However, in the same way that Pantene’s commercial merges strength and beauty, Rossetti’s poem complicates the binary by asserting that Lizzie’s strength is beautiful and altogether feminine. In traditional feminist readings of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market,” the sisters, Laura and Lizzie, are cited as Monster and Angel, respectively. While prominent in feminist criticism and useful in its readings of nineteenth-century authorial suppression and confinement, this theory fails to address a woman’s ability to inhabit a middle ground between Angel and Monster. The theory reveals a tendency in Victorian literature to portray women either as an angelic, domesticated figure or as a terrifying monster. Pantene’s most recent commercial illustrates the binary concept of Angel and Monster established by authors Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar. Tossing her golden hair, she declares, “I am not one without the other” (Pantene). Strong is beautiful.” The image splits, and a laughing Rousey clothed in a white dress squares off with her dark double. As she jabs a gloved fist at the camera, Ronda Rousey says, “Don’t hate me because I’m strong.

~īlonde hair braided back in a tight bun, and her jet-black eyeshadow accents her level gaze. ~ The themes presented in this essay are later developed into a longer paper that Carlson completed for Senior Thesis, the culminating course for all graduating English majors from Northwest University, from which she graduated in 2018.

Christina rossetti goblin