Christina Rossetti, a writer known for her proto-feminist and Christian exploration of female identity within Victorian society, manages in "Goblin Market" to use the form of poetry to counter the dominant opinion. the societal view of fallen women that they cannot be redeemed and must be avoided. Rossetti achieves this by challenging society's ostracism towards these women. Rossetti tells the story of two sisters: Lizzie, the virtuous woman who resists temptation and sin; and Laura, who proves to be the more curious and likely to succumb to temptation between the two. Laura becomes a fallen woman in the poem, allowing herself to indulge in the “forbidden fruit” of the goblin men (line 479). The only way for Laura to achieve salvation is to reintegrate into Victorian society – which Rossetti implies is society's responsibility. Rossetti explores each sister's experience in the patriarchal realm of desire, temptation, and ostracism. Although Laura begins her descent from society as a “fallen woman,” Rossetti challenges this societal deterioration and reveals to her readers that women's redemption comes through female unity and societal responsibility. Rossetti first challenges society's ostracism of fallen women through her portrait of non-women. only prostitutes and sinners, but also loving sisters. Each sister is a definite contrast to the other. Lizzie is presented as more responsible than Laura and more resistant to temptation. When the goblin men tempt the girls by buying them their “forbidden fruit” (479), Lizzie “[pushes] her dimpled fingers/Into each ear, closes [her] eyes and [runs]” while “Laura [chooses] linger” (67-69). Laura appears the more curious of the two and, therefore, the more likely to give in...... middle of paper ......relationship with her children with "joining hands with little hands" (560)To conclude , Rossetti successfully challenges society's banishment of the fallen woman by describing a feminine bond, reinforcing this bond with a societal construction and implying the idea that society is responsible just as much as the fallen woman. Although Laura chose to indulge in the forbidden fruit, it did not hinder her ability to marry or have children. It was only through inner strength and her sister's embrace that Laura was able to re-enter society. This suggests a broader notion that a fallen woman needs to be embraced and supported by the female unit as well as society. Therefore, Rossetti's achievement lies in indicating that instead of shunning these women, Victorian society must restore these women to their rightful place within the construct..