Exploring T.S. Eliot and "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

 

Summary of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

Introduction

T.S. Eliot remains one of the most influential poets of the 20th century, renowned for his innovative contributions to modernist poetry. This newsletter delves into his life, views on poetry, and a close examination of his seminal work, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

T.S. Eliot: A Literary Titan

• Life and Legacy:

1. Born on 26 September 1888 in St. Louis, Missouri, Eliot later settled in Britain, becoming a British citizen in 1927.
2. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (1948) and the Order of Merit for his transformative impact on poetry.
3. Died on 4 January 1965, leaving behind a legacy as a poet, playwright, and critic.

• Key Works:

1. The Waste Land (1922)
2. The Hollow Men (1925)
3. Ash Wednesday (1930)
4. Four Quartets (1943)
5. Murder in the Cathedral (1935)

• Philosophy on Poetry:

1. Believed poetry should reflect the complexities of modern civilization.
2. Emphasized the poet’s duty to preserve and extend language, not merely serve social functions.

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock": A Masterpiece of Modernism

• Publication and Background:

1. Written in 1910–1911, published in 1915 in Poetry magazine.
2. Set in pre-World War I Britain, capturing the disillusionment of modern urban life.

• Title and Epigraph:

1. Originally titled "Prufrock Among the Women," inspired by an advertisement for William Prufrock Furniture Company.
2. Epigraph from Dante’s Inferno, symbolizing Prufrock’s trapped, inarticulate state.

Summary of "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

Plot Overview:

The poem follows J. Alfred Prufrock, a middle-aged, insecure man, as he wanders through a decaying urban landscape, contemplating whether to approach a woman at a social gathering. His indecision, self-doubt, and fear of rejection paralyze him, leading to a stream of fragmented thoughts about his inadequacies, aging, and unfulfilled desires. The poem ends with Prufrock resigning himself to a life of insignificance, drowning in his own existential dread.

Themes

1. Alienation and Isolation:

• Prufrock feels disconnected from society, observing life as an outsider ("I have measured out my life with coffee spoons").
• The urban setting (fog, smoky streets) mirrors his emotional detachment.

2. Fear of Judgment and Inadequacy:

• Obsessed with how others perceive him ("They will say: ‘How his hair is growing thin!’").
• Anxiety over aging and physical decline ("I grow old… I grow old…").

3. Indecision and Paralysis:

• Overthinking prevents action ("Do I dare disturb the universe?").
• His hesitance symbolizes the modern man’s spiritual and emotional stagnation.

4. Time and Mortality:

• Repetition of "there will be time" mocks his procrastination.
• The poem’s circular structure reflects futility and inevitability of death.

Style and Literary Techniques

1. Dramatic Monologue:

• Prufrock speaks directly to an implied listener, revealing his neuroses and vulnerabilities.

2. Stream of Consciousness:

• Fragmented thoughts mimic the chaos of the modern mind.

3. Imagery and Symbolism:

• "Yellow fog" = Cowardice and mental obscurity.
• "Mermaids" = Unattainable desires.
• "Coffee spoons" = Monotony of life.

4. Allusions:

• References to Hamlet (indecision), Michelangelo (high culture vs. Prufrock’s inadequacy), and Dante’s Inferno (eternal suffering).

5. Irregular Meter and Rhyme:

• Free verse with sudden shifts in rhythm mirror Prufrock’s erratic thoughts.

Character Analysis: J. Alfred Prufrock

• Personality:

1. Timid and Self-Conscious: Obsessed with others’ opinions, he retreats into introspection.
2. Intellectual Yet Ineffectual: Well-read (quoting Dante, Shakespeare) but paralyzed by doubt.
3. Emotionally Stunted: Fear of intimacy ("Do I dare to eat a peach?" symbolizes repressed desires).

• Role in Modern Literature:

1. Embodies the "anti-hero" of modernism—a man crippled by his own mind rather than external forces.
2. Contrasts Romantic ideals; Eliot presents urban decay and psychological fragmentation.

• Symbolism:

1. His name ("Prufrock") sounds stiff and artificial, reflecting his constrained existence.
2. The "overwhelming question" he never asks represents life’s unanswerable dilemmas.

Eliot’s Prufrock is a haunting portrait of modern disillusionment, where existential angst and societal pressures crush individuality. The poem’s experimental style—combining colloquial language with dense allusions—revolutionized 20th-century poetry.

Test Your Knowledge!

Which literary figure does Prufrock deny being? 

Answer in the comment