Goblin Market Biographical Lens

After reading this poem through several times, and trying on different lenses, it is evident that the best lens to look at “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti through is the biographical one. Looking through the biographical lens, it is made evident that in “Goblin Market”, Rossetti alludes to her childhood, her health, and her father.

Firstly, the biographical lens is appropriate to apply to “Goblin Market” because the author writes about her childhood. At first glance, this poem may seem like a simple moral story about sisters caring for and supporting each other. The author’s childhood was not unlike the moral, in fact “Rossetti’s childhood was exceptionally happy,” (Poetry Foundation). Several different aspects contributed to her happiness including “affectionate parental care and the creative companionship of older siblings.” (Poetry Foundation). And of course “...there is no friend like a sister” (Rossetti), which again illustrates the closeness of the two sisters in the poem. Since Rossetti writes

about her childhood, more specifically her relationship with her sister, a biographical lens is appropriate for “Goblin Market”.

Secondly, the biographical lens is suitable for “Goblin Market”, because she writes about her health.

In 1845, Rossetti’s health collapsed mysteriously (Poetry Foundation). She was diagnosed with Angina, which causes intense pain in a specific area. This intensity is carried through to “Goblin Market” and is most recognizable when she tries the poisonous goblin fruit. The passion with which she “...suck’d their fruit globes…” is astonishing, and could only have been written by someone who was experiencing extreme emotions. Unfortunately for Rossetti, her emotions were pain-based, as she was also diagnosed with tuberculosis and Graves’ disease. Laura’s health also collapsed, but her cause is less mysterious. Thanks to the poison of the goblins, she, like Rossetti goes “...knocking at Death’s door” (Rossetti). These similarities between “Goblin Market” and Rossetti’s health, make it clear that a biographical lens is suitable for this

text.

Finally, the biographical lens is fitting for “Goblin Market” because the author writes about her father. Normally one would think that this would include positive elements, however in this text it is quite the opposite. Her father fell ill when Rossetti was only 13 years of age, and she was left to care for him most of the time (Poetry Foundation). Shortly after, she began experiencing bouts of depression (Poetry Foundation). One biographer of Rossetti believed that her father, with his ever-declining health, may have taken advantage of a depressed, pubescent girl that he was often left alone with (Poetry Foundation). This can not be proven, however evidence in “Goblin Market” suggests otherwise. The goblins’ fruits give off an attractive first impression. Later, when their juices enter her body, it is discovered that they are actually “...poison in the blood” (Rossetti). She is poisoned by the fruits, and only once the goblins are no more does she recover from her illness. Her father, like the fruit, also gave off a positive first impression: he is very creative, very talented, but only once he allegedly rapes his daughter does Christina find out he is actually poisoning her. Unfortunately for Rossetti, her health never truly got better, as she lived nearly her whole life with some sort of health issue. Even though it is not conclusive, there is a strong correlation between “Goblin Market” and Rossetti’s father, indicating the appropriateness of a biographical lens.
Any three of the given lenses can be applied to “Goblin Market”, specifically the biographical one, because Christina Rossetti writes about her childhood, her health, and her father. “Goblin Market” remains a powerful piece of literature because of its openness for discussion, and the variety of ways it can be interpreted.