"The
Lady of Shalott" by Tennyson shows us an ideal woman trying to break away
from conventions. The Lady of Shalott stays inside the house and is very
innocent and delicate. In a painting rendition by John Waterhouse, she is with
her knitting work in front of her while looking through the mirror, a very
domestic activity. So she fits this ideal domestic and feminine role. However,
she decides that she is "half sick of shadows" and breaks away from
the confinement of the house and feminine role (Tennyson 71). In consequence of
breaking away from this tradition a curse comes upon her and she dies before
she ever gets to Camelot. Through "The Lady of Shalott" we see the
tension of the limiting feminine ideal in society and women trying to break
away from that ideal.
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