The Lady of Shalott

Eros can be found throughout most of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem entitled “The Lady of Shalott.” Eros, or its lack there of, becomes evident through the descriptions given in the beginning of the poem. The “Four gray walls and four gray towers” and the river in Part I as well as the gray magic web referred to in line two of the first stanza of Part II symbolically convey the Lady’s dismal, lonely …

…and loved even more strongly. In Part III of the poem, through her mirror the Lady sees the dazzling sun, the sparkling yellow field, gems, glitters, jewels, and Sir Lancelot. Lancelot is described in this way, glowing and exuding light, in order to contrast the dullness of the Lady of Shalott’s life and to convey the feeling she had at the exact moment at which she saw and fell in love with him; Eros.