Final answer:
The Lady of Shalott is cursed to only view the outside world through a mirror and suspects that looking directly upon Camelot will bring disaster, which occurs after she sees Lancelot and looks out, leading to her untimely death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Lady of Shalott in Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem is aware of a curse that forbids her from looking directly outside her tower down to Camelot.
Instead, she must view the world through a mirror that reflects the busy lives and events occurring outside her isolation.
One day, stimulated by the sight of the noble Sir Lancelot, she gives in to temptation and looks out onto Camelot, thus initiating the curse.
The poem reflects on themes of isolation, artistry, and the longing for a life unlived.
The Lady's eventual looking away from the mirror and directly at Camelot leads to her tragic fate, as the curse takes hold and she dies, floating down the river to Camelot.