Sydney Shellhouse's timeline for "Goblin Market"

In “Goblin Market”, Christina Rossetti utilizes sexual imagery and symbolism to portray the nineteenth century reform of the “fallen woman”. In the Victorian era it was important to uphold a woman’s purity before marriage, so Rossetti is forewarning temptation and unfaithfulness while offering forgiveness through morals and repentance. In this timeline I will be outling the historical and cultural events that helped shape Christina Rossetti's approach to "Goblin Market" and her reasoning behind it.

Timeline

Chronological table

Displaying 1 - 7 of 7
Date Event Created by Associated Places
1760 to 1840

Industrial Revolution

“File:Marshall's Flax-Mill, Holbeck, Leeds - Interior - C ...” Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain, 1843, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marshall%27s_flax-mill,_Holbeck,_Leeds_-_interior_-_c.1800.jpg.
File:Marshall's flax-mill, Holbeck, Leeds - interior - c.1800.jpg

This Industrial Revolution occurred in the late 17th century until the mid-18th century. The revolution included the development of technology manufacturing that resulted in the production of steam, coal, large-scaled factories, and more extensive transportation. Due to these developments, there was a rise in consumerism during the 18th century because buying and selling became more efficient. An aspect of this revolution I want to focus on is how shopping became an important role in society during this time both urban and rural areas. This event is important in understanding "Goblin Market" because it helps explain the approach Rossetti took in portraying her message to readers and why. When beginning this poem, we instantly see the word "Market" which can be connected to the roaring marketplace during this time. The Industrial Revolution was a big change to the world, and she is using this to show how people have gotten caught up in the material aspects, just like what happens with Laura in this poem. This Goblin market full of fruits is very overwhelming to Laura and ends up consuming her thoughts over judgement. Also, the image I have chosen presents workers at their machines at a factory called Marshall Mill's. 

MLA Works Cited

White, Mathew. “The Industrial Revolution.” British Library, 14 Oct. 2009, https://www.bl.uk/georgian-britain/articles/the-industrial-revolution.

White, Mathew. “The Rise of Consumerism.” British Library, 15 May 2014, https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-rise-of-consumerism.

Sydney Shellhouse
1819

Sample

Sample

Heather Witcher
1833 to 1845

Oxford Movement

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. “Category:The Girlhood of Mary Virgin by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.” Wikimedia Commons, 28 Apr. 2019, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:The_Girlhood_of_Mary_Virgin_by_Dante_Gabriel_Rossetti.

The Oxford Movement lasted from 1833 until 1845. This movement emphasized the confession and redemption through God. This religious movement influenced Christina Rossetti, as she was a devout High Anglican, and exhibited in her poems. This movement was important in Rossetti's work "Goblin Market" because she portrays her religious beliefs throughout this poem. Laura can be understood as struggling with religious doubt and by the end of the poem she has been given another chance after her sister helps her find redemption. I have selected the painting The Girlhood of Mary Virgin by Dante Gabriel Rossetti to help represent Christina Roessetti's devout religious beliefs. Her brother used her as a model for this particular painting in 1848 to 1849.

MLA Works Cited

Avery, Simon. “Christina Rossetti: Religious Poetry.” British Library, 15 May 2014, https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/christina-rossetti-r....

Sydney Shellhouse
1848

Pre-Raphaelites Movement

Millais, John Everett. File:Millais - Ophelia.jpg. 1851, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Millais_-_Ophelia.jpg.
File:Millais - Ophelia.jpg

The Pre-Raphaelites brotherhood began in 1848 with a group of Victorian artists and poets who wanted to revolutionize British art. It was started by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Homehand, and John Everett Millais. Their objective was to make art more real by imitating the natural world, rather than it being conventional. When creating art, the pre-Raphaelites would use bright colors and make the art very detailed in nature. For them, art and literature go hand in hand. This brotherhood was very influential in Christina Rossetti’s life due to her brothers being members. She even participated in a few of their paintings and works. One of the biggest ways we see the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites in “Goblin Market” is the attention to detail. The descriptions of the fruit and animals mentioned are very bright and intricate. This influence has helped the readers to become immersed in the world of the Goblin market. This picture I have selected is Ophelia done by John Everett Millais in 1851 to 1852. This work shows the Pre-Raphaelites attention to nature and detail.

MLA Works Cited

Roe, Dinah. “Pre-Raphaelites.” British Library, 15 May 2014, https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-pre-raphaelites.

Sydney Shellhouse
1859 to 1870

St Mary Magdalene house

“File:St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.jpg - Wikimedia ...” Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Mary_Magdalene_Church,_Sandringham.jpg.
File:St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.jpg

The London Diocesan Penitentiary, or St Mary Magdalene house, was a place of refuge for prostitutes or women that had participated in pre-marital sex. This charity provided a path for them to get on a societally acceptable path. Christina volunteered from 1859 until 1870 and was very involved with these women, also known a "fallen woman". This social work done by Rossetti highlights her reasoning for creating "Goblin Market". Her goal is to help share that even when you are outcast from society because of these sexual sins, you can still regain your life through the help of others that can help you gain forgiveness and reform through God and compassion.

MLA Works Cited

“Advertisement for the London Diocesan Penitentiary.” British Library, The Morning Post, https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/advertisement-for-a-house-for-fallen-....

   

Sydney Shellhouse
1860

Contagious Diseases Act

Abbott, and Holder. “File:Study of a Fallen Woman - Anon-98397.Jpg.” Wikimedia Commons, 1880, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Study_of_a_Fallen_Woman_-_Anon-98397.jpg.

This act was intiated in 1860 and the first law was enacted in 1864. This act allowed in certain areas if a woman was expected to be a prostitute, they would have to undergo a medical examination. If one was tested for the disease then they were placed in a hospital until they were cured. Prostitution was an anxiety of this time period and how it spreads diseases. This event helps highlight the reason for Rossetti to begin her social work at the St Mary Magdalene house. This possibility of disease was becoming a fear in society. So, Rossetti utilizes this event to create awarness on this fear, as well as, warn women against the pre-marital sexual actions. The picture I have provided is labeled as The Study of a Fallen Woman. This picture can be seen as  portraying a woman that is broken down by society because of her sexual acts. 

MLA Works Cited

Hughes, Kathryn. “Gender Roles in the 19th Century.” British Library, 15 May 2014, https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/gender-roles-in-the-....

Sydney Shellhouse
1862

"Goblin Market" by Christina Rossetti

Rossetti, Dante Gabriel. “File:Buy from Us with a Golden Curl (Frontispiece to ‘Goblin Market and Other Poems’ by Christina Rossetti) MET DP835742.Jpg.” Wikimedia Commons, 1862, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buy_from_Us_with_a_Golden_Curl_(frontispiece_to_%22Goblin_Market_and_other_Poems%22_by_Christina_Rossetti)_MET_DP835742.jpg.

The "Goblin Market" was published in 1862. I have chosen this picture because it was created by her brother, Dante Gabriel Rossetti. It is called Buy from Us with a Golden Curl  and it is used as a frontpiece to "Goblin Market". The picture depicts one of the sisters surrounded by the Goblin men, while the other one is running away. It is also showing the Goblin men as animals and covered in curious clothing. The sister, who we can assume is Laura, is cutting a lock of her golden hair. So, this painting allows the readers to see an interpretation of this poem through Dante Gabriel's eyes.

Sydney Shellhouse