Commentary on The Goblin Market Essay

The Market Place

Christina Rossetti's poem "Goblin Market" describes the dynamics of a market place very well. Rossetti depicts how the "Goblins", or merchants, cry for business. For example they croon "Come buy, come buy" (4) and list a paratactic list of items. Rossetti does many things to show how a market place really is, and how it works. Some of these things may remind the reader of the type of market found on Canal Street in New York.

Rossetti's description of the market place is similar to that of a modern day market. For example, a person has no interest in any of the items being sold, but he or she is being sucked in by the siren-like calls of the "goblins". In addition some merchants in a market place share some of the same descriptions, either physically or metaphorically, as those described by Rossetti:

One had a cat's face,

One whisked a tail,

One tramped at a rat's pace,

One crawled like a snail, (71-74)

Rossetti gives a visual description of what the goblins look like. These descriptions give the reader a mental picture of a shady, wily, and animal-like merchants. The products that are sold are also another similarity between the two market places. Rossetti describes the merchandise, the fruit, as being from untrustworthy place "Who knows upon what soil they fed / Their hungry thirsty roots?" (44-45).

Rossetti's market place resembles a modern day market place in the way that the merchants interact with the buyers. In a market place there are many people competing for sales. Rossetti describes the goblins as "Leering at each other" (93), as if they have a malicious plan to sell to the new customer. She continues to describe the constant battle among the goblins for Laura's business, "One set his basket down, / One reared his plate," and continues describe what each goblin does to get business. (97-98).

Rossetti gives her merchants a type of selling pitch as well. For example when Laura is surrounded by the different merchants, each merchant did something in order to get her attention. One merchant bade her taste in tones as smooth as honey (107-108).

Another merchant Spoke a world of welcome (9), and another merchant whistled like a bird (114). This may remind a reader of a market place in similar ways. For example the click-clack of sale ads, the screaming and shouting for products that are sold in the stand, and even the whistling, are all in a feeble attempt to gain patronage for their business.

Another similar aspect of a market place that Rossetti reveals in her poem is the way that merchant are willing to negotiate in order to sell. After all the merchants have grabbed Lauras attention by screaming Come buy, come buy, then they presented the merchandise, and after pitching the sale, Laura tells the goblins she has no money, I have no copper in my purse (118). The goblins, in unison, tell her she can buy with her golden hair, You have much gold upon your head (123). Laura decided to barter with the goblins and paid them for their fruit, she clipped a precious golden lock . . . Then sucked their fruit globes fair or red (126-128).

Rossettis Goblin Market truly resembles that of a modern day market place. Christina does an excellent job portraying the malicious merchants, and their cunning ways. Rossetti goes even farther and describes how they presented their fruits, got Lauras attention, and how they were able to barter with the poor girl. Rossetti describes the market place very well in these ways.