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Laura, the Flawed Hero
I agree with everyone so far the Lizzie is a female hero within the Goblin Market story. But I would like to point out that even though Lizzie, with her upstanding moral character and willingness to sacrifice herself, kind of steals the spotlight, Laura can be classified as a hero too, albeit a flawed one.
The idea of the flawed hero is not a new one to our discussion, per say. In fact, the vast majority of the heroic figures we have talked about had some sort of flaw, and thus the debate about whether or not they were a hero at all. Our very first heroic figure, Sir Gawain, just "wanted to live" and in doing so succumbed to the temptation embodied in the green belt (Winny 2368). Although a different temptation, Laura acted the same, and sorely regretted her actions later. We can see that Laura is still, even in her wasting state, pure of heart, for the love she has for her sister Lizzie remains, as shown by her concern when Lizzie returns from her trial with the goblins. Laura moans, "Lizzie, Lizzie, have you tasted for my sake the fruit forbidden? Must your light like mine be hidden, your young life like mine be wasted, undone in mine undoing, and ruin'd in my ruin…?" (Rossetti in Bump 306, lines 478-483). Laura obviously still cares deeply for Lizzie, despite her own sin, showing that she is not completely lost. In fact, it is not clear whether her healing was brought about by the fruit juice on Lizzie that she tasted in kissing her, or simply the surge of love and concern she felt for Lizzie upon her return. If the second case is true, then in a way Laura healed herself.
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Even more than her repentance, perhaps the fact that Laura goes on to warn others of her mistake makes her a hero of the story. As an adult who learned from her past sins, she "would call the little ones and tell them of her early prime,…would talk about the haunted glen, the wicked, quaint fruit-merchant men, their fruits like honey to the throat but poison in the blood;…then joining hands to little hands would bid them cling together, 'for there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather…'" (548-563). In much the same way, Kingston could be a hero for communicating to others not only the 'talk-stories' of her cultural heritage, but her own story about feeling confused and oppressed by some of the Chinese values. Sir Gawain also did not hide his sin, but rather proudly bore the girdle afterwards as a sign of his own 'corruption and frailty…so, when pride in [his] knightly valour stirs [him], a glance at this girdle will humble [his] heart" (Winny 2435-2437).
In real life, the majority of our heroes are those around us who share wisdom and advice, entreating us to learn from their mistakes so that we might have a better life. Laura may not have been the pure lamb that Lizzie embodies, but she is definitely an every-day hero.