Question 1
The lady of shallot depicts the injustice that is done to women in a patriarchal society. The setting of the poem depicts the situation in society during the medieval times. This was a time when it was regarded unsuitable for women to be educated or to participate in employment, as opposed to their male counterparts. Women, especially from the higher social class, were expected to be home keepers, caretakers for husbands and active entertainers.
The poem vividly articulates the environment of a woman in society. The woman is surrounded by things like “aspen quiver, willows whiten,” in a manner that possibly portray coldness in winter. In women context, the coldness is a metaphorical representation of the punitive treatment of women in the Victorian society. The lady shallot is isolated in a locked room having a castle of four walls. Also, the room has “grey towers, four in number, and set on a silent isle.” Under these circumstances, Shallot is secluded. The entrapment is chilly, dreary and dull, representing shallot as an outsider. Women are pushed towards the periphery on the edge of a patriarchy, perhaps depicting their fate should they disrespect the society’s traditional values. In the room, shallot “weaves by day and night,” revealing her marital roles. Perhaps, Shallot is imprisoned for failure to honor societal rules that strip women of their rights.
The shadows of the world that appear to Shallot act as a symbolic representation of the inadequate view of the world that women have. Thus, women are perceived as being unable to have a clear vision of things in society. The expression, “she hath no loyal Knight,” depicts Shalott as a lonely being incomplete in the absence of a husband. The declaration of Shallot that she feels “half sick because of the shadows,” is a means of expressing hatred regarding the role of women in the society, and the painful life she leads.
The last part of the poem depicts a break from the societal traditions. The lady sends a message that she has a “pretty face. Shalot, convinced with death as the only sure way to evade the injustices of the society, commits suicide. For Shallot, the mission is accomplished, with dire consequences.
Question 2
The love song by Alfred Prufrock reveals several instances of allusion to the Greek, Shakespeare and many others. The biblical allusion focusing on the story of John, the baptism is revealed in the poem. Prufrock represents a heroic parallel best described as a mock between himself and the Baptist, John. This scenario materializes when he says, “Unlike John, the Baptist, I am no prophet. “These words portray Prufrock as a coward who lacks courage to unfold the truth. The beheading image depicts Prufrock’s split personality and terrified self-conscious. Notably, self-consciousness as a personal conflicting feature, is reflected in Prufrock while he descends the stairs. Interestingly, he feels aware of himself while moving down the stairs and dramatically notices others observing him. Ultimately, Pulfrock’s conscious is split soon after realizing that other are keen on his action. He experiences discomfort. From a societal perspective, Prufrock represents the conflict that lies between his inner self and the social self. The interest that Pulfrock develops in some of the female body parts shows how society views women. The unrealistic nature of Pulfrock resembles the reluctance of the society to face reality and discard unfair traditions.
The allusion to the story of Lazarus is fascinating. Pulfrock calls himself a Lazarus. This means that he has come out of death back to life. Perhaps, this is a symbolic representation that he has been transformed out of the traditions of society into modern life. Similarly, this depicts the fact that for a society to change freedom fighters must dearly pay the price. The allusion is relevant in relation to the historical movement that women supported in order to defend their position in society.
