Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti in the Historical Context of the Victorian Era: Victorian Britain, 1837 – 1901. Christina Rossetti, born on 5th December 1830 and passed away on 29th December 1894, was an English poet known for her romantic, devotional, and children’s poems. She was born in London to Gabriele Rossetti, a poet and political exile from Vasto, Abruzzo, and Frances Polidori, the sister of Lord Byron’s friend and physician, John William Polidori.
She had two brothers and a sister: Dante became an influential artist and poet, while both William and Maria pursued writing careers. The youngest sibling, Christina, was known for her liveliness as a child. Even before learning how to write, she would dictate stories to her mother. In the Victorian Era, women lacked suffrage rights, the ability to sue or own property. British culture during this time strongly embraced “pater familias”, where the husband held authority as the head of the household and moral guide for his family.
In the Victorian era, women were expected to fulfill their role as wives by loving, honoring, and obeying their husbands. Meeting their husband’s needs and raising children properly were seen as crucial for maintaining social stability. Failure to meet these expectations resulted in severe criticism from Victorian society. The concept of the “Angel in The House” emerged in 1854, emphasizing the qualities a Victorian woman should possess – purity, chastity, refinement, and modesty. In terms of legal rights, divorce based on violence became recognized in 1857. Women gained the right to keep their earnings in 1870 and received spousal and child support rights in 1878.
However, there was a double standard when it came to sexual faithfulness. While women were expected to remain faithful, men had the freedom to have multiple partners without facing societal consequences. Engaging in extramarital affairs labeled women as ruined or fallen individuals. Religion played a significant role during this time period with most people attending church at least once or twice per week. Religious texts like the Bible were widely read across all social classes.
During Queen Victoria’s reign, organized religion started losing its grip on the English people. At that time, a group known as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, consisting of painters, poets, and critics, emerged in 1848. Among its members was William Michael Rossetti, the brother of Christina Rossetti. The primary goal of this group was to bring about art reform by rejecting the mechanistic methods embraced by Mannerist artists who followed in the footsteps of Raphael and Michelangelo.
