The “Fruit” of Success: Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” as an Allegory of the 19th Century Literary Marketplace

Authors

Priyodarshini Ghosh, Presidency University, KolkataFollow

Keywords

Goblin Market, Christina Rossetti, Victorian, literary marketplace, woman author

Abstract

Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” is probably her most critically acclaimed literary masterpiece. It has been accepted undoubtedly as an allegory of something, but critics have not been able to come to a unanimous conclusion as to what. Some have tried to establish it as a Christian allegory of Fall and Redemption, while others as an allegory of sexual temptation. Certain critics have hinted that this poem could be an allegory of the literary marketplace during the 19^th century, which was wholly dominated by men, women’s entry into that marketplace being either restricted or marked by insurmountable obstacles. Following the last strand of interpretation, which has unfortunately not been discussed at any great length since its inception, this paper explores by close textual analysis how “Goblin Market” very accurately portrays the dismal literary scenario of the Victorian market for women who intended to publish their works professionally during that period of time.

Issue and Volume

Volume 16, Issue 2

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Ghosh, Priyodarshini (2024) "The “Fruit” of Success: Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” as an Allegory of the 19th Century Literary Marketplace," Criterion: A Journal of Literary Criticism: Vol. 16: Iss. 2, Article 6.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/criterion/vol16/iss2/6