TheLadyOfShalott
Tennyson'spoem,TheLadyofShalottwaswritteninthe1800'sItisaboutanimprisonedgirl livinginacursedtower.ShebrokethecurseforherloveforSirLancelotanddiedsoonafter.
Thispoem,inmyopinion,wasextremelywellwritten.Ithasasteadyrhythmanditisrecognisable fromoverpoemsthroughitsuniquerhymingpattern.Eachverseconsistsofasyllablesequenceof 88888887ThisgivesthepoemanextrasenseofstabilityandstructureThispoemincreasesits appealtoreadersthroughitsveryownanddifferentrhymingschemeofAAAABCCCB(thismeans thatthefirstfourlinesrhyme,thefifthandninthlinerhymeandthesixth,seventhandeighthline rhyme)Thischoicebringstheshowmorecontent
Thefaultylinejustdoesnotrolloffthetonguelikealloftheotherlines.Thisisatypeofpoem whichtellsastorywithinapoem,itiscalleda'ballad.'Overall,Tennysonhasstuckverywelltohis overallplotofthepoem.
OnethingIwouldcriticiseaboutthispoemisthatTennysonleaveshisreadersinamaddening suspense.Thewholeballadisamysterytoitsreaders.Wedonotknowwhysheisinthetower,how sheisfed,whatisthecurseandmanyotherquestionswhicharenotansweredthroughoutthewhole poem.Thismysteryaddsasenseofadventureandsurprisetothepoem.Wewaittohearmore,but stillweareleftinthedark.IfeelTennysonshouldlightenhispoemupandanswersome unansweredquestionsThesuspensehehaslentusonlyaddstotheeerieatmospherethispoem alreadypossesses.
TheatmosphereinthispoemisverydifferentcomparedtomoderndaypoemsItismysteriousand gloomyandmakesmefeeljumpy.No–oneknowstheLadyofShalott,onlylocalfarmershave heardhersing:
'Hearasongthatechoesclearly' –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
TheDeathoftheLadyincreasesthegloomlingeringinthepoem.Itmakesusfeeldepressed.The onlylightwhichentersthepoemisin
Part3ofthepoemwhereSirLancelotentersthescene.SirLancelotisamythicalknightalongside KingArthurand
Tennyson'sabstractpoeticstructureprovidescomprehensiondifficultiesinfindingasinglethematic idea.Heintertwineshistoricalallusions,alongwithdeepandpersonfeelingsthroughonepieceof workTheorganicstructureofcertainTennysonpoetrypresentsatoneofuncertaintyWhilehis unconventionalworksgiveamoresolidifiedaura.Contraryinstructure,mood,andtone,"Ulysses" and"TheLadyofShalott",harbortheunderlyingthemeofcovetingtoescapefromtheiridleworlds. TheLadyofShallotwasnotdepictedasanactualcharacterinthelandofCamelot"Onlyreapers, reapingearly/Inamongthebeardedbarley/Hearasongthatechoesclearly/Fromtheriverwinding clearly("TheLadyofShalott"28)."Onlythose...showmorecontent...
Hisboredomandconfinedfeelingsfurtherdevelopashestates,"Howdullitistopause,tomakean end,/Torustunburnish'd,mottoshineinuse("Ulysses"22)!"BothUlyssesandtheLadyofShalott liveidlelivesofunhappinessUlysseshasalreadylivedafulllifeandstrivesformore,whilethe LadyofShalott,neverhavinglivedalifeisunawareofhermisfortune.TheLadyofShalott, confinedinhertower,knowsnotofwhatliesoutsidethetowerwalls."Butinherwebshestill delights/Toweavethemirror'smagicsights,/Foroftenthroughthesilentnights("TheLadyof Shalott"65).Unabletolookthroughthewindow,sheobservesthroughamirroranddelightedat whatshesees,weavestheimageintohertapestry"Afuneral,withplumesandlights/Andmusic, wenttoCamelot;/OrwhentheMoonwasoverhead,/Cametwoyoungloverslatelywed("The LadyofShalott"68).Viewingafuneralwithlightsandmusicandtwoyoungpeoplereadytowed, herunhappinessbecomescertainTheLadyofShalottrecognizesthebetterpleasuresinlifeand admits,"`Iamhalfsickofshadows'("TheLadyofShalott"72)."The"shadows"refertotheimages inthemirror,evokingherlonelinessandinabilitytoparticipate.Ulyssesrefusestosublimatehis desiretopursuehisdreamsbecauseofhisoldage.Hewishes,"Tosailbeyondthesunset,andthe baths/Ofallwesternstarts,untilIdie
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ThemostremarkableinterpretationoftheLadyofshallotwasdevelopedbyHuntthroughthree differentversions:1850,1857andthefinalwatercolordated1886–1905.
