Manifested in many forms throughout society, alienation is representative of the incongruency of individualism in a society demanding conformity. These societal pressures cause a despairing sense of detachment between people, their world and their sense of self. The plight of man in a modern society as a result of the societal expectations of conformity is the primary concern of T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, while Gwen Harwood’s poem, “In the Park” similarly deals with the loss of human potential in a superficial world bounded by the constraints of society. W.H. Auden’s poem, “Miss Gee” deals too with the alienation of a woman who feels isolated as a result of her lack of meaningful relationships. Alienation as a result of the pressure individuals feel to conform to the ideals of their society leads to an inauthentic life characterised by flawed and superficial relationships.
It is the ability of an individual to comprehend their isolation and estrangement that leads to the greatest sense of despair. The tragedy of T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is the persona’s awareness of his own inadequacies as he, alone in a room, reveals the inner thoughts and fears he is too inhibited to otherwise express. Eliot’s intertextual link to Dante’s “Inferno” in the epigraph frames the poem and acts as a parallel to the internal hell Prufrock experiences in his alienation from his superficial society and his own dreams. Prufrock’s insecurities stem from his own fear of rejection and feeling of inferiority, inspired by the “women com[ing] and go[ing], talking of Michelangelo” and other greats, can be recognised through his revelation that “I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be”. As a result of the emphasis on the superficial Prufrock feels judged and inadequate, shown by his paranoia he has of his aging appearance. The metaphorical insect pinned helplessly to a board, “pinned and wriggling on the wall”, is an apt description of Prufrock who feels trapped, tortured and paralysed by his craving for an intimacy he deems impossible with the woman he secretly fancies. The exotic imagery of Prufrock’s dreams only serve to alienate him further as “I have heard the mermaids singing… / but I do not think they will sing to me”. Symbolic of potential romance, unknown in Prufrock’s life because of his insecurities and fear of rejection, the mermaids’ rejection of him is verification to him that he is unwanted. It can thus be seen that feelings of despondency and inadequacy are a result of the individual’s alienation from society and its prescribed values.
The Essay on The Scream Society And The Common Man
Existentialist philosophy at first may appear to be at odds with the everyday world; however, existentialism has some very real applications in the context of society as opposed to the context of existence. Society gives us a role in life, something to give our lives meaning, but what happens when we look too closely at our role and reconsider it? What happens when we ask, why? The Scream by ...
The estrangement of individuals from their society leads to a lack of meaning in their lives, resulting in the loss of hope. This loss of hope can be a sense of despair that stems from feelings of failure, evident in Gwen Harwood’s sonnet, “In the Park”. The persona of this poem is a lady who feels that her reality and experiences of motherhood do not fulfil the standard image presented by society. Her alienation from this projected and idealised image is disillusioning and causes her to feel isolated despite the presence of others. The inauthenticity of conversation with “someone she loved once” shows lament for a previous life as she fails to live up to the standards she believes society expects of her as a mother. Her meaningless and clichéd answer of ‘“How nice,” et cetera’ is indicative of the superficiality and emptiness of her relationships, the whole conversation staged and “reheares[ed]”. The superficiality and inauthenticity of her life leads to an overwhelming feeling of meaninglessness. The parallel drawn between her child’s drawing and her life shows her belief that her life is as meaningless as the “aimless patterns in the dirt”. The bleak and miserable image created in the final line of the poem, ‘To the wind she says, “They have eaten me alive”’, shows the pinnacle of the woman’s alienation in the depths of her despair as she is not only isolated from others but from her own sense of self as well. The inability to reach the expectations of society can be an alienating experience, leading to the isolation of a person from others and themself.
The Essay on Existentialism: Does Life Have Meaning?
Most people would like to think that their life has some kind of meaning or purpose. However how this meaning in life is obtained can cause some differing views. One may believe that they were born with a purpose in life and the other may believe that it is their own responsibility to give their own life meaning. While the first belief may be the preferred option, it doesn’t seem very practical. ...
A lack of interaction and an inability to connect with others as a consequence of social inhibitions can result in a passive life lacking in meaning. This introversion and lack of meaning can cause an individual to feel alienated. Miss Gee, the persona of W.H. Auden’s poem, “Miss Gee”, lives a passive life dictated by her social inhibitions which do not allow her to fit into her society. This lack of communication and her extreme sexual inhibitions are expressed metaphorically by “her clothes [being] buttoned up to her neck” and the “harsh back pedal break” of her bicycle. Miss Gee’s inhibitions, much like Prufrock, lead her to live a lonely life, lacking in any great meaning. Her feeling of isolation is expressed through rhetorical questions such as “Does anyone care?”. Despite these feelings of loneliness she is too inhibited and fearful to create a greater sense of meaning in her life through the broadening of relationships. Ironically, the closest human contact Miss Gee has comes as the doctor tells her of her impending death and as she, following her death, is dissected – at which point she has lost her humanity. Diagnosed with cancer, the illness can be seen as a metaphorical manifestation of the damaging effects of alienation and the great shame of the loss of potential, suggested through the doctor’s belief that “Childless women get it / And men when they retire”. Social inhibitions and the fear of judgment often leads to a lack of meaningful relationships and an inability to fit in and is consequently alienating.
It can thus be seen that alienation is not only physical isolation but an estrangement between individuals and their true self. Through interior monologue “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” explores the social alienation of the persona in his inadequacies. Similarly isolated, the persona of “In the Park”, in her inability to reach society’s ideals of motherhood, attempts to escape her feelings of failure and subsequent loss of meaning by leading a life of inauthenticity in which she is paradoxically further alienated. Just as the persona of “In the Park” has a lack of meaning as a result of the artificial and shallow relationships she has built, “Miss Gee” explores the meaningless relationships that are a result of social inhibitions. As a consequence of alienation each persona is left feeling isolated and despairing with an overwhelming despondency to their world.
The Term Paper on Modern Life Meaning Culture Biblical
There was a time, not long ago, when the evangelical community had considerable consensus on lifestyle questions and social issues. We generally agreed on what we should eat and drink and how we might spend our weekends. There was little debate over definitions of vulgarity or morality, and questions of fashion were rarely a matter for discussion. In those days, everyone knew how a family should ...
