Goblin Market- A summary

The premise of Goblin market is focused upon two sisters- Lizzie and Laura; young, innocent and pure. They presumably reside on a farm in the country, labouring every day upon the farm until dusk. When dusk comes, however, a troop of goblins pass by their home. These goblins carry with them a plethora of delicious fruits, of every colour and flavour- which look fit enough for a royal feast.

Lizzie, demure and obedient, covers her eyes and ears from the temptations of the goblins, and runs away. Laura, on the other hand, curious as to the nature of the goblins, lingers behind. Seeing a new customer, the goblins are gleeful. They sing and lure her to their feast, treating her like a queen, allowing her to gorge to her hearts content.

Laura eats and eats and eats, until all the fruit is consumed, before returning home to an anxious Lizzie. Lizzie retells the story of Jeanie; who, like Laura, tasted the fruit. Jeanie pined for another taste, turned grey and faded away by the first snowfall. Laura dismisses this caution, elated and euphoric in her sensual experience. However, by the next morning, whilst Lizzie completes her duties with feverously and with enthusiasm, Laura is distant and distracted. By nightfall, Lizzie starts at the sound of the goblins, exclaiming they have to leave. Laura cannot see or hear the goblins, so returns home in shock, pining for the fruit again.

Laura begins to dwindle away, just like how Jeanie did. Lizzie does not act immediately due to her fear of the goblins. She then realises that Laura will die unless she takes initiative and buys her more fruit. That evening she waits by the river bank for the market. When the malicious faeries come into view, she tosses them a coin and requests fruit to take home. They insist that she eats with them; however she is adamant that she must return to Laura. The goblins then turn, snarling and scratching, they torment Lizzie. Tying her down and mocking her, attempting for force fruit into her mouth. 

 Lizzie stands firm, refusing to taste it, eventually the goblins tire of her, and scuttle away into the undergrowth and rivers. Lizzie returns to Laura, her face smeared in the juices of the goblin’s fruit. She kisses Laura, in doing so, allows her to taste the fruit juices once more. This sends Laura into a delirious fever, which burns away the goblins touch and purifies her.

Come morning, Laura is awake and as full of life as always. The poem ends several years later, both the girls are married with families of their own; Laura tells them this tale, of her fatal curiosity and Lizzie’s courage. And besets upon them this piece of advice-

“For there is no friend like a sister

In calm or stormy weather;

To cheer one on the tedious way,

To fetch one if one goes astray,

To lift one if one totters down,

To strengthen whilst one stands.”