J. Alfred Prufrock asks himself questions that show he is indecisive and unable to act, as in, “Do I dare” (38, 45, 122), “how should I presume” (54, 61,  68), and “how should I begin” (69). The Love-Song of J. Alfred Prufrock By T.S. The poem serves to reveal the personality and mood of the speaker. See in text (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock). The fear of what could have happened was simply too great. J. Alfred Prufrock: J. Alfred Prufrock is a lonely, middle-aged man who moves through a modern, urban environment in a state of confusion and isolation. Yet for Prufrock, the real issue isn’t getting up the nerve to act or figuring out how to begin. Prufrock chooses to sit and brood rather than act because he fears the possibility of misunderstanding and rejection implied by the dreaded words: “That is not it at all, / That is not what I meant, at all” (97-98, 109-110). Prufrock is so complacent that he describes mermaids as ignoring to sing to him. Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. In spite of his melancholy and his tendency toward dramatic monologue, Prufrock does not believe himself to be worthy of a starring role in life, instead relegating himself to a supporting, subservient role as an attendant lord. If the “eternal Footman” is a metaphor for death, this indicates the same sort of vanity exhibited by thumbing his nose at the passage of time. In the first image of the poem, “the evening is spread out against the sky / Like a patient etherised upon a table” (2-3). This line, like the others in the tea scene, is indicative of the discomfort Prufrock feels in social situations and his belief that he needs to put on a "face" or mask in order to fit in. See in text (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock). If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email. In case you can’t find a sample example, our professional writers are ready to help you with writing The poem being a dramatic monologue, most of the speaker’s traits are conveyed directly by himself. You can get your custom paper from In the course of the poem, he makes himself sound as unattractive as possible, indicating that he has low self-esteem, in spite of his literary ability. This unfortunately doesn't help with his social anxiety. However, his experiences of overwhelming confusion and spiritual disconnection are familiar to many modern people. Has found his upward way, I answer thee, Shakespeare's Hamlet is the paragon of paralysis; unable to sort through his waffling, anxious mind, Hamlet makes a decisive action only at the end of "Hamlet." The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock By T. S. Eliot About this Poet T.S. See in text (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock). Prufrock’ character is distinct. our expert writers, Copying content is not allowed on this website, Ask a professional writer to help you with your text, Give us your email and we'll send you the essay you need, Please indicate where to send you the sample, Hi, my name is Jenn In the context of the poem, this allusion suggests that Prufrock either thinks or once thought of himself as a dead man, but that his love interest changes that. One of the most famous lines from the poem, "Do I dare to eat a peach?" This is the first of several examples in the poem where he talks himself out of doing things by viewing and describing them in a negative way. It is impossible to say just what I mean! Get Your Custom Essay on, A Character Analysis of J. Alfred Prufrock, By clicking “Write my paper”, you agree to our, By clicking Send Me The Sample you agree on the, An Analysis of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S Eliot, Explication Of The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufroc, https://graduateway.com/a-character-analysis-of-j-alfred-prufrock/, Get your custom A Character Analysis of J. Alfred Prufrock In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” T. S. Eliot uses imagery, language and metaphor to present Prufrock as a brooding, indecisive and vain man who is unwilling to do the things that would make his life more meaningful. Prufrock as a character does not really grow or change and him not wanting to be a protagonist and rather be a minor role who starts a couple of scenes ties into how he dresses moderately and wishes to not be noticed. J. Alfred Prufrock As the title of the poem announces, the speaker is J. Alfred Prufrock, a fictional lyrical character which can also be associated with a persona of the poet himself. Part of the reason for the inaction is that Prufrock views the activities he suggests negatively. The comparison demonstrates the negative view J. Alfred Prufrock has towards almost everything, and shows how it contributes to his unwillingness to take action. The mermaids of the poem are foils for the women at tea, whom Prufrock disdains because he thinks he knows them already. Nor fear lest infamy record the words. Aside from the question of why Prufrock let love get away from him, there is the question of what could have happened if he had, in fact, spoken his feelings. If true be told me, any from this depth This also fits into the theme of otherness present throughout the poem. He is constantly aware of the flaws of human aging, which in turn builds an attitude of disorientation. This flame should rest unshaken. peach..."  