In1850Huntbegantoexplorethesubjectofthe"LadyofShalott"buthisillustrationsofthepoem werereleasedtothepublicin1857inTheMoxonIllustratededitionofTennyson'spoems.Hunt's depictionofthissubjectcontinuedinseriesoverthecourseoffourdecadesBelievinginRuskin's theory,thattheartistandhisartmustexpressamessagenotjustapicture,Huntintroducesthe figuresofChristonthecrosstotherightofthemirrorinhisillustrationofthe"LadyofShalott".To makethetransitionfromversetothevisual,Huntusedtypologicalsymbolism,additionaldetails whichchangedthemeaningofthepoem.
ThesceneHuntchoosestorecreateinTheLadyofShalottistheoneinwhichtheladyisweaving herwebofpicturesfrommirrors:
Theresheweavesbynightandday A...showmorecontent...
TheknowledgeoftrueandlightofGodisrepresentedinonehand,byabsenceofthelampslightand ontheotherhandbytheextinguishedcandles.Inbothofthesituationknowledgeislostandthe divinepresenceisabsent.Wisdomisexpressesbytheuseofthefourowlsjustbelowthe candleholdersorthefoursphinxesfromthebaseofthelampOwlsaresymbolofintelligenceand Athenathepatrongoddessofweavingandifdivinewisdom.Thefiguresfrommythology,the sphinxes,arealsoasymbolofwisdom.
ThequestionoftheriskofalifeinseclusioninthenameofartexploredintheLadyofShalottis understoodbyHunt.Thedifferenceininterpretationcamefromtheirexperiences.Thetruth,for Tennysoncentersontheidealthatthelackoflifeexperiencescouldprovedetrimentaltohiswork. ForHunthislackofinteractionisessentialtocreatepureart
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ExtrinsicinformationThispaintinggoeswithapoemfromthe18882ofthe3candlesarenotlit implyingthattheendofherlifeisapproachingHerhandisabouttoletgoofthechainimplyingthe releasefromthetowerthatshewasinThetapestriesshetheytalkedaboutherweavinginthetower areonthesidesoftheboatNooneelsebeinginthepaintingimplieslonelinessInthepoemstates thattheladyofshalottwouldsing,andthepoemtalksabouthersingingherlastsongandthegirls mouthisslightlyopenimplyingthatsheissingingherlastsongTitle:LadyofShalottDate:created 1888Size:Height(cm)153.00Length(cm)200.00Artist:JohnWilliamWaterhouseMediumused: OilonacanvasArtmovementwhichthisartistwasapartof:showmorecontent Waterhouseputmanyaspectsofthepoeminthepainting.Hechosetousethesectionofthestory wheretheladyofshalottisabouttosaleofftoherdeath.Onethingsthatcouldhaveinfluencedthe makingofthepoemisthatmarriedwomenobtaintherighttoacquiretheirownpropertyandthe thirdReformActwasstopsshortofcreatingamaledemocracysosomewomenwherefightingfor theirrightsThispoemcouldhavebeeninfluencedbywomen'srightsbecause,themaincharacter wasawomanandshewascuriousandcouldnotleavethetower.InterpretationAfterreadingthe poemIinterpretthisasaalluringanddepressingpainting.Thepaintingisbeautifullydoneandthere islotsofdetail.Atthesametimethereisalonelyfeelingthepaintinggives.Fromthecolours,items pickedtobutintheboat,what'ssurroundingtheboat,thewoman'sfaceyoucantellthisisnota happypictureFromreadingthepoemIknowthatsheistheladyofshalottistrappedontheisland Shalott,andshewascursed.Iknowthatshewouldsingandweavetapestries.Whensheisonthe boatshesingsherlastsongandisabouttodiebecauseofthecurse.
