J Alfred Prufrock Masculinity

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot is a poem I would not recommend anyone still trying to hang on to his or her youth. T. S. Eliot’s poem, about a man named J. Alfred Prufrock, is a pessimistic poem looking at the seemingly wasted life of an aging man. The poem is told from the viewpoint of a very sad man named J. Alfred Prufrock. The poem takes place in the city of St. Louis, which T. S. Eliot does not portray in a very good light. T. S Eliot’s creation of a depressing mood, powerful metaphors, and the character of J. Alfred Prufrock all result in a very disheartening poem, not enjoyable to the middle-aged reader, especially male readers.

Eliot begins “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by using an epigram from Dante’s Inferno to set the theme of the poem. By alluding to a story about a journey through Hell, readers can infer that Prufrock will also take readers on a journey through Hell, only this time it is a living hell. Upon examining the first couple of stanzas, it is clear that Prufrock is afraid of living his life, so much so, that time has become illusory to him. Eliot writes, “Time for you and me, and time for a hundred indecisions, and for a hundred visions and revisions, before the taking of a toast and tea” (369). The poetic device of repetition to portray never-ending time proves Prufrock fools himself into believing he has all the time in the

As T.S Eliot writes “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, he gives insight into a “modern man”. This modern man is recognized not only by his looks, but also by his boredom and isolation with the subject of love. As this song progresses it is easy to see that these aspects play a part into his whole life. Prufrock is not only searching for love, but is also learning much about himself during the process.

T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” illustrates the poet’s fear of the fragmentation of modern society. In the poem, Eliot creates the persona of his speaker, J. Alfred Prufrock. Prufrock is speaking to an unknown listener. The persona of Prufrock is Eliot’s interpretation of Western society and its impotency at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. His views are modernistic, which idolize the classical forms while incorporating new ideas about psychology and the subconscious. Eliot illustrates his contempt for the faithlessness of modern society by illustrating its fragmentation with synecdoche, characterization of Prufrock, and allusions to literary traditions throughout the narrative. In his poem, Eliot illustrates his view of a great tradition that he is witnessing as it falls apart.

Society gives us a set of unspoken rules and regulations that must be abided by or else society becomes ones own worst enemy; thus is Eliot's' message in his poem, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." This poem has been given a cynical voice in which Eliot tries to convey his message of modern society and its expectations. He is in a position in which he knows what the flaws in society are but does not have the courage or the ability to convey the message to the rest of the people. He fears what "they" might say and how "they" will treat him, will ruin him if he exploits society. Eliot gives evidence of the mockery society exhibits in line 41: "They will say: `How

¨The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock¨, a poem by T.S. Eliot, was written shortly after WW1, a war that left millions dead or scarred for life. The subject of this poem, J. Alfred Prufrock is a victim of this terrible event. After the war, his life has drastically changed. Feelings of insignificance, looking a fool, and growing old are all characterized by Eliot’s repetition for effect, ambiguity, and allusion.

In the struggle of everyday life, taking a somewhat small risk can sometimes feel like an incredibly daunting task. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot describes one such experience as a man, Prufrock, describes his evening with a woman with whom he’d like to be in a relationship with. However the task of bringing this up to the woman appears too daunting for Prufrock, and as his insecurities overtake him, he fails to gather the courage to ask her. “The use of allusion in the love song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by Andrew McCulloch analyzes several literary allusions throughout “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and eventually comes to the conclusion that only those who relate to the poem will gain full emotional satisfaction from it. The article begins by giving a brief description of modernism in literature and how “The Love Song Of J.

The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock is a long and challenging poem that seems rather disjointed and confusing upon first reading. It seems as though us readers will never understand the deeper meaning of the poem without getting inside Eliot's head and seeing his thought process for ourselves. However, through digging deeper and examining the piece closer we can find that this is meant to be an ironic and tragic tale of a man who feels isolated and incapable of decisive action. It is ironically called a "love song" because Prufrock longs to profess love and affection to a woman, but is too afraid to do it.

“The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot is an excellent short poem about a man reflecting back on his life and realizing that he is alone and might possibly die alone. Eliot uses a variety of symbols, metaphors, and great diction to convey that Prufrock is unsatisfied with his life, especially his love life.

T.S. Eliot was one among few poets and authors that dominated the years between the First and Second World Wars. Eliot showed his use of modernism techniques through “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, creating a powerful reputation around the world, particularly as a member of The Lost Generation in the 1920s. Eliot moved to and settled in London where he worked with famous poets including Ezra Pound, and published his first collection of poems (McMichael 1358). “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is a famous work that was almost a mockery of the romance-driven main character of the story, as it represented the indecisiveness of a personality and the superiority of an anti-romanticism ideal.

“The Love Song of J, Alfred Prufrock” by T.S Eliot is a poem about anxiety. The poem explores the social and introspective aspects of Prufrock’s life as the poem’s narrative follows him on a journey through his city. Eliot uses simile, figurative imagery, free verse, and a first person voice to tell a story about anxiety.

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot is a poem that is popular among many college students because they can relate to it. The poem is about Prufrock and his thoughts. He is an extremely odd character, maybe even neurotic. Prufrock worries constantly about what others think of him and this makes him vain and selfish. College students can relate to The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock because many students manipulate others like Prufrock did to the reader in the poem.

Ironically the title talks about love and romance while in reality there is no love develops throughout the poem. The direct reference of the title was from the furniture company in St.Louis where Eliot happened to observe through his early years at St.Louis Missouri,thus, title casts light on the industrial advancement in America and Europe . About the significance of the title of the poem Williamson commented that “The mixture of levity and seriousness immediately confronts the reader in the title of the fist volume for he transposes his epigraph from the serious context of Dante’s Inferno to the lighter context of Prufrock’s love song” (Williamson, 1966,

In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, T.S. Eliot allows readers to observe the thoughts of a man overwhelmed with anxiety. The main character, J. Alfred Prufrock, struggles with his thoughts about social interactions with women while on his way to visit someone. Because of his perspective of women, Prufrock is unable to interact with women as an average person would. Despite his desire to interact with women, Prufrock’s anxiety and assumptions control the way his situations play out.

By calling this poem a “love song”, Eliot creates a sense of irony. When hearing the words love song, most people imagine beautiful imagery and breathtaking metaphors. Eliot’s word choice despites a world of uncertainty, insecurity, and loneliness. “When the evening is spread out against the sky. Like a patient etherized upon a table.” A patient who is “etherized” is completely vulnerable. One can’t move or speak or protest. They are naked and scared. Their lives are completely in another’s hands. Love makes Prufrock feel this exact way. He is confused and scared. He has no control over how others feel about him. He feels if he risks loving someone, he will be “etherized” in his own way. He will be lying on the table hoping the other person is willing to take his life in their hands. This is something he is unsure he even wants. Prufrock is so crippled by his own insecurity that he isn’t willing to put himself out there. He even questions his own intent when he states,”To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?” The decision to use the word dare makes readers question why is love such a risk for him? Readers understand that he is self-conscious when he explains, “They will say: “How his hair is growing thin.” He is worried that the women will just laugh at his insecurities.