The Lovesong Of J Alfred Prufrock Analysis

As the American literary and artistic movement transitioned from a Romantic sense of Realism, Modernism was brought forth as a means to oppose rational, enlightenment views and devoid their meanings. During this Modernist Era, America culture also witnessed a shift from these rational views to the promotion of one’s image, desire for entertainment and increased leisure time, and equal treatment of women and men. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot criticizes this American culture by suggesting that Americans are too myopic and self-absorbed in their appearances. George Bellows’ “Both Members of This Club” also criticizes American culture by exploiting the immortality of sources of entertainment and leisure time. And in one of Mary Cassatt's paintings from Modern Woman, Cassatt glorifies American culture through the promotion of equal treatment of both genders. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot criticizes this American culture by suggesting that Americans are too myopic and self-absorbed in their appearances. Prufrock, the narrator, is a very timid and hesitant man who does not wish …show more content…
The painting shows these women holding the fruits of knowledge and they are not being shunned for this act. Cassatt alludes to this tree of knowledge to show the celebration of women's increasing right to education. However, Cassatt does not fully depart from the tradition status quo because the women are fully dressed in a contemporary fashion. The effect of this is that although she depicts women engaging in a familiar activity, the activity is leading a sense of individualism or radical feminism to these women. She essentially challenges the ambivalent views of other Modernist artists who promoted equal treatment of both sexes, but yet perceived female inadequacies in terms of knowledge and the