The Woes of an Aging Poet

1381 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ts Eliot poetry symbolism

The Woes of an Aging Poet

T. S. Eliot once said, "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." He does not have this mindset when creating his character for his poem "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock". Prufrock is an aging bachelor longing for the love of a woman, but his timidness prevents him from uttering a word beyond his double-sided conscience. Prufrock's lack of self-confidence, disbelief in finding a moral woman, and fear of rejection shows us the internal struggle of the battle between a man's head and heart that ultimately leads to his demise.

Eliot incorporates meaning behind his single character's name. The "J" is after John the Baptist; Although, he hides this name to avoid criticism. Alfred, although a regal name, is quite commonplace. Prufrock is thought to mean a "prude in a frock coat"(Cervo 227). Touchstone, the court jester of Shakespeare's As You Like It, is the "proof rock" that can turn ore into gold. It is a metaphor for something of great quality like wit or sagacity. However, it is a parody; it serves as a 'whetstone for wits'. the idea came from Shakespeare: "Dullness of the fool is the whetstone of wits." (Cervo 228). Prufrock is also a parody of the "true lovers" Touchstone talks about. Despite their similarities, it is unsure that Prufrock understands the last two lines of Touchstone's song: "He that the sweetest rose must find/must find love's prick and Rosealind" (Cervo 228). This is referring the to the white, multi-foliate rose of the blessed in Heaven that is depicted by Dante in Paradiso. This white rose is the thorn-crowned Christian Savior, the "Rosalind" (beautiful rose) of all "true lovers" (Cervo 228). However, it is certain that Prufrock is knowled...

... middle of paper ...

... that he does not stand a chance. he feels neglected and powerless. Eliot’s man could only go as far as the shore line.

Works Cited

Cervo, Nathan A. "Eliot's The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock." Explicator 57.4 (1999): 227. Literary Reference Center. Web. 15 May 2014.

Cervo, Nathan A. "Eliot's THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK." Explicator 60.4 (2002): 207. Literary Reference Center. Web. 15 May 2014.

McCormick, Frank J. "Eliot's THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK And Shakespeare's HAMLET." Explicator 63.1 (2004): 43-47. Literary Reference Center. Web. 15 May 2014.

Ledbetter, James H. "Eliot's The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock." Explicator 51.1 (1992): 41. Literary Reference Center. Web. 15 May 2014.

Trevisan, Sara. "Eliot's The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock." Explicator 62.4 (2004): 221-223. Humanities Source. Web. 15 May 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Comparing Winterbourne and Prufrock

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is about a timid and downcast man in search of meaning, of love, and in search of something to break from the dullness and superficiality which he feels his life to be. Eliot lets us into Prufrock's world for an evening, and traces his progression of emotion from timidity, and, ultimately, to despair of life. He searches for meaning and acceptance by the love of a woman, but falls miserably because of his lack of self-assurance. Prufrock is a man for whom, it seems, everything goes wrong, and for whom there are no happy allowances. The emptiness and shallowness of Prufrock's "universe" and of Prufrock himself are evident from the very beginning of the poem. He cannot find it in himself to tell the woman what he really feels, and when he tries to tell her, it comes out in a mess. At the end of the poem, he realizes that he has no big role in life.

    Read More

  • Pinned to the Wall: J. Alfred Prufrock and the Inability to Change

    1298 Words  | 3 Pages

    T.S. Eliot would later remark, “I’m afraid that J. Alfred Prufrock didn’t have much of a love life” (Southam 47). That is what makes this “love song” so brutal and caustic. For even when change doesn’t matter (FINISH quite atypical of standard romance. a man caught in stasis when (???). ). Even in his fantasies, Prufrock is Prufrock. (LEAD UP TO PINNED TO THE WALL) “, then how should I begin?” (line). The answer is that he can begin in any way he chooses—but it will not matter in the end. No matter his speech and no matter his wardrobe, he will forever be J. Alfred Prufrock—with a love song yet unsung that he believes the world would never want to hear.

