During the Victorian era prostituion was a wide-scale problem in Britian. The eseence of prostitution went against every moral that was being promoted during this era. Chastity, prudence, and grace were dismissed and and disregarded by "fallen women".  It gained momentum, an the largest concern was veneral diseases among prostitutes. British military men were found to be the largest Victim of this problem. The goverment believed that the decline in health and effectiveness of military was a result of prostitutes with veneral diseases mingling with military men.

The Victorian Age was a time of economic, social, and cultural change throughout England. It was characterized by "momentous and intimidating" social movements. Under the reign of Queen Victoria as people migrated from the county to the city in hopes of finding better wages as a result of the Industrial Revolution. In the Goblin Market, Rosetti addresses the skepticisim associated with sudden ascces to some goods that were unsustainable. The maids were tempted daily by goblin men that could not have been grown in the same enironment and are not home to England.