The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock

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When analyzing this poem and J.Alfred Prufrock and the difference to his classy social circle, where time is essence and it is suspended to reflects his aging weariness. He has catered to the the proprieties of high society for years, and seems to remain unaware of how time has put in him the same emptiness into his own nature, in (lines 49-62) he quickly mentions “for I have known them all already, know them all, I know the voices with a dying fall, and I have known the eyes already, known them all, and I have know the arms already, known them all.” These lines show the relation of Prufrock in how he is part of the societal circle, and has shared the shallowness of how he finds repulsive in his own peers. I think Prufrock comprehends his inability to “disturb the universe” as mentioned in previous lines, when he puts into consideration how he will his romantic interest, but realizes his leisurely way of his life, and has left him unprepared for responsibilities that have to do with change.

J.Alfred Prufrock speaks on the party scene, but he does not speak to no one, as the scene begins to unwrap in his mind, he tends to be speechless because of the scrutiny of cultured society. In (lines 55-59) we see the stanza where it reads “the eyes that you in a formulated phrase, and I am formulated, spawning pin when I am pinned and wriggling on the wall, then how should I begin?” within this line/stanza prufrock is reduced to a bug under the scrutiny of his peers; their approval pins him down, and renders him unable to ask his question. He is tense and exited about the question changing lis life, but he well knows how his self conscious will affect him. He is certain if he asks his question, and reveals his feelings, he will not be comprehended. I believe he believes he would be treated as a fool. He comes into decision that it not worth the effort after all this is proof in (lines 84-87) he mentions “he is not a prophet and here's no great matter, I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker, and I have seen the eternal footman hold my coat, and snicker, and in short he was afraid.” In this stanza we see how Prufrock's insecurities in other words his fears deny his wishes. He is well aware of the approval that he comes from a carefree, futile, class of people. He has heard them talk for years and knows only fashion, appearance, art, and style are deemed worthy of discussion. Prufrock listened so long on the fact that he could not hear the voices anymore. The fact that he was capable of only hear voices dying with a dying fall, not unlike the unidentified sound of music playing in the other room, but this seems to be fine with him, because he is in his own world and he feels comfortably.

Although this poem “The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock” the start and ending was quite shocking because of the questions he was always asking him self, and always feeling sorry for him self, to put an end to my analysis, I believe Prufrock knows he will not be a preacher as the quality of Hamlet or Lazarus, and to escape reality I think he thinks he is better off in a world of fantasy. However Prufrock is a man searching for his identity, and seeking the meaning of his existence through out this poem.

Work Cited

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. "The Love Song Of J.Alfred Prufrock." Literature: Reading, reacting, writing. 7th ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. 1017.