Alfred Prufrock” is a poem reflective of the generation’s anxiety and indecisiveness. The speaker’s anxieties and the poem’s attachment to modernity is present throughout the text. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 6.2 (1993): 12-28.T.S. The conflicts between the two personalities are deeply rooted in his thoughts to an extent that we are not able to tell whether Prufrock is able to leave his house or he remains indoors. While he is aware that he should participate in social events, another personality tells him that the people will judge him based on his looks and age. In conclusion, it is quite clear that Prufrock’s character is marked by fears of old age. As the images of involvement collide with the images of fear and paralysis, Eliot successfully develops a framework that allows the reader to understand the characters of Prufrock. It is not possible to tell whether Prufrock is even able to leave his house because the personality that asks him to avoid mixing with people seems to be stronger than all the other personalities. The images of being involved in social functions oppose those of fear and paralysis, which seems to confine Prufrock in his house. It is also arguable that Eliot’s use of the word “you” could represent the reader rather than Prufrock himself.Įliot successfully brings the reader close to Prufrock’s thoughts, which makes the reader understand his feelings.

On the other hand, another personality displays Prufrock as a feckless dilettante who does not accept himself and fears social rejection due to his aging body. On one side, one personality urges Prufrock to participate in the social events, thereby disregarding his aging self and the people’s perceptions of his age. For instance, Eliot uses the pronouns “let us go then”, “you, and me”, which shows that there could be two different personalities portrayed by Prufrock (Eliot 23). The poet displays Prufrock as a man with more than one personality. The personality traits of Alfred J Prufrock are an important topic of debate in regards to the analysis of the poem by Elliot. Therefore, the reader notes that Prufrock’s main problem is how people will describe his aging body. For instance, he says “…with a bald spot in my head… the people will say ‘how now his hair is getting thin’…” (Eliot 23). It is evident that these traits are rooted in Prufrock’s physical appearances because he is aware that people are likely to judge him based on his age. Eliot has used several symbols and phrases to describe some emotional and psychological characteristics of Prufrock. He is constantly aware of the flaws of human aging, which in turn builds an attitude of disorientation.

The poet further portrays Prufrock as a person whose concern is time and its effect on his relationship with people, especially females in his society. Throughout the poem, Eliot has portrayed Prufrock as a person with many character traits. With Eliot’s description of Prufrock’s thoughts and consciousness, the reader observes that Prufrock’s personality and character are a representation of what most people experience as they advance towards old age. He is not sure of where he should be, what he should do, or what he should be doing. Prufrock seems to have a problem of defining his appropriate place in the society. He is afraid of the society’s perception of what a man’s life that is ending should look like. However, it is clear that his distress is not caused by his inner feelings, but due to acknowledgement of his aging. Eliot portrays Alfred Prufrock as a middle-aged man undergoing a period of distress due to his shyness, which makes it difficult for him to face women.

Alfred Prufrock” allows the reader to eavesdrop on the inner consciousness and thoughts of Alfred Prufrock.

The lovesong of j alfred prufrock