One of the driving force of Prufrock’s psychological breakdown is his insecurities. Prufrock has low self-esteem shown from his constant second guessing (“Do I dare?…Do I dare?”). His insecurities fuels him to be self-aware and fearful of what others think of him. This is shown in line 122 in the poem, “Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? / I shall wear white flannel trousers…” and also in line 40, “With a bald spot in the middle of my hair / [They will say: “How his hair is growing thin”]”. He self-checks himself constantly of his behaviour, actions and appearance. He fights to find words, to ask questions or to communicate around women. In the poem, Prufrock seems to only be surrounded by women, which is perhaps a telling
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The vision of the two mermaids “singing, each to each” (line 124) has little relation to the previous stanza which talks of growing old. Moreover, the woman Prufrock is harbouring feelings for, the same woman who he is afraid to ask the “overwhelming question” has never been visioned fully, only fragments of her features such as “the eyes” (line 55), “the arms” (line 62) and “long fingers” (line 76). Moreover, these visions presented through the poem changes from physical such as the imageries of urban streets to the abstract such as the consciousness. These fragmented vision mirrors Prufrocks’ breaking of psyche, how he could not stand ground on one thought.
The poem opens with “Let us go then, you and I” which perhaps could refer to Prufrock inviting “you” - his psyche or thoughts with him to the journey that is described in the poem. The poem goes from describing the highs, of the evening sky (line 2) to half-deserted streets (line 4). Prufrock then brings his psyche down to the depths of the sea (line 129) and together with his psyche, they drown. This paints a picture of the downward spiral of Prufrock’s fragile breakdown to a point of no return. Each scene or vision his psyche is imposed on has always been filled with self-doubts, anxiety, fear and
The vision of the two mermaids “singing, each to each” (line 124) has little relation to the previous stanza which talks of growing old. Moreover, the woman Prufrock is harbouring feelings for, the same woman who he is afraid to ask the “overwhelming question” has never been visioned fully, only fragments of her features such as “the eyes” (line 55), “the arms” (line 62) and “long fingers” (line 76). Moreover, these visions presented through the poem changes from physical such as the imageries of urban streets to the abstract such as the consciousness. These fragmented vision mirrors Prufrocks’ breaking of psyche, how he could not stand ground on one thought.
The poem opens with “Let us go then, you and I” which perhaps could refer to Prufrock inviting “you” - his psyche or thoughts with him to the journey that is described in the poem. The poem goes from describing the highs, of the evening sky (line 2) to half-deserted streets (line 4). Prufrock then brings his psyche down to the depths of the sea (line 129) and together with his psyche, they drown. This paints a picture of the downward spiral of Prufrock’s fragile breakdown to a point of no return. Each scene or vision his psyche is imposed on has always been filled with self-doubts, anxiety, fear and