“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”
In
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, T.S. Elliot uses imagery, allusion, and
diction to convey mood and meaning, as well as describing the scene. The
imagery he uses is deep and vivid, which really helps the reader get a picture
of what is happening. He uses allusion to compare certain misunderstood
subjects to something a little bit more relatable. His diction is very well
used for the gloomy, flustered character in the poem. It all comes together to
describe how a man who wants love and intimacy, might be too self-loathing to
fulfill this desire.
T.S.
Elliot’s strong use of vivid imagery helps give the audience a visual picture
for what is going on in the poem. He describes a yellow fog that is creeping up
on Prufrock, making him “yellow” or scared to commit to anything. “The yellow
fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, the yellow smoke that rubs its
muzzle on the window-panes” (Lines 15-16). This depicts a fog, rolling in
around Prufrock, reminding him of his fear of commitment. The color yellow
represents his fear. He wants to be happy with someone, but this thought, in
the back of his mind, of rejection keeps coming back to him. Elliot then
describes how Prufrock is self-conscious about his physical figure. “And indeed there will be time To wonder, “Do
I dare?” and, “Do I dare?” Time to turn back and descend the stair, With a bald
spot in the middle of my head (They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”) My
morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin, My necktie rich and modest,
but asserted by a simple pin—(They will say: “But how his arms and legs are
thin!”) Do I dare Disturb the universe?” (Lines 37-46) Elliot describing Prufrock’s
physical woes gives the reader a picture of how he looks and how he might be
afraid of commitment because of these abnormalities. He is afraid that a woman
may be put off when glancing upon him and because of this possibility of
rejection; he sees no motivation to look for an intimate relationship.
In
addition to the use of strong imagery, T.S. Elliot also uses various allusions
to better explain Prufrock’s negative outlook on love and commitment. At the
very beginning of the poem, before Line 1, Elliot writes this prelude; “S’io credesse
che mia risposta fosse A persona che mai tornasse al mondo, Questa fiamma
staria senza piu scosse. Ma perciocche giammai di questo fondo Non torno vivo
alcun, s’i’odo il vero, Senza tema d’infamia ti rispondo.” (Pre-line 1) This
alludes to hell and how Prufrock sees himself as well as his life. Prufrock is
so loathsome of himself that he is almost certain that he will not find love or
intimacy with anyone, let alone a woman. As the poem progresses, he doesn’t
change his outlook on himself, in fact, it might even get worse. Elliot also
alludes to Prince Hamlet with the following quote, “No! I am not Prince Hamlet,
nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will do To swell a progress,
start a scene or two, Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool, Deferential,
glad to be of use, Politic, cautious, and meticulous; Full of high sentence,
but a bit obtuse; At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—Almost, at times, the
Fool.” (Line 111-119) With this allusion, Elliot explains to the reader that
Prufrock feels that he was never meant to be anyone great, such as Prince
Hamlet. He feels as though he isn’t even worthy to advise him or help out in a
way. His hatred of himself even brings up the thought that he would be the
Fool. Using these allusions, T.S. Elliot helps to give the reader some
understanding of how little self-esteem Prufrock possesses.
As
well as vivid imagery and alluding to well-known situations, T.S. Elliot’s very
good diction, or word choice, helps give the reader a more formal way of
portraying Prufrock’s attitude towards himself, and the idea of love and
intimacy. By using this complexity of word choice, he helps the poem flow
without confusing the reader. “Do I dare, Disturb the universe? In a minute
there is time For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.” (Line
45-48). Using this quote, Elliot explains to the reader how Prufrock isn’t only
worried about affecting whoever he tries to be intimate with, but he is afraid
that, in some way, the entire universe will be disturbed by his actions. He
acts as though he is the most repulsive creature to ever set foot on this
planet, and he is, in his mind. He feels as though he was never meant to be
happy with anyone, or have a family. Even though Prufrock’s biggest desire is
to find love and intimacy, the idea of doing so is almost sickening to him.
Another quote shows how insignificant Prufrock finds himself; “For I have known
them all already, known them all: Have known the evenings, mornings,
afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons; I know the voices
dying with a dying fall Beneath the music from a farther room. So how should I
presume?” (Line 49-54). Prufrock’s thought of “I have measured out my life with
coffee spoons” kind of makes the reader pity him a little bit. His life, in his
mind, is so meaningless that he measures it out with the tiniest of objects.
Elliot uses this diction to tell the reader that Prufrock doesn’t just dislike
himself, he loathes himself, more than anything.
Through
the use of strong vivid imagery, well-known allusions, and complex diction,
T.S. Elliot, author of “The Love Song by J Alfred Prufrock”, helps explain the
meaning of Prufrock’s powerful sense of self-loathing. When all put together,
he helps depict a man who desires love more than anything in the world, but his
extreme lack of confidence and self-esteem issues prevent him from doing so.
30 Examples of Imagery from “The Love Song of J.
Alfred Prufrock”
1.
When the evening is spread out against the sky, line 2
2.
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, line 4
3.
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels, line 6
4.
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells, line 7
5.
Streets that follow like a tedious argument, line 8
6.
The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes, line 15
7.
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes, line 16
8.
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening, line 17
9.
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains, line 18
10.
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys, line 19
11.
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap, line 20
12.
And seeing that it was a soft October night, line 21
13.
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep. Line 22
14.
For the yellow smoke that slides along the street, line 24
15.
Rubbing its back upon the window panes; line25
16.
And time for all the works and days of hands, line 29
17.
That lift and drop a question on your plate; line 30
18.
Before the taking of a toast and tea. Line 34
19.
Time to turn back and descend the stair, line 39
20.
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair— line 40
21.
(They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”) line 41
22.
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin, line42
23.
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin— line 43
24.
(They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”) line 44
25.
Disturb the universe? Line 46
26.
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons; line 51
27.
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall, line 58
28.
To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways? Line 60
29.
Arms that are braceleted and white and bare, line 63
30.
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
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