The focal point of Housman’s illustration to the lines 123-127 of Christina Rossetti’s poem ‘Goblin Market’ is the main character, whose name is Laura. From all the secondary details the picture contains one sees that Laura is surrounded by goblins, who watch her very closely. The first thing to catch a viewer’s eye is the girl’s hand, reaching for her hair. Laura’s stretched neck and facial expressions indicate that she is not fond of what will happen next. At this point, one understands she is about to tear a strand of hair and this gesture is going to bring her severe pain.
The directional force leads a viewer from the character’s tortured face and bent figure to all the silhouettes on top of the picture and at its right corner. The accretion of details, which evidences the Tractarian and Pre-Raphaelite influence of visual abundance on Housman’s manner of drawing, represents here a complex symbolism, meant to demonstrate the degree of desperation. It is clear, the girl has no choice, and she is forced to do what she finds wrong and unacceptable. She is driven to blank despair, and it seems to make goblins very pleased.
One of the key details, found in the picture’s center, is the basket filled with fruits. It is rather symbolic to place it in front of the girl’s face as a reminder of why she suffers all these tortures and what kind of reward is waiting for her. Forbidden fruit had been the symbol of seduction long before the poem was written. Thus, Housman touches this religious topic for a reason – to draw an analogy with the consequences those actions led to.