Draft essay 2

Annette Castillo                                                                                                          Castillo 1

Cline

ENG 102

18, September 2011

                                                            A Sister’s Love

            There are many different ways of loving people. In the poem “Goblin Market,” by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894); we read about the special kind of love between two sisters. We also read about how one sister falls into temptation and ends up with a bad addiction. Then it’s all up to her sister to figure out a way to save her sick sister.

            In this poem we read how Laura gives into the temptations the “goblins” are offering to her. She gives in but at a huge price. The goblins want her to feast on their fruits. “They sounded kind and full of love” (Rossetti, line 79). This makes me think of drug dealers. When they make everything sound okay. When they are trying to convince someone to take drugs for the first time and they make it seem like it’s no big deal. They talk nicely to you until they achieve their goal of getting someone to try it. When Laura responds to them that she has no money to pay them they convince her to pay them in another way. “You have much gold upon your head,’ They answered all together.’ Buy us with a golden curl.’ She clipp’d a percious golden lock, she dropped a tear more rare than pearls” (Rossetti, lines 123-127). To me this shows me that they were able to convince her but at a huge price….her soul. Just like any drug user they don’t know the huge price their paying for a moments worth of gratification.

                                                                                                                                    Castillo 2

            “Laura in an absent dream,” (Rossetti, line 211); demonstrates how Laura is now addicted and is wanting more fruits from the goblins. Just like any drug addict that cannot think of anything else but their next “fix”. “She no more swept the house, Tended the fowls or cows, Fetech’d honey, Kneaded cakes of wheat, Brought water from the brook: But sat down listless in the chimney-nook and would not eat.”(Rossetti, lines 293-298). Says to me that out of her depression and/or her addiction she has let all of her responsibilities go. We hear about this happening all the time to addicts. Some even lose their careers and most importantly their families over their addiction. So we see how strong the power of addiction can really be.

            “Tender Lizzie could not bear to watch her sister’s cankerous care” (Rossetti, lines 299-300). Laura’s sister; Lizzie, is worried about her. Just as any sibling or family member of an addict would be at seeing their loved one in so much pain and anguish. Addiction not only affects the addict but it also affects all the people that love the addict.

This makes Lizzie do something she never thought of doing before. She goes to the    goblins and fights to return with a gift for her sister; Laura. When the goblins get angry with Lizzie for not eat their fruits with them they begin to harass her,” They began to scratch their pates, No longer wagging, purring, But visibly demurring, Grunting and snarling. One call’d her proud, Cross-grain’d, uncivil; Their tones wax’d loud, Their look were evil. Lashing their tails They trod and hustled her, Elbow’d and jostled her, Claw’d with their nails, Barking, mewing, hissing, mocking, Tore her gown and soil’d her stocking, Twitch’d  her hair out by the roots, Stamp’d upon her tender feet, Held her hands and squeez’d their fruits Against her mouth to make her eat,” (Rossetti, lines 390-407). They are angry with her so they start to physically abuse her as well. But they don’t realize that Lizzie is stronger than she looks. She stands her ground and when they get tired of harassing her they let her go