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TheLadyofShalottAssignment
Inthepoem"TheLadyofShalott"byAlfredLordTennyson,manycontradictionsareintroducedto forcethereadertothinkfurtherintothemeaningbehindthepoem.Therearetimesinlifewhento getotherstotrulyunderstandwhatisbeingsaidonemustcontradictwhathasbeenpreviouslytold tothereader.Thisactioninandofitselfisacontradiction;fortoachieveperfectclarityonemust confuse.Tennysonusesthistechniquemultipletimesthroughoutthepoem."Contradictionisnota signoffalsity,northelackofcontradictionasignoftruth"(BlaisePascal)
First,thereisthecontradictionofwheresheisversuswhatshesees.Whenitsfirstheardthe descriptionofcamelotTennysondescribesitisaslivelyandvibrant,"...Andupanddownthepeople go..."(Tennyson6).Then,whendescribingtheresidenceoftheLadyofShalotthedescribesitas tomblike,"Fourgraywalls,andfourraytowers"(15)Thesetwoworldsareasuchamazingodds witheachotherthatitmakesit...showmorecontent...
TheauthorisdescribingthatwhichisseenthroughTheLadyofShalott'smirrorbeforeshedecides thatitistimeforachange.Inordertoseethebigpicture,onemustseeboththelight,"...Cametwo youngloverslatelywed..."(70)andthedark,"...Afuneral,withplumesandlights..."(67).AsThe LadyofShalottseesthisbiggerpicturesherealizesthatwheresheisisnotwhereshewantstobe andwhatshehasisnotwhatshewants.Manypeoplegothroughthisprocess,wecallitawakeup call;itusuallyoccurswhensomeonehascomeclosetodeathandthenfeltthesweetreliefoflife. TheyoftenfeeltheneedtoreevaluatewhattheyhavedoneandwanttodowiththeirlivesThe LadyofShalottdoesnotexperienceneardeath,butinwitnessingtheendofoneperson'slifeandthe startofanotheritisdrawntoherattentionwhatsheislackingin
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AlfredTennysonwroteTheLadyofShalotttocommentontheideaofenlightenmentasathought process.Throughthisvoicehealsocommentsonavarietyofsocialissuesincludingthedependency ofwomenonsomeoneorsomethingelsetosavethemfromtheirowndoom.Tennyson's commentaryallowsthereadertounderstandwhathebelieveswillhappenifthedependencyis allowedtocontinueTheVictorianeraisoneofthefirsterastoarticulatetothegeneralpublicand notjusttheeliteorspecificallytheelitewomen.Manyshareacommonconceptionoffeminine beautyanddelicacybyhowitmustbesupportedbyamanoranarmyofservantsinordertobe maintainedTheLadyofShalottallowsthereadertoseewhatcouldendupshowmorecontent