    Read More

  • The Lovesong Of J Alfred Prufrock Diction Analysis

    483 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the poem, “The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock”, the author, T.S. Eliot, uses diction and tone to give the poem life, and to make the character seem as anything but mere fiction. Eliot’s use of diction shows that you should not put things off until later in life because in a flash, you may be nearing the end of your journey of life and lose all opportunity to make yourself happy with the decisions you’ve made over the years. . “ In a minute there is time/for decision and revisions/ which/ in a minute/will reverse” (line 47, 48).

    Read More

  • Prufrock by Eliot

    1206 Words  | 3 Pages

    The beginning of the poem is pre -empted by an excerpt from Dante's Inferno which Eliot uses to begin his exploration of Prufrock's self-consciousness. By inserting this quote, a parallel is created between Prufrock and the speaker, Guido da Montefeltro, who is very aware of his position in "hell" and his inability to escape his fate. Prufrock is also very aware of his current status, but doesn't realize until the end that he is unable to rise above it. The issue of his fate leads Prufrock to an "overwhelming question.

    Read More

  • 'The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock'

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    J. Alfred Prufrock is a man who is destined to find the right women to with for the rest of his life. He always holds off finding the perfect women to another day, but time is ticking against him and he does not have much time left. In T.S. Eliot’s, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” Illustrates Prufrock’s inability to interact with women in the coffee shop, fear of being turned down, and the significance of love and time.

    Read More

  • Imageries And Metaphors In The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock

    1246 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Love song of J. Alfred Prufrock is a poem that was written by T. S Eliot. The poem introduces the character, Prufrock, as a man who is very pessimistic about everything and is incapable of change. Prufrock sees the society he lives in as a place that is full of people who think alike, and he thinks he is different from them. Though Prufrock, realizes that the society he is associated with needs a change and have more people who think differently, but the fact that he is very concerned about what people would think of him if he tries to speak up to make a change or that he would be ignored or be misunderstood for whatever he says hindered him from expressing himself the way he would like to. Prufrock then decides not to express himself in order to avoid any type of rejection. In the poem, Prufrock made use of several imagery and metaphor to illustrate how he feels about himself and the society he is involved in. Prufrock use of imageries and

    Read More

  • The Love Song Of J Alfred Prufrock Analysis

    1561 Words  | 4 Pages

    Eliot begins the poem with the original Italian text of Dante’s epic, “The Divine Comedy.” It contains six lines borrowed from “Inferno” that are verbal quotes from a character in the eighth circle of hell, stating he will confide in Dante on the basis that Dante should not be able to escape hell, and therefore cannot divulge his secrets to the people still living (Alighieri, 61-66). This reflects J. Alfred’s willingness to lament to the reader since the reader has no means to share his secrets with those in his world. With the reader being Dante in this analogy, it puts Prufrock in the position of Guido da Montefeltro, the damned soul speaking to Dante. While Guido is not alive, his soul is technically still living, having to endure torture for his mortal misdeeds. Similar to how Prufrock is a searing soul inside a decaying body, evidenced by the lines “With a bald spot in the middle of my hair” (Eliot, 40) and “(They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”)” (Eliot, 44). Meanwhile, Prufrock’s inner psyche is tormented by thoughts such as “though I have wept and fasted, wept and prayed” (Eliot, 81) and saying his place in life is “Almost, at times, the Fool.” (Eliot, 118). These descriptions of himself develop the idea that Prufrock is likewise in a figurative Bolgia of hell, unwilling or unable to climb out, and so, like Guido, confesses his woes. Prufrock is, however, physically more alive than

    Read More

  • Analysis Of T. S. Eliot's The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    T.S. Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock has a plethora of possible interpretations. Many people argue that the poem represents a man who appears to be very introverted person who is contemplating a major decision in his life. This decision is whether or not he will consummate a relationship with someone he appears to have an attraction to or feelings for. People also debate whether or not Prufrock from the poem is typical of people today. While there are a plethora of reasons Prufrock is not typical of people today the main three reasons are he is very reserved, he overthinks most situations and he tries avoid his problems instead of solve them.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of The Lovesong Of J. Alfred Prufrock

