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The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock

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The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock
The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock 1. List of characteristics: * Romantic * Curious * Discouraged * Mysterious * Infertility * Desperate for love and women * Eloquent * Isolated / Alienated * Hopeless * Easily influenced * Chaotic * Suicidal * Neurotic * Descriptive

The narrator is a pathetic man whose anxieties and obsessions have isolated him from society. “Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels” Prufrock is tired of his paid interaction with females but fears rejection, due to his past relationships with people. After being rejected countless times he become confused. In the past it seems he could be easily manipulated, women took advantage of this thus destroying his confidence. “To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”” Prufrock struggles with making decisions for the fear that their outcomes will turn out wrong. Prufrock continually worries that he will make an idiot of himself and that people will ridicule him for his clothes, his bald spot, and his overall physical appearance. He sees only the negative side of his own life and the lives of others. In conclusion he decided to end his life and commit suicide.

2.
“We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.”
The last stanza of the poem “The Love-Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” indicates that the narrator was just dreaming. By referencing sea-girl it could show Prufrock’s romantic idea of mermaids and beautiful ocean views. The last stanza of the poem could refer to the character waiting on his love to come, and when she doesn’t show he decides to commit suicide seeing as he wasn’t living happily and believed death was the only answer. It doesn’t change our understanding of the poem because throughout the poem I was aware of his miserable life and that he was on the verge of suicide. It was apparent throughout the poem that all the narrator wanted was to find love, and because he couldn’t life wasn’t living.

3.
The reference of Hamlet in “The Love-Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” could be because the narrator felt as he was in the same mind set as Hamlet. “No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;” Prufrock is referring to how he is not the elite cadre even though he wishes he was. It could also be seen as a blatant reference to the famous quote “ To be or not to be” as they are similar in wording. “Full of high sentence, but Explain bit obtuse; At times, indeed, almost ridiculous—Almost, at times, the Fool” This could be in reference to Polonius he is an extremely verbose and longwinded just like the narrator. Prufrock has some of the same qualities as he has troubles with rambling to girls, as well. In the play Hamlet, the protagonist was depressed and confused about many things including love this relates to Prufrock. Both Profrock and Hamlet lost there loves.

4. * Michelangelo * A Peach * Tea party * Beach * Sunset
“In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo” (lines 13-14)
Prufrock feels as if the women he interacts with him they only want to discuss about the arts, whereas he is looking to find a deeper connection with them.
“Shall I part my hair from behind? Do I dare eat a peach?” (Line 122)

I believe a peach is a metaphor for a much younger woman. Prufrock is wondering once again if he should take a risk. This line refers to the characters indecisiveness.

5.
The poem” The Love-Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is set into a monologue in the evening in a bleak smoky city. The poem is about a life without love. The narrator lives a life without love, and it results in many types of mental disorders. Prufrock cannot seem to find love and every time he tries he gets hurt. There are many obstacles and difficulties when finding love. Prufrock realizes
Love can make you extremely joyful or extremely depressed. Due to the character being so depressed, he realizes there is no point in living without love therefore he commits suicide.

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