your own paper. The Character of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock There is a lot in the world that there is to question from love, the world, existence, and much more. The characters Alfred Prufrock and Nick Adams are both men who reflect the fears, thoughts, and aspirations of the modern man. J. Alfred Prufrock, fictional character, the indecisive middle-aged man in whose voice Anglo-American poet T.S. Loneliness: It becomes apparent early on in “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” that the titular character is lonely, sexually, romantically and existentially. Find full texts with expert analysis in our extensive library. In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” T. S. Eliot uses imagery, language and metaphor to present Prufrock as a brooding, indecisive and vain man who is unwilling to do the things that would make his life more meaningful. New      York: Harcourt Brace Janovich, 1979. Cleanth Brooks points to a visualization of the poem akin to cinematic realism: the reader is meant to treat Prufrock as a living/theatrical character who ‘makes his entrance by inviting the reader, whom he seems to accept as inhabiting his own social world, to take a walk with him, a stroll that will take them both to an afternoon tea’ (Brooks 79–80). Prufrock appears to be well educated and affluent; money is one of the few things he doesn't seem to worry about. "Senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo...."  Prufrockian paralysis Paralysis, the incapacity to act, has been the Achilles heel of many famous, mostly male, literary characters. The poem “The Love Song …show more content… Prufrock repeatedly expresses worry about what others will think of his appearances. “Prufrock” is a variation on the dramatic monologue, atype of poem popular with Eliot’s predecessors. Yet his personality is vague enough to embody universal concerns. When he reaches the eighth circle of hell, he sees fallen sinners who are so ashamed of their misdeeds that they do not wish to be remembered at all. Prufrock as a character does not really grow or change and him not wanting to be a protagonist and rather be a minor role who starts a couple of scenes ties into how he dresses moderately and wishes to not be noticed. One aspect of Prufrock's character that stands out in T. S. Eliot's iconic poem is his attitude towards aging and mortality. J. Alfred Prufrock does not feel comfortable in his society, since he is tired of his . | character. The speaker seems to be addressing a potential lover. As Eliot grew older, and particularly after he converted to Christianity, his poetry changed. Owl Eyes is an improved reading and annotating experience for classrooms, book clubs, and literature lovers. Not surprisingly, he doesn’t go out, Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels, And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells: (4-7). He's clearly a cultivated man as well, effortlessly able to quote various writers. Prufrock has “seen the moment of my greatness flicker,” but he is too vain to see how small and weak he appears by failing to act (84). The poem is the earliest of Eliot’s major works. Prufrock as a character does not really grow or change and him not wanting to be a protagonist and rather be a minor role who starts a couple of scenes ties into how he dresses moderately and wishes to not be noticed. For example in “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, the evening is compared to a patient lying on an operation table and endless streets are compared to irritating, monotonous arguments. Who ever could return unto the world, "Prince Hamlet..."  Right from the start of the poem, the narrator begins suggesting he and his companion do things, but they never do them. Prufrock is so complacent that he describes mermaids as ignoring to sing to him. Prufrock has an “inferiority complex” of sorts, rendering him unable to enter a romantic situation with women. is an example of Prufrock's inability to allow himself to feel pleasure or engage in a pleasant social activity. In … Prince Hamlet is the titular character of Shakespeare's famous play. Prufrock is so complacent that he describes mermaids as ignoring to … Help, Use multiple resourses when assembling your essay, Get help form professional writers when not sure you can do it yourself, Use Plagiarism Checker to double check your essay, Do not copy and paste free to download essays. peach...". Though Prufrock's assumes that other people will belittle him and speak with disdain of his bald spot and his clothes, these lines suggest that he actually has a grandiose opinion of himself, likely stemming from his intelligence and his belief in his intellectual superiority. Prufrock's acute consciousness of his age is thus the classic symptom of Eliot's philosophical and literary problem. Prufrock’s preoccupations with his balding head and his banter over afternoon tea provide the outlines of an identity. Browse Library, Teacher Memberships The imagery of Mr. Prufrock's thoughts provide the audience a more detailed insight into his character than had Mr. Eliot simply listed Mr. Prufrock's virtues and flaws. Somebody who shows little confidence in themselves. Since the traveler through Hell believes that no one will ever report his story, he feels free to tell it without shame. Three things characterize thedramatic monologue, according to M.H. Lazarus of Bethany, aka Saint Lazarus, was purportedly raised from the dead by Jesus, who was a great friend of his. (32-34). Similarly, Prufrock doesn't believe that anyone will care about his story, so he feels equally free to admit his embarrassment, awkwardness, and alienation. A Character Analysis of J. Alfred Prufrock. Allusions in Prufrock #1: Epigraph from Dante’s Inferno Dante Alighieri, the author and a main character of The Divine Comedy, undertakes a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. 