In T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, the speaker, Prufrock, is very pessimistic and lacks confidence based on the beginning and the end of the poem. His negativity is evident when he describes the weather by saying, “When the evening is spread out against the sky like a patient etherized upon a table” (2-3). This line was very unexpected and shocking because most speakers tend to be more romantic when they describe the weather whereas Prufrock compares the weather to someone or something being injected with anesthesia. Prufrock’s lack of confidence is more evident towards the end of the poem when he says, “I am no prophet—and here’s o great matter; I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker” (83-84), and “No! I am no Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be; Am an attendant lord, one that will to swell a progress, start a scene or two” (111-112). Both of these lines show that he feels that he is not good enough to be compared to Hamlet, and is content with being an attendant.
“With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—
(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!’)
In these lines, Prufrock describes his appearance and is worried about other people judging him. Despite his bald spot and thin arms and legs, his outfit is “rich and modest”. However, his elegant clothes do not make him feel more confident about himself.
Questions:
- Why did he bring up the lines “In the room the women come and go talking of Michelangelo” twice? What is the significance?
- Why is the fog yellow?
- What does the mermaids singing represent?
Answering question #1: Prufrock brings up the lines about Michelangelo twice to show that that is the topic of the women’s conversations. It shows that it is boring, repetitive, and limited. While the women are educated and are discussing art, their knowledge is limited since they only talk of one artist while there were many great ones during that time. Prufrock is paranoid that they will change the topic of conversation to him if he were to speak, in the second mention of the stanza, so he does not and continues to repress his thoughts.
Hi Jacqueline,
In regards to questions 3, the importance of the mermaids singing is first understood by the fact the this mythical creature sings in order to capture handsome men. This fact is important because in the line after his acknowledgement of the mermaids signing he states ” I do not think that they will sing to me.” emphasizing how low his self-esteem is that he does not believe the mermaids would sing for him because he is not handsome enough.
I believe the fog is yellow in order to portray a dark, dirty setting. This is supposed to be a love song, but the setting does not show that. He is walking through a less nice part of town, with cheap hotels and people smoking, which overall shows a place that is not ideal for love.
Nice job on the questions and answers!!!