Prufrock

’s Insecurities Essay, Research Paper

J. Alfred Prufrock and His Insecurities

Born in America, T.S. Eliot s relocation to Britain was the first sign of his identity crisis. Eliot was obsessed with anything British, and he also had an internal religious conflict. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is Eliot s way to express his self through a different character. Eliot uses stream of consciousness to put the reader in Prufrock s position. The fragmented thoughts are used to follow Prufrock in his own thought process so they can feel like they are inside his mind. Prufrock is in love with a woman but she is unfortunately of a different class. He uses the poem to analyze his thoughts to see how much he cares for her. In the end, Prufrock decides that it would be best not to tell her how he feels and just lets her go. Eliot uses J. Alfred Prufrock to express his own isolation, loneliness, and sexual repression.

Eliot sometimes felt the need to be a part of the upper class. Prufrock realizes that he doesn t truly belong and that the whole affair is meaningless and superficial, but he still wants to be a part of it. He describes the women, In the room women come and go talking of Michelangelo, (lines 13-14 and 35-36). He says this at least twice throughout the poem, which makes it seem boring and tedious. The reader gets the impression that Prufrock does not like being a member of high society and there is also a possibility that his lady is not a part of the elite. He speaks of having to see her at cheap hotels, which suggest that they can t go anywhere where someone will recognize him. Since Prufrock and his lady are of different classes, he wonders if it would be worth it for them to come together. And would it have been worth it, after all, would it have been worth while, (lines 99-100 and 106). He speaks in the future tense; Would it have been worth it, after all which suggests that it has not yet been done, (line 99). He doesn t want to have to leave his place in society, but he doesn t really want to put her in the uncomfortable position of coming to a higher rank. He knows that she will be judged as coming from a lower class. He doesn t want to subject her to the scrutiny that he underwent and that she will inevitably undergo if they come together, (line 55). Prufrock fears rejection and people s preconceived notions because he has known the eyes already the eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase, (line 55). He is tired of the way rich people make up their minds about others before giving them a fair chance to prove them wrong, and even then they keep you fixed on what their first impression was.

Prufrock knows that most likely he would have to leave his position in society and he s not sure if he wants to. And I have seen the Eternal footman hold my coat, and snicker, (line 85). He has no confidence in his decision and this is why he spends this whole poem trying to figure out how much this decision will count. He wants to know that there will be enough time to take back a decision. And time yet for a hundred indecisions, and for a hundred visions and revisions, (line 32-34). He is not sure if he really wants to leave high society for her and wants to make sure that he can change his mind if he feels the need 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? (line 70-72). He wonders if he should say that he has done these things so that it will appear that he belongs with her. He is not sure if he should leave his place in the social order. Also Prufrock knows that a lot of the society mannerisms are meaningless and redundant. After the cups, the marmalade, the tea, among the porcelain, among some talk of you and me, would it have been worth while, to have bitten off the matter with a smile, (lines 87-91). He knows that it would be easier for them to have a relaxed conversation, but they would not be able to in high society. Would it be worth it for her to move up if they can t relax and enjoy it together?

Prufrock also is afraid that his age is a barrier in the likelihood of this relationship working out. He mentions that he hopes there will be enough time. He says how he would like for their lives to be if they are together, but he knows he cannot predict the future. He knows that people would talk and she would not be very happy. He points out that he is getting older when he refers to his thinning hair. Time to turn back and descend the stair with a bald spot in the middle of my hair, (line 39-40). He doesn t want her to be embarrassed when people talk about how he may be too old to start a relationship. (They will say: How his hair is growing thin! ) (line 42). And the reader also must think, Is there maybe something else wrong with Prufrock that he may be rushing into this relationship because he may not be around for long. Does Prufrock think he is close to his own death?

Prufrock has absolutely no confidence in himself or his abilities to win a love. He is worried that he is not good enough for her. The whole poem is about his doubts and his questions of whether he is enough of a man for another woman. Prufrock feels that he is not a great man, not truly worthy of such a woman as she, (lines 84 and 111-112). He is very fond of this woman, he makes that clear, but he just isn t sure how much. Is it really love or is