Rossetti was heavily influenced by Dante Alighieri, paralleling his grief to what Dante experienced when his beloved Beatrice dies in La vita nuova (The New Life; 1295). A circle of light surrounds Beatrix, similar to the halo of an angel. Her expression resembles that of transcending heavenly boundaries.

Rossetti has immortalised Siddal in this medium, raising her up to the pedestal of an angel. This painting merges both themes of portraying the female as both death and the divine. The line between the spiritual and physical love has been blurred.

The painting embodies female agency, especially when viewed through a woman’s perspective. It diverts attention from Sir Lancelot or her impending death, by placing the female figure at the centre. The lack of colour compared to other renditions of the poem, making it all the more profound on the viewer. Combining female and artistic self-expression, this piece serves as a 19^th century symbol of voice and agency.