J. Alfred Prufrock Allusions

T.S Eliot, known infamously for his new take on poetry and being a modern poet could be labeled as one of the most famous poets to use the literary element of allusion. He was able to put in references from other famous poets and scripture in his works so cunningly, that to the naked eye, they are easy to miss. Some critics may regard that the use of allusions is an inadequacy of the poet, judge them as a poet who cannot write their own words, so that they dare to use the time-proven words of other poets. However in the case of T.S. Eliot, he seems to believe that he can inspire his readers to expand their horizons by allusions. T.S. Eliot himself wrote, “immature poets imitate; mature poets steal" (The Sacred Wood). He himself believed that

In interpreting the respected poems, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, “The Wasteland” and “The Hollow Men”, the validity of Eliot’s statement will be thoroughly examined.
As soon as “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” begins, the epigraph is a six-line quotation from Canto XXVII of the Inferno by the renaissance Italian Poet Dante Alighieri. It comes from a speech of Guido Da Montefeltro, who is of the damned, the context that relates to Prufrock is that Guido believes his hearer will remain in hell and be unable to retell his story. This epigraph serves to cast ironic light on Prufrock’s actual intent. The epigraph suggests that like that of Guido, Prufrock, who is singing his “love song”, may be concerned about his reputation if anyone were to hear his true feelings, so he only presents his emotions, without fear of infamy. As the poem continues a dark undertone lies along the belly of this poem, it sounds

Then for lines 111-119, there is the clear allusion to Hamlet. “ No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will do”(111-112). Hamlet, the protagonist, famous for his indecisions while plotting to avenge the murder of his father, is like that of Prufrock in that the latter is also indecisive, however Prufrock views himself as Polonius. Polonius known for running on sentences and incorporating important sounding words to say what most people could say in a simple declarative sentence can be seen as foolish. His pedantry makes him a joke to some people. Prufrock is constantly worried that the words he speaks will also make him come off as a fool, which plays as yet another restraint against him talking to women. With this comparison, Prufrock finally seems aware of himself as he is