The era Tennyson was living in, during the time that these two poems were composed, was very different to society today. Women in Victorian times were poorly educated. It was unlikely that they would have formal schooling as it was expected that they would develop domestic skills to aid running their households. The only academic skills they may acquire would be basic understanding of a foreign language, like French. Women in Victorian times lived very restricted, unadorned lives. They were unable to express themselves sexually and this is reflected in their dress, as it was considered unacceptable to show an ankle or any part of the leg.
             Therefore it is logical to suggest that Tennyson wrote these poems as a way to voice his views on the poor, inadequate treatment of women, expressing his unorthodox opinions through the poems that he wrote. In the two poems 'Marianna' and 'The Lady of Shalott' there are many different factors that can explain this.
             The setting of each of the poems appears to be very different, but the objective for both is very similar. Mariana is set in what seems to be an extremely isolated countryside, the main setting being her home. This is described in a very dull and lifeless way, a 'lonely moated grange' that consequently reflects her mood throughout the poem. On the other hand, The Lady of Shallot is set in a completely different environment. There are lots of elements that make the surroundings seem a lot more vigorous and enjoyable;
             "Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,
             Or long-haired page in crimson clad"
             A considerable amount of this is seen when Tennyson talks about the mirror, which the lady looks out of. This image of a lively lifestyle diverges with the reality of how the Lady Of Shallot is living, isolated in a tower without physical interaction of any kind. Her lodgings are described as 'four grey walls and four grey towers' the adje...