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The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock. By T.S. Eliot. Published in 1915, Prufrock is an examination of the prototypical modern man. Prufrock is over-educated, eloquent and emotionally stilted .
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The Love Song of J.AlfredPrufrock By T.S. Eliot
Published in 1915, Prufrock is an examination of the prototypical modern man. Prufrock is over-educated, eloquent and emotionally stilted. • Prufrock addresses the ‘You and I’ (the audience) about his potential lover and forcing a moment to “it’s crisis”. • Prufrock knows too much about life and its inevitable disappointments to ‘dare’ approach the woman.
In his mind he hears the comments others make about his perceived inadequacies- his receding hair line, his thin arms etc… • Format • The poem is delivered as a dramatic monologue, a fictional speech from a fictional character, much like a soliloquy in a play
1: The poem is a specific utterance of an individual (Prufrock) • 2: It is directed to an inferred listener (us) • 3: The focus is the revelation of the speakers character • The ‘Epigraph’ from Dante’s Inferno describes his ideal listener: someone who will hear his woes but never repeat them. The listener is unable to repeat them because they are dead and trapped in hell.
Rhyme Scheme- The rhyme is irregular but not random! The scheme is carefully constructed with the use of refrains- “In the room…. “How should I presume?... “That is not it all…” • Conclusion • The conclusion is a comparison to Shakepeare’s Hamlet and the idea of a tragic hero. • That rather than being a hero, he is insignificant, ‘Fifth Business’ in his own life!
Prufrock Analysis • Epigram: is Dante’s Inferno- the audience of like-minded individuals who will never tell of his insecurity and secrets. You! • 1: The invitation: “you and I” • A metaphorical invitation to walk the dark streets- lonely and isolated.
“patient etherized” • Refrain: • “One night hotels” • “insidious intent” • “overwhelming question” • Seduced/medicated and easy to control! • Women are modern/intellectual and independent • SORDID sexual encounters, where is he taking you? It is implied that you understand!
“yellow Fog” • “There will be time” • “faces” • Is cat like, alienated and vulnerable, like a ‘stray’ in society • Why do it now when it can be done later- procrastination! • Masks that disguise his true feelings!
“taking of toast and tea” • “Do I dare?” • “Known them all” • In polite society he feels a misfit. • Insecure imaginings of how they talk about him. He has to make a choice- he is insecure and cowardly • Measured and considered, a contrast to the above!
“sprawling on a pin” • “shall I say” • “I should have been a crab, scuttling…” • Like a bug being studied/exhibited. • Should he talk about his exploits, will they listen or laugh and think him crazy? • This is true vision of himself, a ‘bottom feeder’ walking the floors of the ocean.
“…force the moment to its crisis…” • “..platter…” • “eternal footman..” • Should he act, is it worth it? • Biblical allusion, John the Baptist’s head, brought to Herod’s wife (at her request) on a silver platter! • Judgment- how will he be received at the gates of heaven?
“I am Lazarus..” • “Prince Hamlet” • The OT Biblical story of Lazarus and Dives. Lazarus came back to warn the people and no one would listen. • What is his role in his own life? Key actor or support or comic relief?
“I grow old..” • “mermaids” • Images of old age, rolled trousers, eating a peach- no teeth! • Enticing sailors to their death on the rocks- they sing to all but him, he is not worthy!
The title is ironic, this is not a love song, but for Prufrock we feel pity and angst. The modern man of the 1920’s is not heroic, in fact they are the opposite, a reaction to the events of WW1. • You may mock his weakness as today’s standards contrast his ideas, but as a representative of the ‘emerging modern-man’ we see Prufrock as pathetic, not tragic.
We see a life not lived, paralleling characters in works like: • The Woman in This Poem. Bronwen Wallace • The Great Gatsby. F Scott Fitzgerald • The Hollow Men. T S Eliot • Death of a Salesman. Arthur Miller