The Lady of Shalott is an isolated woman confined to a remote tower overlooking the river that flows to Camelot. A mysterious curse forces her to constantly weave on her loom and forbids her from looking directly out her window. She experiences the outside world exclusively through a mirror that reflects the people and sights passing by her island. Her solitary life produces a growing weariness with her shadow-filled existence.

Sir Lancelot is a bold knight of Camelot whose freedom contrasts completely with the Lady of Shalott's confinement. He travels openly through the natural world, wearing shining armor and riding with a glittering, gem-studded bridle. His striking physical appearance, characterized by dark curls and a confident demeanor, commands immediate attention from anyone observing him.

The Reaper is a local laborer working in the agricultural fields near the island of Shalott. He represents the everyday, pastoral life that goes on outside the isolated castle walls. While he never sees the woman in the tower, he listens to her constant singing as he works, providing the outside world's only proof that she exists at all.