Lady of Shallot
"The greatest social difficulty in England today is the relationship between men and women" (NAEL, 1719). These words express awareness and the beginning of a change in the Victorian period. The role of the woman began its change throughout this period. Such changes seemed to only take place in the middle class. These changes caused many to question the role of the woman in society, thus the "woman question" evolved. The woman became less and less involved with the every day drudgeries and had more and more time on her hands. How women actually felt about this change is questionable, many took a middle ground that Walter Hougton said was "entirely characteristic of the time in its mediation between conservative and radical thinking" (349). This is where we find Tennyson. In "The Lady of Shalott" there are times where traditional womanly characteristics are present, and at the same time we see very liberal ideas expressed. Remember that the middle class woman's role is the one going through this transformation, and the primary focus of this "Woman Question". As a result of this new role we see a clash between traditional and radical thought, along with feelings of isolation, and questions of sexuality.
Hougton, Walter E. The Victorian Frame of Mind 1830-1870. New Haven: Yale University Press,1957. "The Lady of Shalott" is a poem that embodies both traditional and radical thoughts; this contrast results in a median between the two ideas, which is the "woman question". The well known traditional role of woman, as maid and wife are conflicting with the radical rebellion of many women of the time; a new role for women is the result. We also see an increase of isolation and nostalgia as a result of the loss of the connection between man and Nature, which is reflected quite literally in "The Lady of Shalott". Then we have questions that arise about sexuality, and the popular views of sex in the Victorian period is that it is a threat to social order. There are both traditional and radical thoughts represented in "The Lady of Shalott". These thoughts come together and form a middle ground that many Victorians found themselves standing on. This mediation is the sole basis of the "Woman Question".
Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Shalott, Woman Question, Stickney Ellis, Maid WifeNAEL, House NAEL, lady shalott, Walter Hougton, Maureen Sex, College Literature, woman question, middle class, role woman, victorian period, Frame Mind, traditional radical, Coventry Patmore's, traditional roles woman, connection nature, radical rebellion, maid wife, woman submissive,
Approximate Word count = 1247
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
