Tower
The tower as a site of isolation and patriarchal confinement: a cylindrical structure where the (typically female) subject is trapped at the top, with access controlled from outside. Draws on fairy tale tradition (Rapunzel, Cinderella's attic) and on the tower as a symbol of patriarchal entrapment where women are kept apart from the world.
The tower represents isolation made architectural: the speaker is elevated but confined, visible but unreachable, trapped in a structure built by others. In fairy tale tradition the tower requires an external agent to provide access (Rapunzel's hair, the prince's arrival), making escape impossible without rescue.
Appears in 5 songs
“I sat alone in my tower”
The tower represents isolation, confinement, and entrapment, both as a fairy tale trope (Rapunzel) and as a symbol of being trapped in patriarchal society. The speaker sat alone at the top, with access controlled from outside.
“On a balcony in summer air”
The balcony functions as the fairy-tale setting of romantic encounter, directly drawn from the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene tradition. It places the speaker in the elevated, isolated position of the fairy-tale heroine waiting to be reached by the lover below.
“I was in my tower weaving nightmares”
The tower represents the speaker's escalation from hopeful new beginning to patriarchal confinement and isolation, trapped and producing nightmares instead of daydreams.
“'Cause baby, I could build a castle Out of all the bricks they threw at me”
The castle operates as a fortification built from the very attacks levied against the speaker, a place of safety constructed from criticism. Uncle Jerry reads this as the speaker taking the initiative to forge safety from hostility, and notes Taylor literally builds an empire this way.
“Locked me up in towers”
The tower represents the patriarchal confinement of the woman-as-temptress, the only solution the wise men can conceive for dealing with a dangerous woman is to lock her away. Uncle Jerry identifies the tower as a phallic symbol and connects it to the fairy tale tradition of locking women in towers.