WhenTheLadyofShalottlooksthroughhermirrorshethinksnotofherabilitytoremedythe situationandwallowsinhersufferingwhilestaringatwhatshebelievestobetheperfectplace betterknownasCamelot.TennysonthenjuxtaposeshisimageryofhertowerwhenillustratingPart IIwithcolorsanddepictionsofhappypeopletrottingalongtheroadontheirwaytoCamelot.Every otherstanzabeginswithalineendinginwiththeword"Camelot"followedbythreelinesof descriptionoractionwiththelastlinealwaysendingwith"Shalott."NeverareCamletandThe LadyofShalottmorethanthreestanzasawayfromeachother,butneveraretheyanycloser.These back–to–backshowcasesalongwiththeconstantdistancebetweenthelinesendingin"Camelot" andthelinesendingwith"Shalott"allowthereadertounderstandwhytheLadyofShalottisso dependenthershadowsTennysonisusingthesedevicestoportraytheparadoxofkeepingwomen outofsocietythennotunderstandingwhytheyaresodependentonothers.Thisdamsel–esque personalityfulfillsoneofthethreesourcesofpoetry,love(Landon).Inherlonelinessshelooksinto herunforgivingmirrortosee"theknightscomeridingalongtwoandtwo"(61)Andsherealizes thatshe"hathnoloyalknightandtrue"(62).Heryearningforlovebecauseofherinabilitytohave itcomesoutinthe
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Historicallyfemininerightsactivistshaveconstantlyfoughtforsocialchange.Neverthelessitwasn't untilthe1800sthatwidespreadawarenessbegantostirforwomen'srights.Soitwaslittlewonder thattherapidlygrowingcontroversyembeddeditselfintomuchoftheVictorianliterature.Writer LordAlfredTennysonusedaromanticizedtimeinhistorytohighlightapoliticalissueofhisera. Chivalryandknightsarecommonlyassociatedwiththistimebymodernreaders,creatingtheideal contrastforTennyson'sliterarywork.
TakingplaceinthemedievalrealmofCamelot,LordAlfredTennyson'spoemTheLadyofShalott tellsofawomanwhomisforcedtospendherlifeweavingatherloomShelongstoleaveherlonely prison.But...showmorecontent...
InwardlyshelongsforthefreedomthatseemstobeassociatedwithlifeinCamelot.However,asis traditionaloflegendsandfairytales,sheisthe'damselindistress.'"Escapeforfairy–taleheroines usuallymeansrescue....ananxiousbeautylooksoutofherwindow,andwaitsforavaliant deliverance"(Barzilai231)Shehathnoloyalknightandtrue/TheLadyofShalott'(62–63)Butshe continuestofindsolaceinhersituation,asshefinds'delights'asshecontinuestoweavethemirrors magicsight'(64–65).
Thescene'sdrasticchangerepresentsthedramaticallydifferentlifestylesofbothgenders.Thefirst imageofLancelotgiven,heisridingthroughsun–litforest,attiredinthe'brazengreaves'ofhis amourthatrepresenthisrankasbothaknightofthecourt,andasamaleinapatriarchalsociety
WhereastheLadywastrappedinaforebodingandoppressiveprison,Lancelotmerrilytrotsthrough theforest,seeminglycontentwithhislotinlife.HelivesnotonlyasaknightoftheKing(aposition whichofferssafetyandasylumfromothers),hehasthefreedomassociatedwithhislifeasamalein medievaltimes.WhileKnightsareconsideredtheapexofchivalryandcourage,theyarealsoa sourceoftheoppressionfacedbywomenofthemedievaltimes.
