COMPARING “THE LADY OF SHALOTT” AND “MARIANA”

By: Lamha, Yasmin, Laisa and Modith.

SIMILARITIES

In Tennyson’s poems “Mariana” and “The Lady of Shalott” the

main characters are isolated from the rest of the world, and

both are afraid of facing life and the obstacles that it presents.

They’re both very sad and depressed women.

They both exist under similar circumstances, cut from the

outside world and forced to regard the rest of the world in

isolation.

They’re also lonely and trapped.

MORE SIMILARITIES…

The Lady of Shalott is trapped in a room in a tower

while Mariana is in a house waiting for someone to

arrive. And this separation and confinement makes

them unhappy.

They both spent their days doing the same thing

repeatedly with little change in their routines.

AND, THEY’RE BOTH WOMEN.

DIFFERENCES

The reasons for their isolation are different.

The Lady of Shalott is under a curse and cannot leave her

tower unless she wants to die. Whereas, Mariana is

isolating herself willingly because she’s too depressed

about life. She’s been expecting someone for too long.

The Lady of Shalott does something while she waits (she

weaves), while on the other hand, Mariana just sits and

cries.

MORE DIFFERENCES…

The Lady of Shalott actually wants to leave the

tower and see the world, while Mariana, even

though she can go out, she chooses not to.

COMMON THEMES

Isolation and Social Engagement – They’re both away from

civilization. There’s no one to communicate with and they’re both

withdrawing from society.

Frustration – Because, they both have been there stuck in some

room for so long.

Men & Women – There’s a strong link between the two

genders.

There could also be a possibility that both poems tell us

about how life for women was in the Victorian Era.

THANK YOU