The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock

The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, observes a man as he moves through various, fragmented scenes and struggles with one overwhelming question (line 10). The poem's speaker, whom we can assume to be J. Alfred Prufrock, is insecure, neurotic, and hypersensitive. The poem displays three universal messages, which are depicted by Prufrock while he is expressive throughout the poem; he fights to find words, to ask questions, and to communicate. Communication can be difficult is the first universal message delivered in the poem. The second message would be Intimidation, Intimidated by women Prufrock shows that we might not be a superior force over other people; sometimes other people might intimate us. Driven by anxiety and sexual frustration, he doubts himself and does not accomplish his goal of pursuing a woman. At the end of the poem, he depicts universal message three, realizing that one should not put goals to the side instead one should seize the day because if you hold off things, you will most likely hold it off for life.

The poem conveys a sense of frustration, which leads us into the central issue: the problem of communication. This theme, present thought much of Eliot's work, incorporated into the poem with the help of the never asked question. The speaker cannot get his message across. It does not matter whether the recipient of that message is a lady or not, the fact is that communication fails. The failure of communication is related to the theme of the individual's isolation, loneliness, and estrangement from other people. Prufrock alienates from this world as the "patient etherized upon a table" (line 3). As a human being there are many struggles every person has to endure, Prufrock's personal struggle is being the outsider with a "bald spot" in the middle of his head (line 40). Ultimately the result of being an outsider, in a modernist society, makes it difficult communicating with others. Just like its hard for a 60-year-old to talk with an 18-year-old in today's society. After reading the poem, Prufrock is depicted as an unattractive middle- aged man who grows old (line 120). He is aware of his weakness and disabilities: "I have seen the moment of greatness flicker, and I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat and snicker". (lines 84-85). This statement shows that "Prufrock is conscious of being inferior. He knows he is not Prince Hamlet, and he does not think the mermaids will sing to him."(LaFuente) Knowing that he cannot make a decision, therefore, takes refuge in self-mockery. However, Prufrock is sensitive to criticism. He knows that people around him remark that his arms and legs are growing thin (line 44) therefore have him sprawling on a pin (line 57). Which adds more to his insecurities causing the narrator not to have the confidence to be outgoing and speak to people. Which means he feels trap like a pinned bug, This statement supports the fact that Prufrock is just intimidated by modern society.

Society has a way of evolving throughout time, the one thing that stays constant is people being threatened by others. The reason for this is that individuals are afraid to be different that the norm of society. In the poem "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock", the main character Prufrock is coming up with ways to conform so that he has the confidence to express himself. Another universal message communicated in the poem is that we might not be a mighty force over other people. Sometimes, other people might intimidate us. Prufrock’s deep anxiety in the social world makes him afraid to speak to women and also seems scared by the social posturing he must engage. Prufrock seems not to be able to move forward as he is too afraid to speak to women and obsessed with his insecurities, which make him not be able to achieve his goal of finding love. Throughout the story the narrator uses repetition "Do I dare, Do I dare, Prufrock is debating whether he should talk to what we assume is a girl but thanks to his inability to feel confident he lacks the motivation to get out of his bubble and speak to a woman. Prufrock likes to talk about famous poet Michelangelo. He says that if he were as famous, maybe women would come to him more quickly. Comparing himself to such a famous person makes Prufrock's self-esteem go even lower. Making him question himself if