TheLady'sflightfromthetowerisbothanactofcourage,andfoolishness.Outofdesperationshe 'turnsfromherloomontolife
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InthisalluringyettragicpoembyAlfred,LordTennyson,thereaderisbrieflyconsumedbyaworld withnohappyendings.CenteredaroundthecastleandcourtofCamelot,TheLadyofShalott, adaptstoitstrendofdespair.LiketheoriginaltalesurroundingKingArthurandtheKnightsofthe RoundTable,loveisportrayedassomethingdestructive.BothGuinevere'sandTheLadyof Shalott'sinfatuationwithLancelotwasthecauseofsomeone'sdownfall,whetheritwasKing Arthur'sortheheroineofthispoem.TheladylongedforLancelotbecause,"Shehathnoloyal knightandtrue,/TheLadyofShalott"(lines62–63).Tennyson'suseofliterarydevices,suchas rhyme,consonance,andmetaphor,helptocreateacaptivatingstoryforhisaudience, Alfred,LordTennysonwasaBritishpoetbornonAugust6,1809,andlived83yearsuntilhisdeath onOctober6,1892.Fromanearlyage,heshowedgreatpotentialinwriting.Manyofhisworks revolvedaroundclassicmythologicalstories,includingTheLadyofShalott.Unlikethemajorityof acclaimedauthors,Tennysonactuallyhadsuccessduringhislifetime,anddidnotonlyachievefame afterhisdeathPartofhisprosperitywasdueshowmorecontent
Tennysonrepeatedlytouchedoninfluencesofthesupernatural,weavingtogetherthenaturalworld andtheman–madeone,andremovalfrombothsocietyandlove.Allthreeofthesecometogetherin thelastfewlinesofthepoemwhere,"Hesaid,"Shehasalovelyface;/Godinhismercylendher grace,"(lines169–70).Inthisquote,SirLancelotseestheLadyofShalott,dead,aftershefellprey tohercurseHerimmediateandutteradorationofSirLancelot'sshadowthroughhermirrorcaused hertobefreedfromsupernaturalprison,andfinallybeamongstthebeautythathadbeenaroundher allalong;however,shewasneverfreeofherisolation,dyingbeforeshegottohumanityand ...Getmorecontent...
"TheLadyofShalot"tellsthestoryofawomanwholivesinatowerinShalott,whichis anislandonariverthatruns,alongwiththeroadbesideit,toCamelot,thesettingofthelegends aboutKingArthurandtheKnightsoftheRoundTable.Everyday,thewomanweavesatapestry pictureofthelandscapethatisvisiblefromherwindow,includingCamelot.Thereis,however,a curseonher;thewomandoesnotknowthecauseofthecurse,butsheknowsthatshecannotlook directlyoutofthewindow,sosheviewsthesubjectsofherartworkthroughamirrorthatisbeside her.Thewomanishappytoweave,butistiredoflookingatlifeonlyasareflection.Oneday,Sir Lancelotridesby,lookingboldandhandsomeinhisshowmorecontent Asshedriftsalong,singingandobservingallofthesightsthatwereforbiddentoherbefore,she dies.TheboatfloatspastCamelot,andalloftheknightsmakethesignofthecrossuponseeinga corpsegoby,butLancelot,seeingherforthefirsttime,notes,"Shehasalovelyface." Thispoemwasfirstpublishedin1832,whenTennysonwas23yearsold,inavolumecalledPoems. Uptothatpoint,Tennysonhadreceivedgreatcriticalacclaim,andhadwonnationalawards,butthe criticssavagelyattackedthe1832book,mostlybecauseofpoemssuchas"TheLadyof Shalott"thatdealtwithfantasysituationsinsteadofrealisticones.Thenextyear,1833, Tennyson'sbestfrienddied,whichaffectedthepoetasgreatlyaswouldanythinginhislife.Fora longtime,duringaperiodthatlatercametobeknownas"thetenyears'silence," nothingofTennyson'swaspublishedIn1842,anewvolume,alsocalledPoems,waspublished,to greatcriticalacclaim.Thenewbookhadaslightlyrevisedversionof"TheLadyof Shalott,"andthisversionistheonethatisstudiedtoday.
Deprivation
Inthispoem,themaincharacterexistsunderaspellwithoutknowingwhatitsoriginisorwhyithas beenputonherandwithoutthinkingofhowshecanremoveit.Sheseemsto
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TheLadyofShalottThisisamarvelouspiece,whichhasbeenrenewedandrevisedacountless amountoftimes.Theearlieststory,whichrelatestothispoem,isShrek.Thereasonwhyitisrelated isbecause,in"TheLadyofShalott"theladyistrappedinthetowerandcan'tgetout(orthecurse thatisputonherwillbeunleashed).InShrek,Fiona(whichistheladyinthemovie)muststayin thetoweruntilhertruelovecomestoherrescue(ordersfromherdad)Fionaisguardedbyadragon andshe'slockedupinatalltowerwhichissurroundedbylava,sosomeonehastobuildupenough couragetodealwithallthathoopla.Sheisalsocursedthough,whendawnhitsanduntilthesun comesup,sheturnsintoanogreSothesestories,whichareverydifferentatparts,aresosimilarin others.Theauthorof"TheLadyofShalott"isMr.Tennyson(Alfred,Tennyson).Healsowrote"In Memoriam,A.H.H.","Tears,IdleTears",andapassagewehavealreadybeenthrough"Ulysses". Thisisanextremelyimportantauthorofhistime,evenourtime.Hewantedtoshowwhatwas wrongwithnotjustourselves,butsociety.Healsowantedtocomfort...showmorecontent...
