To what extent does a feminist approach help in understanding Mariana and Lady of Shallot?Tennyson encourages a change in the Victorian era of domestic life for women. Its heroines are trapped in a domesticated and “solitary” sphere and this is reflected in the 19th century's binary approach to women; a housewife, a "market girl" or a spinster. In any case, women ultimately end up alone. The omniscient speaker represents the all-seeing eye of society, always observing but not intervening. Tennyson decries this careless, oblivious approach to women and launches his heroines into the world through their own self-acceptance. “Mariana” and “Lady of Shallot” both go from a state of paralysis to self-realization to save themselves. from the patriarchal values ​​that oppress them to domestic life. The Lady of Shallot is surrounded by "four gray walls and four gray towers" and the monosyllabic repetition creates a lifeless claustrophobic atmosphere. It symbolizes that women live in prison as well as in the state. This prison could be interpreted as the manifestation of a womb that traps women but is also a place of rebirth. This is reinforced by the image of the river "around the isle" of Shallot. The river acts as an umbilical cord and the city represents life. Tennyson uses a woman's body with natural connotations to highlight the power women possess within themselves. Likewise, "Mariana" is a static poem filled with images of decay, "thickly encrusted" flower pots, "rusty nails" and "ancient hatches" that created a heightened sense of foreboding for its future and the Ionian setting external reflects his internal struggles. Although Mariana is based on Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, the reader can see Tennyson's concerns for his... medium of paper... with the dew, every part of her is in sync with nature. Feminist texts are essentially meant to "challenge representations of women as part of nature" and Tennyson fails to do this, Tennyson does the opposite by perpetuating the stereotype. In essence, Tennyson shows the power that women and men could gain from self-acceptance. In the 21st century, by accepting ourselves, we reclaim our independence from the patriarchal and chauvinistic infrastructure in which we live. The marginalization of women has negative effects on individuals which Tennyson highlights through the plight of his heroines. Accepting our situation and gender society will follow as in "The Shallot Lady", the last line is her name repeated by her community. The last line of "Mariana" may be a metaphorical warning of "dead[ly]" consequences if we don't change our approach towards women.