The Norton Anthology of English Literature
The Lady of Shallot
What do you make of the fact that Lady of Shallot writes her name on the prow of the boat that would become her deathbed?
These incidents occur at the fourth part of the poem whereby it is noted that as the sky breaks, a rain and storm is consequently noticed, eventually the Lady of Shallot is noticed to go down from her towers and she manages to get a boat. On the boat, she scribbles the words “The Lady of Shallot” around its bow and later inspects the lower stream of Camelot just like a prophet who has visions concerning the misfortunes they are due to encounter. It is when the evening comes that she decides to lie on the boat and the stream carries her to Camelot.
As she lies on the boat, she is dressed in a snow white gown because she has the presumption that the boat is her death bed. She begins singing her last song as she is carried down to the Camelot. This goes on until the cold waters freeze her blood and eventually she dies. The boat sails slowly to the Camelot whereby the lords and ladies of Camelot view the body of the Lady of Shallot. It is evident that after they read her name and learn of her dead they are filled with terror, the knight Lancelot is the courageous one who manages to have a full view sight of the dead maiden corpse and he comments on her beauty. This tragic event occurs as the Lady of Shallot tries to unwind her loneliness.
The Victorian Period
What do you make of Tennyson’s poetic view of women in general, and does this fit with what you read in the introduction to the Victorian Period?
During the Victorian period, there are diverse roles granted to women based on the change of the constitution between the year 1832 and 1867, although they are excluded in various reforms. Women have limited access to school, they are not allowed to vote and they cannot own their self properties.
Browning
Both Porphyria and the Duchess in the first two poems from Browning seem to wind up dead. But Browning seems to have a remarkably different style and take on the things that are happening with these women than Tennyson. What do you make of this?
This appears as unique attributes of men as the narrator explains their desire for love, material possession and equality among human beings. Browning implicates the dramatic monologue to create a clear impression to narrators and to express the emotions hidden in the narratives. Characters are introduced after the event that responds to moment. “Porphyria’s Lover” occupies the position of Porphyria’s death “shoulder bore Her head, which droops upon it still” (51-52). These final rejoinders to Porphyria’s death substantiate the lover’s lunacy.
