …show more content…

The incident in the poem that proves how the sisters are clearly different is the way each of them react when they hear the goblin men and the fruit market. Laura is the curious one with the wandering soul and Lizzie is the protective, state minded one. Lizzie was especially looking out for Lauren when she said “Oh”, cried Lizzie, “Laura, Laura, / You should not peep at goblin men” (Rossetti 48-49). But Laura gets sucked in by the goblin men and ends up giving them a lock of her hair for some fruit. After Laura eats the fruit they are put through some stormy weather which puts their relationship to the test. Soon after Laura eats the fruit she begins to waste away. Laura stopped eating and doing her chores all she wanted was some goblin fruit. Lizzie became increasingly concerned “Tender Lizzie could not bear / To watch her sisters cankerous care, / Yet not to share” (299-301). Lizzie became so worried that she decided to go to the market to see what was going on which relates to the statement of how a sister can bring the other back when …show more content…

Elinor Dashwood is the oldest of the two and is 19 years old. Elinor is the more composed and affectionate one. Marianne who is 17 years old is the polar opposite of her sister. She is spontaneous, has excessive sensibility and is a hopeless romantic. The incident that really makes the sisters comparable to the statement at the end of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” poem all begins when Marianne tumbles down a hill and Willoughby rescues her. Their relationship after that flourishes an they begin to spend a lot of time together getting closer and closer and falling involve - or so Marianne thought. Willoughby suddenly announces he has to depart to London for business matters which turns out to be for another women. Willoughby abandons Marianne for the wealthy Miss Sophia Grey which absolutely destroys Marianne when she finds out. Marianne especially related to the statement when she goes through a storm literally and figuratively with Willoughby. Marianne is so upset she purposefully goes for a walk in the rain and catches a cold and becomes terribly ill. When Willoughby hears of this news he comes to visit to see how Marianne is doing and to explain himself and most importantly seek forgiveness. Elsinore replies to Willoughby by saying “If that is all, you may be satisfied already,— for

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