The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
T.S. Eliot
Introduction:
T.S. Eliot, one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, crafted works that profoundly impacted modernist literature. Born Thomas Stearns Eliot on September 26, 1888, in St. Louis, Missouri, Eliot's journey as a poet, essayist, and playwright took him from the United States to England, where he became a central figure in the literary circles of London.
Summary: It isn’t easy to decide what Prufrock is about; the fragmented poetic landscape of T.S. Eliot’s writing make it difficult to pin down one exact feeling within The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. However, at its most simplistic, ‘Prufrock’ is the inner monologue of a city gentleman who is stricken by feelings of isolation and inadequacy, and an incapability of taking decisive action. It is considered one of the most visceral, emotional poems, and remains relevant today, particularly with millennials who are more than a little bit used to these feelings. It is a variation on the dramatic monologue, a type of writing which was very popular from around 1757 to 1922. Examples of dramatic monologue include Marcel Proust (In Search of Lost Time), Henry James (Portrait of a Lady), Robert Browning (Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister), and the most infamous of all, James Joyce (Ulysses), for which the term ‘stream of consciousness’ writing was invented. ‘Prufrock’ is an early prototype of the ‘stream of consciousness’ writing, although it leans far more towards Browning than Joyce.
Analysis:
Poem: "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot
Let us go then, you and I
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherized upon a table;
The poem begins with the speaker, J. Alfred Prufrock, inviting someone to join him on an evening outing. The imagery of the evening "spread out against the sky" likened to a patient etherized on a table suggests a sense of stillness and lifelessness, setting a somewhat eerie tone.
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
Prufrock suggests they walk through quiet streets that have become empty and deserted, echoing with the sounds of people retreating into themselves in cheap hotels after restless nights.
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
He describes the mundane scenery of the city, with restaurants scattered with oyster shells and streets that seem to drag on like a tiresome and deceptive argument.
To lead you to an overwhelming question...
Oh, do not ask, "What is it?"
Let us go and make our visit.
Prufrock hints at a profound question he wants to ask but hesitates to voice it directly, urging instead to continue their journey without dwelling on it.
In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
He observes women in a social setting, casually discussing art and culture, highlighting the contrast between their lively conversations and Prufrock's internal turmoil.
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?"
Prufrock grapples with self-doubt and indecision, questioning his courage to take risks or make significant decisions.
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—
[They will say: "How his hair is growing thin!"]
He contemplates aging and how others perceive him, worrying about his physical appearance and the passing of time.
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—
He describes his attire in detail, emphasizing his desire to appear respectable and dignified in social situations.
[They will say: "But how his arms and legs are thin!"]
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
Prufrock questions whether he has the courage to make a significant impact or disrupt the established order of things.
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
He reflects on the fleeting nature of time and decisions, suggesting that even small actions can have lasting consequences.
For I have known them all already, known them all—
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
Prufrock reflects on the repetitive routine of his life, measured out in mundane activities like drinking coffee, feeling trapped in a monotonous existence.
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
He hears distant voices and music, evoking a sense of melancholy and detachment from the world around him.
**So how should I presume?**
Prufrock questions his place and significance in the world, unsure of how he should assert himself or what he should expect from life.
And I have known the eyes already, known them all—
The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,
And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,
He feels scrutinized and judged by others, reduced to a fixed image or stereotype, struggling to break free from societal expectations.
Then how should I begin
To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?
Prufrock wrestles with expressing his true self and confronting the consequences of his past actions and decisions.
And how should I presume?
He repeats his earlier question, emphasizing his uncertainty and hesitation in asserting himself or making a meaningful change.
Arms that are braceleted and white and bare
(But in the lamplight, downed with light brown hair!)
He notices a woman's arms, adorned with bracelets and bare, illuminated by lamplight.
Is it perfume from a dress
That makes me so digress?
He wonders if the fragrance of her dress has distracted him from his thoughts and purpose.
Arms that lie along a table, or wrap about a shawl.
He imagines her arms resting on a table or wrapped around a shawl, captivated by her presence and beauty.
And should I then presume?
He questions whether he should make assumptions or take action based on his feelings.
And how should I begin?
Prufrock remains indecisive and unsure about how to proceed, haunted by his fear of rejection or failure.
The poem ends abruptly, leaving Prufrock's inner turmoil unresolved, reflecting his perpetual indecision and inability to take decisive action.
Explanation:
"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is a modernist poem by T.S. Eliot that explores themes of alienation, self-doubt, and the struggle for identity in a rapidly changing world. J. Alfred Prufrock, the speaker, reflects on his own inadequacies and fears, particularly in relation to love and social interaction.
Structure and Language:
The poem is written in free verse and fragmented lines, mirroring Prufrock's fragmented thoughts and internal conflicts. Eliot uses vivid imagery and sensory details to evoke a sense of urban ennui and existential crisis.
Themes
1.Insecurity and Self-Doubt:
Prufrock is plagued by self-doubt and hesitates to assert himself or pursue romantic relationships.
2. Fear of Time and Aging:
He is preoccupied with aging, mortality, and the passage of time, feeling trapped in a monotonous existence.
3. Isolation and Alienation:
Prufrock feels disconnected from others and struggles to connect emotionally, observing social interactions from a distance.
4. Yearning for Meaningful Connection:
Despite his reservations, Prufrock longs for meaningful relationships and intimacy, but his fear of rejection and social anxiety holds him back.