T.S. Prufrock is an emotional conflicted man in T.S. Prufrock is getting older but he still feels the need for women. He also fears the possibility of being rejected and having a bad relationship. Prufrock’s concern about Prufrock’s physical deterioration is real, although he does not fear his death. Prufrock also believes that his neighbors are gossiping and judging him, making him distant from the outside world. Prufrock’s isolation, lovelessness, and low self-esteem can all be attributed to three symbols: mermaids and bald spot.
T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” opens with a quote from Dante’s Inferno. It reads, “If you thought that I was talking/to someone who will go back to life,/ this fire would cease to burn/ But, since no one ever/ has ever gone back to life from this place,/ I will answer you without fear/ because I know that none of your ears will ever hear my story.” Eliot’s Prufrock is in the same position. He has a story to share, a love song to perform, and he doesn’t dare tell it to the living. Prufrock cannot declare what cannot now that he is out of reach. His inaction has condemned him to a certain kind of hell. This hell is illuminated by yellow light. Yellow is everywhere. Yellow is associated to cowardice. Prufrock’s entire world is colored yellow because it is filled with cowardice. He is unable to express his feelings, and he fears the consequences. Prufrock is a coward. This prison is a prison for cowards. Prufrock would have been in hell if he had actually sung the lyrics. Prufrock clearly had in mind to declare his intention. He had always intended to express the things that were bothering him. He believed he had the ability to do what he wanted, and that he could act on it all the time.
It will, indeed.
You can see the yellow smoke as it slides down the street.
Time will come, time will come
Prepare a face to meet the faces you will be meeting
It will take time to create and murder.
All the time and effort required to complete these tasks.
Time for me and you.
There are still a hundred decisions to be made.
There are a hundred revisions and visions.
Before you take a toast or a cup of tea. (22-34)
Prufrock didn’t realize that his time was limited to take action, but it was. He believed time would be infinite (“There’ll be time, it will be there”), but he was wrong. Prufrock’s words are now being heard, but that is a tragedy. He is not running out of time, but he does have the right to speak his mind. He can’t talk to his beloved woman. He cannot speak to the woman he loves. Prufrock is constantly in turmoil. The previous paragraph’s stanza illustrates this. Prufrock must be prepared to “prepare for a face” in order to be the person he wants to be. It takes more than “taking a cup of tea and toast” to make him feel well. Prufrock is a victim of the chaos caused by his daily actions. He doesn’t know what to do or how to act. He thinks out every word and analyzes it a hundred different times. Fear of social critique paralyzes him.
I’ve seen the eyes before, and they are all mine.
Eyes that are able to see through a formula.
After I have formulated my thoughts, I will lay on top of a pin.
When I’m pinned against the wall and wriggling around on it
How do I start?
To spit out all my butt-ends and days? How can I assume? (54-61)
Prufrock’s image “pinned and wriggling along the wall” gives the impression that he is fully exposed and displayed. He is a specimen that has been primed to be dissected. He is open to peer criticism when on display. Prufrock’s eyes are the eyes of their peers. Prufrock’s social life is a source of extreme distress. He is not able to control his emotions and fears being exposed. It is no surprise that Prufrock has trouble expressing his feelings for a woman. Prufrock’s final question is this: “What is love?” This is the first stanza of the poem: “
Streets that follow like a tedious argument/ Insidious intent/ To guide you to an overwhelming …/Oh no, it is not. ‘” (8-10). The poem’s rest is haunted by the “overwhelming” question. It is obvious that this “overwhelming question” is loaded and will require a lot of work. Prufrock might have considered love a sort of paradise. He chose to give up heaven in favor of hell. This is an inexplicable question. Prufrock spends nearly the whole poem trying explain why. Prufrock spends the entire poem trying to answer the question, “Why did Prufrock let his love go?”. But, it also raises the question, “What if Prufrock had spoken his feelings?” Prufrock was unable to act because of this question. Prufrock was afraid of what might have happened. Prufrock continues to ask, “And was it worth it?” (86). He is unable to articulate himself clearly. He imagines what the outcome of his declarations about love might be.
It was worth it?
One can use a pillow or shawl to make it more comfortable.
Then, turn your attention to the window and say:
“That’s not it!”
It is not what you meant.” (106-110)
Prufrock fears that he might be misunderstood or rejected if he were to express his feelings. Prufrock expressed this fear in “That isn’t what I meant, at any” He runs the chance of being loved by her but not getting back his love. Prufrock doesn’t have the answers to this question. The poem’s climax is reached at the last stanza. Prufrock’s thoughts and speculations are the main focus of the poem. He considers what might have been./ To have bit off the matter with smile/ To have squeezed all of the universe into one …” (90-92). He also gives a rationale for his current situation. “For they all have known me already,/ Have known the mornings, evenings, and afternoons,/ I have measured it all with coffee spoons” (49-51). These thoughts lead to the ultimate question, which is “What’s love?” Prufrock’s greatest fear is that he would speak out to his love, but she responds, “That isn’t it at all/That isn’t what I meant at all” (109-110). Prufrock’s cowardice has been justified in a sense. He has given all the reasons he had for not declaring. He has exposed all parts of his self that he was afraid of showing the world. Prufrock was preparing for the declaration, right up until now. The climax is followed by the inevitable letdown. Prufrock is humble enough to admit his limitations and accepts who it is that he is.
No! No, I’m not Prince Hamlet.
Do you want to be an attendant lord?
Start a scene to increase the progress.
Sometimes, it’s almost unbelievable.
At times, it almost feels like the Fool. (111-113; 118-119)
Like Prufrock, Shakespeare’s Hamlet is affected by great internal conflict. He doesn’t know what to do with his feelings. Both of them are victims to indecision. Prufrock is never able to act on Hamlet’s behalf. Prufrock recognizes that he’s not who he says he really is. Prufrock acknowledges that he isn’t Prince Hamlet. Instead, he will be “the Fool.” That is the greatest disappointment. He will never live up to his potential. Prufrock can’t be happy in the social world. Prufrock’s social expectations and his real self are not compatible. He desires to seamlessly assimilate into the social community. Prufrock says that “I’ve heard the Mermaids sing, each one to each” (124). Prufrock can’t communicate with these mermaids because they are women figures. He hopes that they sing their song. Prufrock argues that they won’t sing to him, but he accepts the situation. Prufrock only sees the mermaids as dreams. He has “lingered among the sea-chambers/ By seagirls decorated with seaweed brown and red/ Till humans awaken us, and then we drown.” He can imagine living among these creatures, until reality strikes him. “Human voices awaken us.”
Prufrock must be brought to the real world. He can’t exist in this world. Only in his hell is he able to speak. He asks the persistent question: “Would that have been worth all this?” Prufrock by Eliot offers a pessimistic look at the interconnection between human insecurity and traditional ideals as well the alienation that the individual experiences. Details of his personalised conflict reflect the fears and anxieties that are still prevalent in today’s world.