    723 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, after exploring the theme of this poem and reading it for myself, Eliot has created this persona, in industrialised England or somewhere else. A man of low self-esteem, you embark his journey as he struggles with a rational fear of being rejected by a woman. Which gives the reader sympathy to Prufrock, as he lives within his own personal

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Coming Of Age In Poetry

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    Coming of age is a huge step towards adulthood. At this period, one is filled with responsibilities and privileges. While young adults are free and privileged to do what they want, many are foolish and make mistakes that could affect the rest of their adulthood. Samuel Johnson's "To Sir John Lade, on His Coming of Age" and A.E. Housman’s "When I was One-and-Twenty" describe the experience of the coming of age. Through the use of different point of views and tones, the poets each describe their different views and experiences with the coming of age and how their ideas and experiences connect and link to a greater understanding of adulthood.

    Read More

  • T.S. Elliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” tells the speaker’s story through several literary devices, allowing the reader to analyze the poem through symbolism, character qualities, and allusions that the work displays. In this way, the reader clearly sees the hopelessness and apathy that the speaker has towards his future. John Steven Childs sums it up well in saying Prufrock’s “chronic indecision blocks him from some important action” (Childs). Each literary device- symbolism, character, and allusion- supports this description. Ultimately, the premise of the poem is Prufrock second guessing himself to no end over talking to a woman, but this issue represents all forms of insecurity and inactivity.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Love Song Of Prufrock

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    T.S. Eliot has been one of the most daring innovators of twentieth-century poetry. His poem“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, is different and unusual. He rejects the logic connection, thus, his poems lack logic interpretation. He himself justifies himself by saying: he wrote it to want it to be difficult. The dissociation of sensibility, on the contrary, arouses the emotion of readers immediately. This poem contains Prufrock’ s love affairs. But it is more than that. It is actually only the narration of Prufrock, a middle-aged man, and a romantic aesthete , who is bored with his meaningless life and driven to despair because he wished but

    Read More

  • T.S. Eliot's Writing Style and Use of Symbolism

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go,” T.S. Eliot is basically trying to say that only people who push their limit can actually see how much they can really accomplish. T.S. Eliot made poetry that showed his negative views on life, people, and world. T.S. Eliot took poetry to another level by the way he writes and uses symbolism.

    Read More

  • The Inward Turn of Modernist Literature

    1707 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of T.S. Eliot’s earliest poems, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, is a prime example of a text that takes a turn inwards in terms of conveying the experience it presents. The poem provides a look into the distressed mind of an archetypal modern man of the times. It does this using the speaker’s stream of consciousness presented as a dramatic monologue. Prufrock, the poem’s speaker, seeks to advance his relationship with a woman who has caught his eye. He wonders if he has “the strength to force the moment to its crisis” (Eliot, 80). Prufrock is so entrenched in self-doubt that he is uncertain whether he is capable of having a relationship with this woman. His knowledge of the world he lives in and his circumstances keep him from attempting to approach this prospective lover. He contemplates the reasons for which he believes he cannot be with her and scolds himself for even thinking that it was possibl...

    Read More

  • The Character of J. Alfred Prufrock

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    The title T. S. Eliot chose for his poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is ironic. Mr. Prufrock does not love anyone, nor does he believe he is loved. He has disdain for the society of which he wishes he were a part, and he believes society views him no differently. The imagery of Mr. Prufrock's thoughts provide the audience a more detailed insight into his character than had Mr. Eliot simply listed Mr. Prufrock's virtues and flaws. Mr. Prufrock is seen as an exaggeration or extreme for the sake of literary commentary, but the world has many Prufrocks in many differing degrees, and T. S. Eliot has made them a little easier to understand.

    Read More

More about The Woes of an Aging Poet

Open Document