ShewantstoseetheworldandwantstogotothetowninthedistancewhereLancelotisfromShe wantsLancelot,theworld,thetown,etc.Sheisjustsickoflookingfromamirrorso,whenshelooks outthewindow,themirrorcracks.Rightwhenthemirrorcracks,sheknowsthatshemessedupand couldn'ttakebackwhatshestarted.Shehadtohurrybecauseshewasintroublesoshejumpedout thetowerandstartedrunningintotown.Shewasonherwayandthengotinaboattomakehertrip faster,kindofknowingthathertimewaslimitednowWhenshegetstothetown,everyonecomes toseethemarvelouslybeautifulwomanwhonoonehasseenor"conquered".Whentheygotosee her,Lancelotisthereaswell,sheis
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ThesearesomeofthechosenlinesofAlfredLordTennyson'sfromhispoeticwork;Iwillstartmy claimtoperusemyviewpointbyabovementionreferencebecauseitisrelevantaboutthesubject matter,inaddition,thesearefromthepoemof"TheLadyofShalott."Thenthesecondthingis,it's aboutmythicalLANDSCAPE–amongTennyson'sfinestachievementsthatsymbolizestatesof humanconsciousness;thedreamlikequalityofhisvision,combinedwithhisabilitytoseeatclose rangewithpreternaturalclarityanddetail,renderedhisdreamsmorevividthanourrealities. UltimatelyitwillgetmetoexploretheTHEMESofREALITYandFANTASYfromhispoetic diction
First,Tennysonstartsout"TheLadyofShalott"withaquietdescription...showmorecontent... Theentirepoemisconstructedinthisway,oftenoptingforwords–'languid','driveth''galingale' 'slumberous'etc.–that,especiallywhendescribingsleepyimagery,forcethereadertoslowdown andcontainstressesthatgivethepoemaformofhypnoticrhythm,relatingbacktosleepand escapismInadditiontohisuseofphoneticsandrhythm,Tennysonincludesvariousimagesthat makethe'sleepstate',andthereforethestatetheLotus–eatersoffer,moreappealing.'Thecharmed sunsetlinger'dlow','likedownwardsmoke'and'thantir'deyelidsupontir'deyes'areallexamples thatpossessconnotationsoflazinessorsleep,andthereforemakesamoreattractiveoptionas opposedtothe'toil'experiencedbytherestoftheworld,enhancingthedesireforescape.as accomplishesthisbycontrastingthepositiveaspectsoftheworldofescapismwithrealityandits negativities.
Intheend,tosumup,fromthepoem"TheLadyofShalott"Tennysonfocusedontwomainsubjects theLady's"isolationinthetower"asafantasyandher"decisiontoparticipateinthelivingworld" asreality.IfwesearchforthethemeofFantasy,itiseverywhere–alloverthepoemasthewhole subjectmatterhascomefromtheimaginativeworldofCeltic
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Ladyofshalott
SymbolismisanimportantaspectoftheLadyofShalott.Someimportantsymbolsarethetapestry, themirror,andthecurse.ThetapestryistheworldthattheLadyofShalottexistsin.Itisherreality. Shelooksthroughthemirrorsdistortedviewandweaveswhatshesees.Itisherexperienceand memoryBut,theLadyofShalottdoesnotsetruerealitybutadistortedviewThemirrorrepresents theLadyofShalott'snaivetéandinnocenceItistherose–coloredglassthroughwhichshesees reality.Furthermore,because,amirrorisnotthetruth,andisinsteadonlyareflectionofthetruth,it showsthedistortedviewthattheLadyofShalotthas(Themirrorbeingdistortedrealityis especially...showmorecontent...
