Kingdom of Isolation

“The Lady of Shalott” by Tennyson portrays the story of a woman who lived a life alone and then dies. At first glance, it is a story that expresses nothing other than a tragedy. That is not the case. On the contrary, “The Lady of Shalott” delves into the question of what being alone can mean, and what that reflects about human nature. Using descriptive language, word choice, and geographic locations, Tennyson illustrates that being lonely reflects our human need to be known.

In “The Lady of Shalott”, Tennyson uses the situation of the Lady of Shalott to illustrate loneliness. The poem depicts the Lady as lonely, for though the village people all have someone to walk with, “She hath no loyal knight and true” (Tennyson 14.3). In fact, up in her isle, she has nobody. Through this, Tennyson illustrates that we all need to be known, for the Lady is not happy all alone. When the she sees two newlyweds getting married, she sighs to herself, “I am half sick of shadows” (16.3). This line shows us that the Lady is sick of just seeing other people go through their lives together, or as she says, seeing life’s “shadows.” (Tennyson 16.3) It reflects the Lady of Shalott’s own desire to be known by someone. In this way, Tennyson illustrates loneliness, and embodies the human need to be known.

The author strives to show us that we should try not to be alone, and that we should make ourselves known: "Four gray walls, and four gray towers Overlook a space of flowers, And the silent isle embowers" (Tennyson 4.1-3). What the author is telling us through this is that if you surrounded yourself within walls, you will never truly live. Tennyson also wants us to make ourselves known from the lines, "She left the web, she left the loom She made three paces thro' the room" (Tennyson 25.1-2), telling us that it is we can’t stay alone and isolated, for it is against our nature.

Using the geographic location, Tennyson illustrates that everyone feels lonely sometimes. The author uses describes, using place, the lady being alone in a room, and her being away from everybody else. While everybody outside is talking, playing, or walking with someone, the lady Shalott faces her mirror, all alone. The Lady of Shalott, before her death, sails out in a boat and chooses to write her name down, so that one day, in the future, she would be known. By this, the author is showing us our human want and need to be known by others.

The author uses descriptive language and his unique word choice reveal the gloomy nature of isolation. He does this to reveal our human need to be known by the world. The way his language was used to develop the theme, was, he used his vivid words to set a certain tone and mood during the events, which let us understand his thoughts and feelings on a certain topic. Using a very gloomy mood, Tennyson places isolation and loneliness into the outcome of events, which shows us the author’s thoughts and feelings on the gloominess and sadness of isolation. The importance of this idea is that it reveals to the readers how we all need to be known. Since it is a human need, if it is not fulfilled, it could lead us into a metaphorical state of death, as illustrated in the poem.

-B. Lit. Group Six