In 1832 Lord Tennyson published a lyrical ballad titled. “Lady of Shalott,” although it does not seem to be a significant event in history (It is just a publishing date after all), that ballad contains a story that far precedes 1832 and extends far past as well. The poem is set in the time of King Arthur and the Round Table. Gallant knights, fair maidens, unparalleled bravery, and epic quests were all the rage. Tennyson claims the ballad was written about an old Italian myth; however, some scholars suggest that it was actually based off of the legend of Elaine of Astolat. That legend centering around a woman who died for a love that was so deep it was beyond comprehension. Even though the inspiration for this ballad is still unclear, it cannot be argued how the story has captured hearts throughout time.
The poem takes place on the Island of Shalott that was supposedly located on the river that leads to Camelot. Tennyson paints a very idealistic natural scene, that is a key characteristic of the Romantic era. The island is adorned with lush foliage and beautiful flowers. The special attention to the natural detail is a reflection of the Romantic period ideals. There, on the island the Lady of Shalott lives in a castle.
Another aspect that the ballad contains, that has shown itself to be applicable throughout time, is the social and political commentary that is masked by Romantic language and subject matter. The woman spends her days locked in her castle unable to look directly out the window of her room because of a curse. She minds her time by weaving and using a mirror’s reflection to see outside. The entire ballad is about how the woman ends up looking out the window and begins a journey down the river that eventually takes her life. Even though she ends up dying, she is free. It is believed that Tennyson wrote this as a commentary on the purity culture and strict social guidelines that were enforced during the Romantic period. The woman not being able to fully engage with the outside but only through reflection was a representation of individuals not being true to themselves for the sake of their social standings. They were living double lives or interacting with fake personas of one another. That is why the lady leaving and dying a “free” woman is so romanticized, because it shows breaking against the status Quo and being true to oneself.
A more modern homage to this ballad is seen in Anne of Green Gables. In that movie and book Anne reenacts the Lady of Shalott dying in the boat. Anne was considered a very romantic girl and acting out this scene seemed very appropriate for her because of the strong themes the ballad contains, of being true to yourself. That theme is not one that has an expiration date on it. It will continue to be applicable for the rest of humanity. Though, I do not think the idea of killing oneself for the cause is an appropriate answer, I do think that fighting for the right of self-expression is a valiant one. Lord Tennyson’s Ballad has immortalized the principle and will continue to be a seen in the future.
Potwin, L. S. “The Source of Tennyson’s the Lady of Shalott.” Modern Language Notes, vol. 17, no. 8, 1902, pp. 237–39, https://doi.org/10.2307/2917812. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022