Shalott

Shalott is a term most commonly associated with the Lady of Shalott, a poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in 1833. The work is set in the mythical setting of Shalott, a tower on the island of this eponymous town in the River Wye. The narrative follows the titular lady who is bound by a curse that forbids her from looking directly out of her window; instead, she views the world by reflecting upon a mirror. As she watches the outside world, she creates a life-sized portrait of each scene upon a loom. The poem’s final chapter describes the lady’s departure from her tower, the subsequent destruction of her still-looming work, and her walk toward Camelot, where she dies.

The poem, early in Tennyson’s career, reflects Victorian preoccupations with gender and conformity while also invoking medieval romanticism. Critics have noted its lyrical quality and the use of the image of the unprepared woman drawn into the myth of the Sirens. The Lady of Shalott has been interpreted as an allegory of the artist’s isolation, as well as an early example of feminist literary theory. Mentioned throughout the poem are references to the iconic figures of Lascelles and the King’s train.

The piece became a staple of Victorian romantic literature and has subsequently produced numerous adaptations, including operas, ballets, and modern visual media. The work’s usage of the Shalott location inspires many later writers, and the image of the Lady has become a widely repeated motif in modern pop culture. In contemporary scholarship, scholars continue to consider the poem as an early example of literary canonical work dealing with personal freedom and artistic creation.