Introduction to The Love Song of J.

Alfred Prufrock

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, like much of T. S. Eliot's work, questions
societal norms and points out the flawed living of empty social rituals and
linguistic cliches (Damrosch 733). It is a story that echoes into today's hollow
society and tells the tale of one man's experience with unrequited love and a
greater longing for something bigger than "tea and cakes and ices" (Eliot 736). A
product of his times, our main man seems to feel out of place - and rightfully so. J.
Alfred Prufrock, the pessimistic protagonist, seeks deeper meaning in the
seemingly meaningless actions of those around him, using powerful literary
devices to pull the reader deep into his world. He is stifled by their petty
standards and feels helpless, while at the same time grappling with his feelings for
a woman whom he thinks wouldn't understand his hesitations. Prufrock is caught
between his own dismal introspection and the longing for a companion who is
part of the problem. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock grapples with unbridled
emotions and a deep introspection that hits the reader and entices them to think
past their own reservations. While it serves as a depiction of the time, it still holds
meaning to many of us in a more modern era.

The Effects of T. S. Eliot's Writing

This distress that so many felt with modern life was carried by Elliot across
nations, where his American writing style edited the British canon. As a
naturalized British citizen who was born and raised in the southern United States,
he worked as an editor and laid the foundation for what was to be known as New
Criticism, a literary model widely utilized by universities across English-speaking
nations at the time. (733). While many literary experts consider a set of four
poems called the Four Quarters to be his crowning achievement, The Love Song of
J. Alfred Prufrock is what first thrust Eliot into London's literary scene (733). While
it is a meaningful piece of work in its own right, the poem is often seen as a
counterpoint to the dramatic monologue written by the nineteenth-century poet,
Robert Browning (733).
His work remains widespread to this day, with many of his readers having the first
contact through literature classes in secondary or post-secondary school.

Allusions and Literary References

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock begins with a quote from Dante Alighieri's
Inferno in the original Italian, the first of many outside literary references Eliot
makes. The poem seems to be steeped in allusions, which lends an air of authority
to J. Alfred Prufrock's narrative. This literary device also gives the reader an
impression that Prufrock is well-educated and intelligent, hinting at his middle or
upper-class status in society. It later uses several Biblical references; the first
occurrence is a direct mention of the story of Lazarus, while the others allude to
lesser known stories, such as John the Baptist's death when referring to his head
upon a platter, as well as the passages in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 that refer to a time to
murder and create (Eliot 734). In addition to adding a somber tone throughout
the poem, it also gives the reader a lens to see Prufrock's true self; a quiet man
with a deep knowledge and passive acceptance. With a Biblical backdrop, one can
see that Prufrock, in some ways, adheres to the social conventions at the time
and is in touch with at least some of them - even if it is begrudgingly so. The Love
Song of J. Alfred Prufrock also alludes to Shakespeare's Hamlet, with Prufrock
pointing out that he is not as courageous and is happy as (sarcastically so, one
could presume) "an attendant lord… deferential, glad to be of use" and not Prince
Hamlet (Eliot 734). He is once again showing his meek nature and unwillingness to
take a leading role in even his own life.

J. Alfred Prufrock's Perception of Himself

One of the first things the reader notices is Prufrock's own self-doubt and social
awkwardness, continuously recounting how others may make fun of his physical
features at his every action, from the turning of his head (They will say: How his
hair is growing thin!) to his choice of apparently unflattering clothing (They will
say: But how his arms and legs are thin!) (Eliot 735). He is upset that others view
him mostly by his physical appearance and seemingly strange demeanor, instead
of by his true intentions and feelings. This lingering doubt that others place on his
shoulders weigh heavy on Prufrock. This is evident later on, when towards the
end of the poem, he reiterates this, asking himself how he should part his own
hair and whether a peach is too messy for him to eat in public. It becomes
scathingly evident that Prufrock is as unconfident in his own actions as he is in
others' inaction. However, he seems to cling to his religious faith and a satirical
view of life as a method of coping, in his multitude of Biblical allusions, whether
as a guide or a means of relatable characters.

