Love Song Of J Alfred Prufrock Essay

, Research Paper

Love, Lust or Lackluster Lifestyle? The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock demonstrates the effects of social and economicpressure in the life of a Victorian man. T.S. Eliot shows us, in an ironic monologue, how thereality of age and social position paralyzes his character with fear. The poem opens with six linesfrom Dante s Infernio . This particular stanza explains that the speaker is in hell and the messagecan only be told to someone else in hell. The speaker tells us that it is OK for the listener to hearthe message, since in order to hear you must already be in hell and no one ever returns from there.So the message will never leave. I believe Eliot uses this message to infer that only a reader whounderstands the loneliness and desperation of Prufrock can truly understand the poem. However,in my research, I have found as many different interpretations of the poem as I have foundreaders. Most agree; however, that Prufrock is speaking to the reader when he says you andI (Line 1). Many readers also agree that Prufrock is a lonely man, but what type of company hedesires seems to vary greatly. Interpretations include sex, social company, long term love, andeven death. I believe Prufrock yearns for the sense of belonging, both with a female and with hissociety. He struggles with issues of sex, age and social change. The beginning lines of the poem(1-25) paint for a very descriptive picture of the streetwhere Prufrock is walking. It also alerts the reader of Prufrock s distaste for this area and thissociety. He describes it as have deserted , muttering . one-night cheap hotels and sawdustrestaurants .(5-7) He contrasts that with his destination of a room where women come andgo/Talking of Michelangelo (13&14). Prufrock doesn t give the reader much insight into histhoughts until line 26. From this line forward, we get a glimpse of what it must be like to bePrufrock. He tells us There will be time, there will be time/ To prepare a face to meet the facesthat you meet (27-28), indicating repression. He must prepare himself mentally to be able toput on the correct social image before he makes his visit (12). The rest of the poem simplyreinforces his struggle between the way he would like to be and the reality of his life. He begins toponder the overwhelming question (11) of whether or not he could have a romantic interludewith one of the ladies he is gong to visit, but the socially acceptable and slightly neurotic side ofhim emerges and he quickly switches his thoughts to his thinning hair. I believe he is trying togather the courage to approach one of these ladies (42-43&45-46) but looses the courage asquickly as it came to him. He then laments about his indecision and lack of courage, in a minutethere is time/ For decision and revisions with a minute will reverse . The theme of Prufrock sfickle thoughts run throughout the poem, as illustrated in his confidence about his outfit and taste,then just the next line he his back to the insecurity about his age But how his arms and legs arethin. (45) Prufrock goes on to tell the reader of his experience I have known them all–/Haveknown the evenings, mornings, afternoons, (50) describing the stages of his life from his youththrough his young adulthood to his present state, as a middle aged man. He feels the age andeventual death of not only himself but of the society he is a part of. He hears voicesdying…..Beneath the music from a farther room (52-53), and realizes that he is at the end of histime. I think he realizes that he is not a member of the modern society, nor am I sure he wants tobe. But he does feel that he is watched like a specimen formulated, sprawling on a pin (57). Butunlike a bug in a bug collection, he is still alive and tortured wriggling on the wall (58). He

realizes that his customs are a part of the past, but he is unable to see the way to move on. Hethinks perhaps he should spit out the butt-ends of my days and ways (60) but realizes hewouldn t know how to resume life in the new world And how should I presume? (61). 2. Prufrock goes back to his own way of thought and begins to remember the women in theparlor and his mind begins to wonder to more physical elements of their company and he soonbegins to muster up courage again. His confidence becomes evident And how should I begin?/Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets/ And watched the smoke that rises fromthe pipes/ Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows/… (69-72). This stanza hasalmost a superior ring to it. As though Prufrock realizes he is socially superior to the men in thewindows. He is careful to point out that they are smoking but not wearing their jackets. They arespending their evening leaning out of windows (72) overlooking narrow streets (70). A man ofPrufrock s stature would not do such distasteful things and would therefore be worthy of thesewomen s company. He carefully contrasts the women in the parlor whose arms braceleted, whiteand bare (63) lie along a table, or wrap a shawl (67) with the informal and guttural image ofthese men in town. J. Alfred takes seven lines to carefully draw us a picture of a formal evening inthis parlor, and only three to describe that which is distasteful to him. But knowing he will not beact on his feelings he decides he would be better off as a pair of ragged claws/ Scuttling acrossthe floors of silent seas. (71-72) Lines 75-86 tell of the sleep that both he and his culture are in. The cultures ignorance ofit s own impending death and his inaction regarding his desire for passion. He says he has seenthe moment of my greatness flicker (84) which his own admission of his mortality. And as helooks back he realizes that he is lonely. Prufrock says it would have been worth it, after all (88)worth the formality of his life he could simply have the company of one of these women. Perhaps,even worth the gossip that would have occurred(89) if he could simply feel the passion of a youngman again. He hopes passion will bring him back to life(94-95). I believe his desire is much morethan sexual. Prufrock wants one of these women of intellect who will challenge him. He wants toescape his own thoughts and have stimulating conversation. He wants a woman who will say thatis not what I meant at all. (110) 3. Then back to the stately old Prufrock, who submits he will not even be able to be like Hamlet , instead he will only be a pathetic advisor. He tells us he is so indecisive and so unableto make a commitment to action that he cannot even rise to the occasion of the person mostknown for his inaction. He basically tells us he is lower than low. He is intelligent, well spoken,and educated(116-117) but so much a coward that he is almost ridiculous–/ Almost, at times,the Fool. (118-119) Although many of the comments and interpretations of The Love Song of J. AlfredPrufrock that I have read seem to believe that the last 4 stanzas are a sign that he may break outof his shell. I believe it is the surrender of all hope and the recognition of the inconceivability ofhis desires. I think lines 120-130 are Prufrock s way of telling us of the dream of youth that hewill leave behind. He will not wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled (121) nor wear flanneltrousers, and walk upon the beach. These are the customs and actions of young passionate men.Men whose physical appearance and less stuffy lifestyle will attract the mermaids (124). Heconcedes I do not think that they will sing to me. (125) Prufrock leaves us with the thought ofhow life and society can force us from our dreams and sink us with reality. We have lingered inthe chambers of the sea/ By sea-girls wreathed with seeweed red and brown/ Till human voiceswake us, and we drown. (129-131)