- T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” tells the story of a man who is in love but cannot reveal it. Prufrock has thought about all the factors that have influenced and will influence his decision in confessing his love; however, he does not know how to continue on. He is a well educated man as he makes references the works of other famous poets, the Bible, and other literary works to help describe his thoughts. This poem shows his thoughts and emotions, which range from frustration to regret to longing, showing that he is a regular human that struggles with mundane troubles, in this case love. His awareness of the surrounding world and his feelings create the dilemma that he faces.
- In the room women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo
(13-14, 35-36)This stanza is repeated twice within the poem. Its repetition serves to show that Michelangelo is the only topic that the women would converse of at their gatherings. Their education on the arts is limited to only one artist, becoming the norm for the women to speak of this topic. In the second repetition of this, Prufrock considers if he should or should not “Disturb the universe” (46), becoming paranoid that the women will focus their topic onto him if he were to speak.
- Explain the significance the 3 dots serve? How does this alter the tone/mood of the poem?
Who do the mermaids represent in the last four stanzas of the poem?
Do you think Prufrock will ever muster up the courage to confess his love?
3 thoughts on ““The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” – Katherine Laurencio”
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Question 2: I think the mermaids represents the women Prufrock longs to be with. He says that he has heard them, “singing, each to each./ But I do not think they will sing to me.” I think this means that they are women he has observed, but thinks they are out of his reach.
I do not think Prufrock will ever muster up any courage to confess his love because of the way he looks at himself. He believes that the expectations of men are too high, and he does not fit any of those categories, especially in his looks.
Katherine,
I’m not sure that I agree with you that Prufrock is actually in love with someone specific. Despite the poem’s name, I think he is longing for love, and longing to be able to approach the women who interest him, but I don’t believe that he is in love with a particular woman. The three dots are an ellipsis. Any time someone uses an ellipsis, it is supposed to indicate that something is missing. We are supposed to imagine that the sentence continues, even though the author has not provided the words. Does that make sense?
JS