The Princess by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

It’s a narrative poem about a prince who dresses as a woman to attend a university established by Princess Ida, who has renounced men and committed the college to educating women. The tale culminates in a battle, a romance, and a discussion on whether men and women can truly be equal partners. You could say it’s a Victorian fairy tale laced with a political message.

He feels torn, and the poem captures that struggle. He presents Ida with genuine intelligence and strong arguments. However, the plot gradually shifts her from separatism to forming a partnership with the Prince. Today, most readers perceive Tennyson as supportive of women's education in theory, but they still feel uneasy about the notion of women fully existing outside of male society.

'Tears, Idle Tears' and 'Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal' are the two most well-known poems. They were included in later editions and are frequently anthologized separately. 'Tears, Idle Tears' stands out as one of Tennyson's finest lyrics—a reflection on memory and loss that feels almost disconnected from the surrounding narrative.

Tennyson himself chose that word to describe it. The poem blends heroic narrative, comedy, lyricism, and philosophical debate. It shifts tone and style throughout. Tennyson was trying out a form that could encompass all these elements simultaneously, and while not everyone felt it succeeded, the songs themselves make the attempt worthwhile.

Not exactly. She cares for the injured Prince and falls in love with him, but the Prince's final speech envisions a future where men and women are truly equal, not one where men reign supreme. Ida doesn’t give up on her belief in women’s education; she manages to hold onto it while also embracing love. Whether this feels satisfying to you hinges on how much faith you have in the Prince’s vision.

On the surface, it’s funny—three men awkwardly navigating life in women’s clothing. Yet, it also challenges the authenticity of gender categories. If men can convincingly portray women, what does that say about the foundation of Ida's university? Tennyson doesn't delve as deeply into this question as a contemporary writer might, but he brings it up in a straightforward way.

Gilbert and Sullivan adapted the poem for their 1884 comic opera Princess Ida, which isn't as famous as some of their other works. They maintained the core story — the all-female university, the prince in disguise, the conflict — but approached it mainly as a comedy. The opera highlights how the poem's humorous aspects were easily recognized by Victorian audiences, even within a serious context.

The poem generally receives lower ratings than In Memoriam and Idylls of the King from many readers and critics. However, the interpolated songs, particularly 'Tears, Idle Tears,' are regarded as some of the best lyrics in English. It's worth picking up the poem just for those songs, even if the narrative seems a bit inconsistent.