“Till human voices wake us, and we drown” (Bartle by). The sounds of the last line of T.S. Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, Prufrock couldn’t be farther away from love. By analyzing the themes and imagery along with the overall form of the poem, we will see if this poem has a title that relates to what it represents – a love story. Although the main character in Eliot’s poem uses the word love, this poem is centralized around a human living in a modernized society.
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock starts with an insert from Durante “Dante” degli Aligheri’s Inferno, written in Italian. The passage, coming from Canto 27, is narrated by Guido la Montefeltro who is trapped in burning hell (Princeton University). Due to the fact …show more content…
Throughout the entire poem, we see the character stroll through different settings and fragmentations, struggling with find the answer to this “question”. Prufrock seems to be immensely insecure and oversensitive. He fights to find a clear way to communication (example: “And how should I begin?” (Eliot, 69)) , to find his words and to ask questions. As we read through the poem, we are left confused, unsure of direction, but yet unnervingly comforted by the offbeat, repetitive rhymes. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is haunting as it brings readers through physical (i.e. city streets) and possibly scientific elements like his consciousness.
Prufrock begins the poem by instructing his audience: “Let us go, you and I” (Eliot, 1). This establishes the dramatics in Eliot’s writing and also creates a monologue between Prufrock and his audience. It is unknown if Prufrock is speaking to us as readers or to a behind-the-scenes audience. There is also possibility that he is talking and debating with himself. The title of the poem would suggest that he is talking to an audience; an audience of just whom or what ever he is affection for – either in person or in his mind as he mentally prepares to talk out …show more content…
Moving on, Prufrock starts revealing his apprehensions and what he is unsure of. He admits that he feels fear and under pressure from the overwhelming question. He reassures himself that “there will be time” and that he can “turn back and descend the stair” (Eliot, 37 -39). Consistently, Prufrock attempts to ask the question but becomes too ‘chicken’ to follow through. He awkwardly covers not asking the overwhelming question with a series of redundant questions: “Shall I part my hair behind?”, “Do I dare eat a peach?” (Eliot, 122). This brings bad attention to his overwhelming question and raises questions to what the question is. Prufrock anticipates a negative response from whomever he asks the question too – this shows great lacks in confidence: “that is not what I meant at all; that is not it, at all,” (Eliot,
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock starts with an insert from Durante “Dante” degli Aligheri’s Inferno, written in Italian. The passage, coming from Canto 27, is narrated by Guido la Montefeltro who is trapped in burning hell (Princeton University). Due to the fact …show more content…
Throughout the entire poem, we see the character stroll through different settings and fragmentations, struggling with find the answer to this “question”. Prufrock seems to be immensely insecure and oversensitive. He fights to find a clear way to communication (example: “And how should I begin?” (Eliot, 69)) , to find his words and to ask questions. As we read through the poem, we are left confused, unsure of direction, but yet unnervingly comforted by the offbeat, repetitive rhymes. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is haunting as it brings readers through physical (i.e. city streets) and possibly scientific elements like his consciousness.
Prufrock begins the poem by instructing his audience: “Let us go, you and I” (Eliot, 1). This establishes the dramatics in Eliot’s writing and also creates a monologue between Prufrock and his audience. It is unknown if Prufrock is speaking to us as readers or to a behind-the-scenes audience. There is also possibility that he is talking and debating with himself. The title of the poem would suggest that he is talking to an audience; an audience of just whom or what ever he is affection for – either in person or in his mind as he mentally prepares to talk out …show more content…
Moving on, Prufrock starts revealing his apprehensions and what he is unsure of. He admits that he feels fear and under pressure from the overwhelming question. He reassures himself that “there will be time” and that he can “turn back and descend the stair” (Eliot, 37 -39). Consistently, Prufrock attempts to ask the question but becomes too ‘chicken’ to follow through. He awkwardly covers not asking the overwhelming question with a series of redundant questions: “Shall I part my hair behind?”, “Do I dare eat a peach?” (Eliot, 122). This brings bad attention to his overwhelming question and raises questions to what the question is. Prufrock anticipates a negative response from whomever he asks the question too – this shows great lacks in confidence: “that is not what I meant at all; that is not it, at all,” (Eliot,