Once the Lady of Shalott realizes she is cursed, she doesn't die right away. Although her encounter with the real world ultimately leads to her demise, it also gives her a chance to express herself openly. She leaves her tower, finds a boat, writes her name on it, and lies down inside before setting it afloat. Her journey along the river symbolizes a passive entrance into the realm of action or might be seen as her yielding to her emotions. Interestingly, even though it is Lancelot who distracts her from her weaving and seals her fate, her final actions do not center on him. She allows the river to carry her, passing by the people and places she once viewed only through her mirror, and she sings, sharing her voice with the world around her in this final moment.