Crossing Boundaries: The Lady of Shalott

"The Lady of Shalott" is a lyrical narrative poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, first published in 1832 and revised in 1842. The poem tells the tragic tale of a woman cursed to live in isolation, weaving a tapestry of the world she can only see through a mirror.

Story of Her

The Lady of Shalott lives in a secluded tower on the island of Shalott, which is situated in a river near Camelot. She is under a mysterious curse that prevents her from looking directly out at the world. Instead, she views reality only through a magic mirror and weaves what she sees into a tapestry. The curse is never fully explained, but it implies that if she looks directly at the outside world, she will suffer a tragic fate.

The Lady’s life is one of solitude and routine. She spends her days weaving intricate patterns that reflect the scenes she observes in her mirror. Her world is a blend of indirect perceptions and the art of weaving, which keeps her connected to the life outside without directly participating in it.

One day, the Lady of Shalott sees Sir Lancelot in her mirror as he rides by on his horse. His appearance captivates her and fills her with longing. He is described as handsome and heroic, and his presence stirs her emotions deeply. For the first time, she desires to see the world beyond her tower directly. Her fascination with Lancelot prompts her to break the terms of the curse.

Unable to resist her longing, the Lady of Shalott looks out of the window at the passing world, which includes the sight of Lancelot. As soon as she does so, the mirror cracks, and she realizes the curse has taken effect. Her tapestry unravels, symbolizing the unraveling of her life. She leaves her tower, finding a boat and writing her name on it, preparing for her final journey.

The Lady of Shalott floats down the river in the boat, drifting toward Camelot. She is found by the townspeople, including Lancelot, who are struck by the sight of her lifeless body. Lancelot, though moved, is unaware of the significance of her death. He remarks that she is “a beautiful lady, fair as the lily,” but he does not grasp the full impact of her story.

This poem deals very well with the damage that the difference between reality and appearance can do to people. Even though real life seems very fascinating from the outside, the damage it can do to people when they get into it is truly great. Lady's death after breaking the mirror and disrupting the order she has been accustomed to for years is an indication that a person cannot always achieve success and a wonderful life when she exceeds the limits.

In the painting, painted by Waterhouse inspired by this poem, Lady's journey to death and the regret she will experience for the sake of a knight are quite obvious in her facial expression. The only part of Lady's life in the tower, who is isolated from society and caught up in the glow of the first love she sees, is the cover in the painting. Man should not be isolated from social life and should be as social as possible because he is a social being. Every person he comes into contact with is like a source that nourishes him. Although isolating ourselves like Lady and staying away from people may seem like a comfortable life for a while, the wrong steps we may take in the end can lead us to great regret.