In Goblin Market, Rosetti expertly interweaves Christian themes with European folklore. The specific meaning of her usage in "Goblin Market" is highly debated. Interpretations range from Laura and Jennie's interactions with the goblins and their fruit representing feminism, lesbianism, and sexual liberation, to the goblins being antisemitic caricatures employed by the poem to link temptation away from Christianity to Jews.

Regardless of the specific way in which we interpret the goblins and their fruit, "Goblin Market" is part of a long line of folklore getting integrated into Christian morality stories and of people continuing to reference folklore inside of Christian frameworks rather than letting Christian imagery completely replace older myths and stories.

A huge part of the richness of "Goblin Market" lies in the ambiguity of the goblins. While it can be read at face value as a story about temperance and self-sacrifice in the face of temptation, it can also be read as a celebration of sensuality subtly existing behind a facade of Christian chastity.