ThatLancelot'sworldcontainsitsowndangersisobliquelysuggestedbyhiswarriorstatus: althoughhecomesinpeace,singingtheTirralirrasongwhichisanexpressionofhisvitalenergy, heappears``abowshot''fromthetower;heisdressedinfullarmour,ridinghiswarhorse;andheis onhiswaytoCamelot,seatofmilitaryprowessNevertheless,thepullofhumantiesinducesthe Ladytodefythecurse,andasshelooksoutofthewindow,sheseesthebloominglily,thehelmet, andtheplume,symbolsofnature,heroicglory,andlove.Inleavingthetower,then,sheentersthe mortalworldoftime,movement,change,anddeath.
Theconsequencesareimmediate.Astormarises,andthestrainingwindandcomplainingstream contrastsharplywiththeearlierenchantedlandscapeoflittlebreezesandclearriverEmbarkingon theriver,suggestiveoftheprogressofhumanlife,theLadyassertsherhumanidentitybywriting hernameupontheboat,andthen,likeallhumanbeings,beginsherjourneytodeath,chantingthe songofherlifeasshedoessoShehaschosencontactwithCamelot,evenatthepriceofherown destruction,andachieveshergoalasshegainsthemarvelling,iffearful,recognitionofthecitizens andtheawedreverenceofLancelot,ironicallyunawarethatheisthecauseofherdeath.Shehas exchangedshadowsforrealityandhasescapedfromasteriledeath–in–life,movedintotheworldof experience,andfinally
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AmongthemultipletemptingPre–Raphaelitespaintings,"TheLadyofShalott"of1888byJohn WilliamWaterhouse(1849–1917)fascinatesmethemost.JohnWilliamWaterhousewasaromantic artistthathasastronglovewithbeautifulbuttragicfemalefigures."TheLadyofShalott"asoneof hisbest–knownpaintingillustratedpartIVofgreatpoetTennyson'spoemofayoungVictorian woman's"cursed"life
ThepoemtellsamythicalstoryofabeautifulwomanwholivesisolatedontheislandcalledShalott, onariverwhichflowsdownstreamfromKingArthur'scastlereachingthetownCamelot.Thelady ofShalottwasimprisonedinthefourgreytowersandhadneverbeenseenbyanyone,yetmany haveheardofherlovelysinging.Shelivesuponanundisclosedcursethatbannedherfromlooking outofherwindowdowntotheCamelot.Therefore,daybydaysheweavesthiscolorfulandmagical nettinginhertowerandonlygazesthroughthereflectionofrealitythroughhermirror.Oneday, uponseeingagorgeouslookingknightcalledSirLancelotpassesbytheriver,theladyofShalott cannotresistbuttoturnaroundandtakeaglimpseatthemanWiththatoneglance,themirror cracksandthecursebefallsher.Thepaintingwasthevisualizationofherlastlivingmoments towardhertragicdeath.Shewearsasnowywhiteroveandsingsherlastsongasshesailsdownto theCamelottochaseaftertheknight.Shesingsuntilherbloodedisfrozenandhereyesdarken,yet she
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1.Introduction
ThispaperwilltrytoanalyzethegrowthofconsciousnessoftheLadyofShalott.Rangingfromher stateofmindintotalisolation,her'childhood',toherchanging'adolescence'andeventuallyreaching 'adulthood'anddeath,allinasortofquick–motion
Itwillfurtherdealwiththedevelopmentoftensionthroughoutthepoem.Bymakingadistinction betweentensionthroughformalaspects,suchasrhymescheme,andtensionthroughcontentitwill trytoshowtheinterconnectionbetweenbothofthemAdditionally,thepaperwilldealwiththe possibleeffectoftensiononthereaderandhowthepoemmightbeperceivedbyhim/her.
