J. Alfred Prufrock is a character who is overwhelmed by anxiety, indecisiveness, and fear. He is afraid to confront a woman and declare his love, afraid of rejection. We can argue Eliot uses this "love" situation to illustrate mankind's fear of rejection in its search for a universal and spiritual love. Just like Prufrock, mankind has a fear of rejection, meaningless, and insignificance. It is better to not ask the "overwhelming question" (is there meaning/am i significant) than to ask the question and receive a curt rejection, or even worse, no reply at all, an empty echo in the emptiness of space. As a result of his fear, Prufrock does nothing at all but sit and watch time go by, "measuring (his) life with coffee spoons; he is paralyzed "like a patient etherized upon a table," "formulated, sprawling on a pin...wriggling on the wall." He lives a life of meaningless indecision and triviality rather than boldly search for love and meaning. The poem reflects Eliot's perception of modern civilization as a spiritual void, empty of faith and meaningful love, and paralyzed by anxiety and fear.
9 comments:
I think its clear he has an anxiety disorder!!!
and watched his whole life go by that is the sad part..
I think its a message to people in the same situation, but there is hope!!!!
I agree, anonymous, there is hope. Even if life is meaningless, we have the ability to make it meaningful through our actions. We have to have the courage to act and defy the meaninglessness of life by doing something and creating meaning, something Prufrock cannot do.
que? no habla ingles. . .
I have a question?so is it better then to not love at all better then to love then have to face rejection.? And there is fake love because we are affraid of change!!?
i think i would rather take a chance and face rejection head on... i would rather have some sort of feeling and meaning instead of living an empty life full of nothing.
My cousin was at the show on thursday heres the link of the album the pictures are in. See, I got you covered...
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=7529159&albumId=1882012
nevermind it didn't work....
I'll bring them up if you want monday or tuesday for you
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
J'ai appris des choses interessantes grace a vous, et vous m'avez aide a resoudre un probleme, merci.
- Daniel
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