Literature

THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK

T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock was initially issued in 1915 and then later on was issued in the Eliot’s first book in 1917 as part of Prufrock and Other Observations. The poem is a distinguished for its dramatic monologue and for its irregular form of the rhyme scheme which is apparent throughout the poem. The poem shows how its subject Prufrock feels and this is done in a way that the poet articulates the insecurity of Prufrock towards expressing his feelings. The poem is not commented directly, in order to leave room for the reader to draw his own views and conclusions. The subject of the poem Prufrock speaks in the poem in a way that he can not speak in the real life and Eliot in this case creates a poem which is very delicate and effective toward expressing every mean of Prufrock’s insecurity.

We can see how Prufrock struggles and is frustrated by trying to establish a relationship with a woman. He has been thinking of proposing marriage to a woman who is talking about Michelangelo for quite a considerable time but he had never had the courage to do so. Even in those moments he dreams of doing that and in a way it seems like he is rehearsing his proposal but yet again he can’t do it. He keeps saying to himself “Do I dare?” “Do I dare?” because he is afraid that the people might make fun of him. He also comments on his shyness and his sense of inadequacy by saying “And should I then presume?” And how should I begin? He makes some attempts on what might be the right way to begin by saying “Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets and watched the smoke that rises from the pipes of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows? He thinks that those words would soften the girl’s heart and make her accept the proposal. Along the lines there is indication of Prufrock’s frustration with his poor self-image, his physical appearance and his inability to speak to a woman he...