Personal Response

Topic: How this text serves as commentary to the society

Death from incompetence – A commentary on the lifestyle of Medieval Europe

“The Lady of Shalott” is a poem depicting the lifestyle of medieval Europe, with a focus following the Lady of Shallot. The poem is centralized around a commoner, the Lady of Shalott, whom lives within a tower, outside of Camelot. Written in the Victorian era, the work focuses upon the storyline of King Arthur. The storyline communicates the lifestyle of the era, and the curiosity of a lady, which incurs the wraith of a curse, which results in death. This literary piece highlights themes of visualization, personality and idealism, using those to commentate on the society during that era of history.

Tennyson's poem starts with verses of the visualization of Camelot and its surrounding areas. The imagery serves to enhance the idea of for the nature of the era. Sections near the start of the poem present many pictures of the peaceful feel in the story, such as “Willows whiten, aspens quiver, /Little breezes dusk and shiver / Through the wave that runs for ever /By the island in the river /Flowing down to Camelot.” By including these nature references, the setting is given a more simplistic feel. Simplicity is one of the key elements within this poem; there are no complex roles, descriptions, settings or devices. The visions produced from the words help convey the setting to the reader, not only providing a stage for this story, but as well, but presenting information for the audience to imply the work done and the conditions in society at that time.

During this dark era, the majority of men regarded women as objects, which they were able to possess. Like common household items, they were commanded and were confined to the control of man. In this piece, the Lady of Shalott is imprisoned in a tower within Camelot. Within this tower, she spends her time weaving. The reason for this imprisonment is due to a curse that has been rumoured around the area; should she look down to Camelot, the curse shall be unleashed. Unfortunately, she sees in a “magic mirror” of the wide, far off land that she has never seen before, as well as Sir Lancelot, who is depicted as a gallant hero. It is him that incurs the curiosity of the lady and exit for to Camelot. She finds a boat and floats off into Camelot, where she dies. This implies that should the women deviate from their instructed task, they are punished. This was a true fact in the society at the time. The poem illustrates this, providing a commentary for the society.

Idealism, a major theme in Victorian literature, shows in Lord Tennyson's work. Emphases upon the aspects of Sir Lancelot indicates the ideal man in the medieval era. The lines “A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd/ To a lady in his shield, /That sparkled on the yellow field, /Beside remote Shalott.” Comment on the upper-class ranking of the knights among the peoples of the time. In the poem, they were portrayed as superior to everyone else and most looked up to them. From this, we can infer that during the medieval age – as directed from this poem – there were divided social classes and each had “personalities” that they displayed. The highlights of the different methods of describing also help the commentary of the poem describe the social classes in the society


This poem pictures the society and lifestyle of medieval Europe, from the scenery and attitudes. The commentary that the author provides bestows a better understanding of the society within that era. Through following the events that the Lady of Shallot make, pieces of the medieval culture are revealed. Using Victorian themes such as visualization, confinement and idealism, Lord Alfred Tennyson summarizes the way of life in the past.