2.GrowthofConsciousnessshowmorecontent
Thisisalwaysinterruptedbysuddendropsproducedbytheplosivesound't'asin'Camelot';, 'Shalott';or'Lancelot';inlines5and9Thewholeschemecouldalreadybeseenasanindicatorfor theomnipresentbasicsuspenseofthepoem.Almostasifsomethingorsomeoneisconstantlytrying tobreakfreebutisstoppedeverytimebeforereachingitsclimax.Maybeadireforecastforthe entirepoem?
22TheTurningPoint
ThingssuddenlychangewhentheLadyofShalottsees'…twoloverslately wed…';(70)onenight(partII).Shestartstorealizethepossibilitiestheexteriorworld hastoofferbuttheyarestillbeyondhergraspTheLadybeginstoregretherwearylittlelifeinside herchambers.ThispassagecouldbeseenasthegradualcomingofageoftheLadyofShalott.Her consciousnessisdevelopingandshequestionsherexistence,consequentlynolongerwantingtolive asecludedlifeofinterior.Thequestionthatnowarisesis:Whydidshenotleavetheloomatthis pointoftime?Asolutiontothisproblemmightbethatshesimplyhadnowheretogo,noprospector personshecouldturnto
'Shehathnoloyalknightandtrue,TheLadyofShalott.';(62–63)
Thatiswhy'Iamhalfsickofshadows,…';(71)clearlymarkstheturningpointofthe poem.
PriortothisincidentanotherinterestingtopiccomesupForthefirsttimeinthepoemthecurseof
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InthestorybyAlfredTennyson,TheLadyofShalottthestoryisaboutafairywhoisisolatedfrom theoutsideworldinatower.Inamythicalandfairytale–likesetting,theauthorusesimageryandthe LadyShalott'scharactertoexplaintheunderlyingmessagetohisreaders.Themessageofthisstory istheimportanceofone'sidentityseenintheworld.Theauthorexplainsthisaspectthroughthe isolationofLadyShalotttoshowthatloveandaffectionisneededtoenhancethisidentityWeas readersareintroducedearlyontowhomLadyShalottreallyisandwhatherenvironmentislike. Theauthordescribesthe"islandofShalott"dividingLadyShalott'sworldofhertowerononeside oftheriverandanotherareaoflandontheother;theriverkeepingtheseareasapartTheauthor emphasizesthattheLadyofShalottisunknowntosocietybystating,"Butwhohathseenherwave herhand?"Thus,wecanseethattheLadyofShalottisisolatedinatowerbeingbasically nonexistenttoothers.Throughlookingoutsideherwindow,shecanseesomeshadows.Lady Shalottstates,"Iamhalfsickofshadows"toemphasizetothereaderthatsheenjoysseeing someoneelse,however,haven'tbeenphysicallyinteractedwithonebeforeTheseaspectsofthe LadyofShalott'senvironmentarecrucialandimpactfultothisaspectoflonelinessonidentity. TennysonstatesthattheLadyofShalottisafairywhoweaveswebsduringhertimeinthetower. Theauthorusesthismythicalcharacterofafairyduetotheirstereotypes.Suchincludeaverydainty andsometimesditsyfairytale–likecreature.Theideasofbeingditsycancomefromthefairiesin SleepingBeautyTheauthorusesthisdaintyandditsycharactertoshowtheLadyofShalottbeing unawareoftheoutsideworldbecauseofherisolation.TheauthoralsomentionsthattheLadyof Shalotthasanunknowncurseputuponher.Withoutgoingintomuchdetail,theauthorstateshow thiscurseisunknowntoherselfThiscursecouldpossiblybeanaspectofherownselfBecauseof LadyShalott'sisolation,sheisunawareofwhattheoutsideworldislike.Thus,hermindsetupthis "curse"uponherselfisduetounknownaspectsoflife.Goingfurtherinto
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