Prufrock is the anti-hero of his own story, never reaching his goal of asking the
woman he cares for so dearly to share their lives nor truly resolving his internal
conflicts. Instead, he reminiscences over lost youth and dwells on his
inadequacies, which cause him to lose faith in himself in the same way he is losing
faith in society as a whole. His mentions of sirens may be a hint at the old adage
of feeling lost at sea, as well as a reminder of his hopelessness with women.

What is J. Alfred Prufrock Looking For?

As the poem progresses, it becomes apparent that Prufrock is an affluent man
who is not only tired of social pressures but with his own incompetence in
withstanding these external forces. As mentioned earlier, he seems to be longing
for the attention of a single person, presumably, a woman, asking "Is it perfume
from a dress - That makes me so digress?" (Eliot 738). This unknown lady's
attention distracts Prufrock throughout The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. In the
first few lines, he seems to ask for "an evening spread out against the sky - Like a
patient etherized upon a table"; with his interest. This line gives a sense of
Prufrock's numbness with the societal standards heaved upon him and may be a
hint towards a want of a physical relationship, even if he feels it may not yield
fruitful.
He continues, talking frequently about her arms, braceleted and bare, even noting
he has noticed the light brown hair in the lamplight (Eliot 735). It seems that
Prufrock is infatuated with every aspect of her and wishes that she would make
the first move to begin a more committed, romantic relationship. He makes a
note of her outside of the writhing masses that judge him, hoping she would
notice he has misspoken and forgive him regardless, as seen in lines 97 - 110. His
clumsy social standings render him unable to advance in his passion, and Prufrock
compares himself to a bug mounted on a pin for observation, obviously
uncomfortable with what he feels is the constant examination of his peers.

It is never explicitly stated, but one can infer that he plans on asking this woman
for her hand in marriage, but loses faith at the last minute. The frequent pressing
of "And should I then presume" reflects his own self-doubt. He dreams about this
mysterious woman in the way a teenager might, going over in his own mind how
and when he should ask her. Even in the opening lines, he is thinking of asking her
this pressing question, losing faith with "Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' - Let us go
and make our

Imagery and Other Literary Devices

Another potent literary device is the rich imagery that is displayed in the text. A
recurring subject throughout the poem is the yellow smoke or in some cases,
yellow fog mentioned first in line 15 (Eliot 734). It conjures the image of smog
trailing London streets and is a potent symbol of the fogginess Prufrock may have
seen in others, as they carelessly rolled onto the next day without seeing what he
viewed as their fatal flaws. This smoke even stops to sleep, seeing that it was a
soft October night, and again reminds the reader of the dreary, dismal mood in
this section of the poem (734). The smoke as a player in and of itself, animalistic
but not malevolent, is an interesting characteristic. It may represent societal
values, lingering in Prufrock's mind despite his desperate attempts at escape. The
Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrockremains in the bleak mood until Prufrock seems to
begin to question the meanings of his own existence. The varied sentence length,
beginning at line 37, allows the poem to take a turn. It seems suddenly alive and
excited, prompting the reader to answer the rhetorical questions that Prufrock
asks himself. He realizes that most of his actions are calculated, and the
aforementioned social rituals are empty and only biding time. This enlivened
atmosphere also plays on how he perceives others around him - as mere voices
hiding behind the music, while he is exact, having measured out my life with
coffee spoons; (735).

Summary of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

Very few works of English literature so masterfully portray the discontentment of an era as The
Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. Eliot successfully combined the unnerving social tension that the
twentieth century had to offer with a relatable love story that could be brushed off. Riddled
with Biblical references and steeped in rich imagery, its a poem for readers who don't like
poetry. It is elegant and precise, like the best of poetry, but thoughtful and invigorating,
reminiscent of a short story. It hits somewhere inside the reader, taking hold of every
insecurity, every unanswered "what if", to remind us to seize what is in front of us, and make
an example of poor Prufrock and his unrequited love