Victorians Part II

The Lady of Shalott Summary and CommentaryPart IStanza 1Setting – the countryside (pastoral ideal) around CamelotPeople travel up and down the roadStanza 2Island in the riverTower on the islandLady of Shalott in the towerPart IStanza 3Images of everyday lifeHeavy bargesShallop (sailboats)Mysterious Lady of Shalott Stanza 4Reapers hear her signing“Tis the fairy Lady of Shalott”Part IIStanza 5She weaves a “magic web”She can’t “look down to Camelot”But she is satisfied to weaveStanza 6She observes the world through a mirror“Surly village churls“Red cloaks of the market girls”Part IIStanza 7Other passersbyKnightStanza 8She continues to weaveTwo young lovers pass by“I’m half sick of shadows”
Part IIIStanza 9Lancelot appearsStanza 10Sun-god imageryStanza 11More sun-god imageryPart IIIStanza 12Still more sun-god imageryStanza 13She left the web, she left the loom“The curse is come upon me”Part IVStanza 14The weather (atmosphere) changesShe finds a boatStanza 15In a trance, she floats down to Camelot
Part IVStanza 16Lying in the boat, she singsStanza 17“Singing her last song,” she diesStanza 18The boat floats into CamelotPart IVStanza 19The people are perplexed and scaredLancelot comments on her “lovely face”AnalysisConflict – Artist’s dedication to art requires alienation from societyMost people don’t understand or appreciate artArtists create art “for art’s sake”Art should not be didactic, philosophical, or propagandistic

The Victorian DichotomyOn one hand…Progress, optimism, faith, progress, duty, decorum“God is in His Heaven, and all’s right with the world” – BrowningTo strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” – TennysonThe “white man’s burden” – Kipling“Rise, sir, from that semi-recumbent posture. It is most indecorous.” - Wilde

On the other hand…Doubt, uncertainty, alienation…for the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful, so new, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night. – Matthew ArnoldFunction of the artist?Represent the values of societyMiddle class respectabilityDidacticismPropaganda “Recessional” p. 887Create art “for art’s sake”Sensory/spiritual experienceGod Is in His Heaven…?“The Darkling Thrush” – p. 921“God’s Grandeur” - p. 93120th CenturyWorld War I – The war to end all wars…
“The Soldier” p. 1051“Dulce et Decorum Est”