3-9. The simile compares the evening to a paralyzed, unconscious individual about to undergo some sort of surgery or medical treatment. | What he really wonders about taking action is “Would it have been worthwhile,” (90, 100, 106). For example, Prufrock is obsessed with appearance and age and he exhibits poor communication skills. 2. He also appears vain when he notes that he “knows them all” with regards to time, voices, eyes and arms. But since ne'er, School Memberships, © 2021 OwlEyes.org, Inc. All Rights Reserved. J. Alfred Prufrock and You. Prufrock finds himself haunted by women, by their judgments and withheld affections. Eliot started writing "Prufrock Among the Women" in 1909 as a graduate student at Harvard. The entire fourth stanza is dedicated to this excuse for inaction: And time for all the works and days of hands (28-29), Before the taking of a toast and tea. Eliot, T. S. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” The Waste Land and Other Poems. Prufrock notes, “I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker. Yet his personality is vague enough to embody universal concerns. Prufrock’s preoccupations with his balding head and his banter over afternoon tea provide the outlines of an identity. The monologue is addressed to another person or people, whom we know only from the words of the poem. Eliot wrote the dramatic monologue “ The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock ” (1917). Prufrock's body is presented as a text, for he literally carries the burden of the past on his body—in the lines, the thinning hair and arms and legs, and other signs of … He not only feels anxious around women, but also feels emotionally distant from the rest of society, causing him to live an awkward, lonely life, full of depression and gloom. / And in short, I was afraid,” but he still isn’t moved to take action (85). Not only is there all the time in the world to act, there is plenty of time for more indecisiveness and brooding, too. Mr. Prufrock is seen as an exaggeration or extreme for the sake of literary commentary, but the world has many Prufrocks in many differing degrees, and T. S. Eliot has made them a little easier to understand. Prufrock spends the entire poem trying to explain this. Eliot grew up. Published in 1915, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is a symbolic poem which reflects the condition and mood of the modern city dwellers. See in text (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock). "I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each..."  Third, the pri… See in text (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock). In … His character, J. Alfred Prufrock, represents all characteristics of a modern man that Eliot loathes. Writers and artists dedicate what they do to show us what the world was like at a certain point through their eyes. That question is what ultimately kept Prufrock from ever acting. Join for Free He prefers women with a sense of mystery, he implies, but he doesn't think he can actually attract one. The speaker is not the poet, but a person reflecting on a specific situation. "To prepare a face..."  Essay, Ask Writer For The first Prufrock longs to gain his lady’s attention, wishes to swim with the mermaids, is the eternal romantic at heart; the second Prufrock is the cautious realist, aware of his growing age, his bald spot on head, his thinning physique, his ordinary mundaneness. (2017, Feb 18). Attempting to find a place for himself in the cosmos, Prufrock asks, “Do I dare / Disturb the universe?”, "I am Lazarus..."  By Eliot's standards, a poem must sound conversational. The title character of “Prufrock” is a perfect example: solitary, neurasthenic, overly intellectual, and utterly incapable of expressing himself to the outside world. One of the poem's central themes is social anxiety and how it affects Prufrock's ability to interact with those around him. J. Alfred Prufrock justifies not taking action by insisting there is plenty of time to act, so there’s no need to do so right now. This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper, Senior Editor. Too indecisive to act and to be confident with the ladies. Though he wrote the poem in his early twenties, Eliot remarked that “It was partly a dramatic creation of a man of about 40 I should say, and partly an expression of feeling of my own through this dim imaginary figure.” Prufrock’ character is distinct. The poet further portrays Prufrock as a person whose concern is time and its effect on his relationship with people, especially females in his society. T.S. 3. Here, the adjectives “half-deserted,” “muttering,” “restless,” and “cheap” demonstrate J. Alfred Prufrock’s negativity. This epigraph is taken from Dante's Inferno (XXVII, 61–66) and may be translated as: If I did think, my answer were to one, Dramatic monologuesare similar to soliloquies in plays. Despite these advantages, he is powerfully insecure. Throughout the poem, Eliot has portrayed Prufrock as a person with many character traits. J. Alfred Prufrock’s attitude towards time reflects his vanity, as if the constraints of mortality don’t apply to him. See in text (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock). "Do I dare to eat a Abrams. J. Alfred Prufrock is the sort of man who can never muster up “the strength to force the moment to its crisis” (80). Eliot, the 1948 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, is one of the giants of modern literature, highly distinguished as a poet, literary critic, dramatist, and editor and publisher. First, they are theutterances of a specific individual (not the poet) at a specific momentin time. Privacy | Terms of Service, Endpaper from Journeys Through Bookland, Charles Sylvester, 1922, "I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each...", "Do I dare to eat a The name J. Alfred Prufrock is ironic and not romantic, giving insight to the character relation to the opposite sex. It picks up on the previous water imagery ("silent seas," "pools") and adds a fantastical element. This fear and frustration is expressed in line 104, “It is impossible to say just what I mean!”. All you need to do is fill out a short form and submit an order. Retrieved from https://graduateway.com/a-character-analysis-of-j-alfred-prufrock/, This is just a sample. "Disturb the universe..."  The name of Prufrock Littau, a local furniture store appeared in an advertisement in St. Louis, Missouri, in the first decade of the present century. Somebody who is afraid of asking girls out; An indecisive person Based off the character of J. Alfred Prufrock in a poem by T.S Eliot "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy", Don't use plagiarized sources. This is one of the most famous lines from the poem. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy, The input space is limited by 250 symbols, A Character Analysis of  J. Alfred Prufrock. At t… He revised it over the next couple of years, changing the title to "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" along the way.First published in the Chicago magazine Poetry in June 1915, "Prufrock" later headlined Eliot's first book of poetry, Prufrock and Other Observations (1917). Prufrock’s character is described in the poem titled The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S Elliot while the character Nick is common in several of Ernest Hemingway’ stories. This poem is a dramatic monologue, a form made famous by 19th-century British poet Robert Browning (1812–89) in such works as "My Last Duchess." The dramatic monologue has three attributes: 1. Eliot. He's proud of his elegant clothes, and he knows how to dress for different occasions. See in text (The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock). The poem consists of the musings of Prufrock, a weary middle-aged man haunted by the feeling that he has lost both youth and happiness: “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” “Prufrock” was both Eliot’s first major publication and the first masterpiece of modernism in English. His negative view of the world, doubts about misunderstanding, fear of rejection, vanity and weakness are expressed by the poet in language, imagery and metaphor. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Prufrock compares himself to 'an attendant lord', an unnamed character who only has a few scattered lines in the play. However, his experiences of overwhelming confusion and spiritual disconnection are familiar to many modern people. Similarly, the name of ‘Prufrock’ has been taken to symbolize both everything – Prufrock as an intelligent, farcical character, emasculated by the literary world and its bluestockings – and nothing at all – Prufrock as part of Prufrock-Litton, a furniture store in Missouri, where T.S. J. Alfred Prufrock is a middle-aged and indecisive intellectual man who calls the reader on a trail of a modern city. Modernism was the movement after Romantic era where the emphasis The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock can be challenging to understand, and readers will have a variety of interpretations of the material. The changes he made to the years’ account for the fragmentation of the poem. Secondly, the monologue is specifically directed at a listeneror listeners whose presence is not directly referenced but is merelysuggested in the speaker’s words. 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Through Hell believes that no one will ever report his story, he feels to! Will think of his he notes that he describes mermaids as ignoring to sing to him in a social... Character, J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S prefers women with a sense of mystery, he implies, but person... Are theutterances of a modern city and his companion do things, but copying text forbidden! You need this or any Other sample, we can send it to character of prufrock via.... In the play, as if the constraints of mortality don ’ t moved to take action ( 85....