J Alfred Prufrock
J Alfred PrufrockLove, Lust or Lackluster Lifestyle?
�The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock� demonstrates the effects of social and economic
pressure in the life of a Victorian man. T.S. Eliot shows us, in an ironic monologue, how the
reality of age and social position paralyzes his character with fear. The poem opens with six lines
from Dante�s �Infernio�. This particular stanza explains that the speaker is in hell and the message
can only be told to someone else in hell. The speaker tells us that it is OK for the listener to hear
the message, since in order to hear you must already be in hell and no one ever returns from there.
So the message will never leave. I believe Eliot uses this message to infer that only a reader who
understands the loneliness and desperation of Prufrock can truly understand the poem. However,
in my research, I have found as many different interpretations of the poem as I have found
readers. Most agree; however, that Prufrock is speaking to the reader when he says �you and
I�(Line 1). Many readers also agree that Prufrock is a lonely man, but what type of company he
desires seems to vary greatly. Interpretations include sex, social company, long term love, and
even death. I believe Prufrock yearns for the sense of belonging, both with a female and with his
society. He struggles with issues of sex, age and social change.
The beginning lines of the poem(1-25) paint for a very descriptive picture of the street
where Prufrock is walking. It also alerts the reader of Prufrock�s distaste for this area and this
society. He describes it as �have deserted�,�muttering�.�one-night cheap hotels� and �sawdust
restaurants�.(5-7) He contrasts that with his destination of a �room where women come and
go/Talking of Michelangelo�(13&14). Prufrock doesn�t give the reader much insight into his
thoughts until line 26. From this line forward, we get a glimpse of what it must be like to be
Prufrock. He tells us �There will be time, there will be time/ To prepare a face to meet the faces
that you meet�(27-28), indicating repression. He must �prepare� himself mentally to be able to
put on the correct social image before he makes his �visit�(12). The rest of the poem simply
reinforces his struggle between the way he would like to be and the reality of his life. He begins to
ponder the �overwhelming question�(11) of whether or not he could have a romantic interlude
with one of the ladies he is gong to visit, but the socially acceptable and slightly neurotic side of
him emerges and he quickly switches his thoughts to his thinning hair. I believe he is trying to
gather the courage to approach one of these ladies (42-43&45-46) but looses the courage as
quickly as it came to him. He then laments about his indecision and lack of courage, �in a minute
there is time/ For decision and revisions with a minute will...
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