“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S Elliot is the lifetime of an old age man remembers, which consist of his past failures. Then, he puts them into the context of his meaningless life to try to comprehend the significance and compensate for his loneliness. Through Eliot’s rich imagery and excellent use of poetic language, Prufrock’s explanation of his memories, his experiences and most importantly, his feelings come alive in this poem.
The poem starts out describing the dreary streets with cheap hotels and restaurants where Prufrock lives. He is on his way to a place where women, including the one he adores, are getting together to talk and have some tea. They are talking about people with great creative minds, like Michelangelo and unlike Prufrock. Then, he talks about how there is so much time. “There is time for indecisions, visions and revisions; before the taking of a toast and tea” (33-34).
Here, he is trying to convince himself that there is plenty of time to decide what he is going to say before he makes a toast in her honor.
Prufrocks next thoughts tell of his old age and his lack of will to say what is on his mind. He mentions his bald spot in his hair and his thin arms and legs “They will say: But how his arms and legs are thin” (44).
This suggests that he knows he is growing old, and therefore contradicts what he had mentioned earlier in the poem about having plenty of time. Throughout the poem he is indecisive and somewhat aloof from the self-involved group of women. After this description, there is the profound irony of his question “Do I dare / Disturb the Universe” (45-46).
The Essay on Alfred Prufrock Eliot Time Dare
... we but world enough and time' from Andrew Marvell's seductive poem, "To His Coy Mistress." Ironically, Prufrock does not feel compelled to ... his hair (Pagnattaro 108). Yes, "indeed there will be time," time for Prufrock to sink back eternally among the rounds of teacups ... of these is the time theme. Drenched with anxiety, Prufrock says: "And indeed there will be time." Prufrock uses time as an excuse ...
The universe he is referring to is his small social circle of middle class acquaintances.
Prufrock finally decides not to tell of his desire for that woman and states, “I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be” (111).
This reveals his lack of boldness and confidence. This also shows his thoughts about his anti-hero, unromantic, and pitiable life. He has accepted that he will not achieve his dreams of romance and has passed into the empty existence of a passionless old man.
The poem has been a journey into Prufrock’s psychology. The closing image of the poem includes the principal theme of Prufrock’s relationship or non-relationship with women. Prufrock would escape to a fantasy fulfillment with the mermaids. However, even they are disappointing: “I do not think that they will sing to me” (125).
Moreover, banal and destructive reality must be resumed as the dream subsides: “Till human voices wake us, and we drown” (131).
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is typical in its presentation of “modern disillusionment” (Wiki), a figure that who has been through by life.
To sum up, the themes of insecurity and time are concentrated on used in the poem is definitely a hindrance for him. It holds him back from doing the things he wishes to do. This is the sort of characteristic that makes Alfred into a tragic, doomed character. He will not find happiness until he finds self-assurance within himself. The repetition of words like vision and revision, show his feelings of inadequacy in communicating with the people around him.
Works Cited:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/173476
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Love_Song_of_J.Alfred_Prufrock
