Many critics suggest that the Lady of Shalott dies from a broken heart due to her sudden infatuation with the incredibly handsome Lancelot, who does not return her affections. This interpretation aligns with the traditional story that inspired the poem; in the tale of Elaine of Astolat, Elaine indeed experiences unrequited love. However, the Lady of Shalott is a variation of this character, differing in several significant ways. Tennyson changed the setting from Astolat to Shalott, an ancient variant of the name. In his poem, the Lady and Lancelot never meet: when he first notices her, she is already deceased in her boat, and he expresses a belated interest.

Readers learn about Lancelot's physical appeal long before the Lady becomes aware of it. He is described as having a broad, clear brow; his shield shows an image of a knight kneeling to a lady, and his saddle is decorated with jewels. However, it is the sound of his beautiful singing that compels the Lady to look out the window. As soon as she sees him, her weaving literally flies out the window, and her mirror shatters. "'The curse is come upon me'" (line 116), she exclaims.

This reaction can be interpreted symbolically. Being distracted by Lancelot brings the curse upon her. The curse might symbolize the loss of her creative perception of the world. In other words, she loses her way of keeping her mind occupied with her work. The breaking of the mirror suggests that she can no longer focus solely on her artwork once her interest in another person draws her into the broader world. She is not "rejected" by Lancelot because, in this version, he is unaware of her existence until the end; nevertheless, she is so captivated by him that she takes her life into her own hands just to see the face behind the voice.