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Describe j. alfred prufrock. what is this character like? essay

1.

Describe J. Alfred Prufrock. What is this character like? J. Alfred Prufrock is an example of a modern urban character at the turn of the twentieth century.  His tormented mind is displayed in the poem.  He is characterized as intelligent, well read, and possibly has mental problems.

It is obvious that he is emotional and is in love with a woman, or at least what he thinks is love, but he lacks the courage to tell her and he has become complacent.  “ And indeed there will be time.” (l.

23) is repeated throughout the poem to show that he is disillusioned into thinking that time means nothing and that his opportunities will always be there. 2.   Our narrator keeps suggesting he is not brave enough to ask a certain question.

What question might that be? The question that the speaker wants to ask is referenced all through the poem.  This question is either whether he should ask his love interest out or whether he should declare his love for her.  He is spending so much time on the question that his time is running out because he is aging.  “ With a bald spot in the middle of my hair–   (They will say: “ How his hair is growing thin!”)” (ll.

40-41). 3.   What keeps the narrator of this poem from acting or even making decisions? There are several reasons that the J.

Alfred Prufrock has not acted.  He lacks the courage because he has strengthened his mind to the point that he thinks too much on what he should do instead of acting.  He has no self confidence.  “ No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;” (l. 111).   Through this allusion it is obvious that he feels that he has to be someone great before he can actually declare his love for another.

He also lacks courage.  The word no is just two letters and while it can hurt, it cannot kill.  It is just as possible that the woman could say yes to his declaration. His indecision is symbolic of the modern world that, through machines, has taken way man’s need to act without thinking. 4.

“ I have measured out my life with coffee spoons” (line 51). What does this mean?  How does this line suggest the overall meaning of the poem? This statement means that his life is mundane.  Coffee spoons are small and are associated with a mindless task that is done daily.  With this metaphor, one can see that he has only accomplished things so small that they can be measured in a small container.  He has merely existed instead of taking a chance on life.

Works CitedElliot, T. S.  The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. 1915. Henley, Jennifer Jordan. “ Literary Analysis.

” The RSCC Writing Lab.  29, January 2009http://www. rscc. cc. tn. us/owl&writingcenter/OWL/ElementsLit. html“ T.

S. Elliot.” Poets. org. 29, January 2009 http://www. poets. org/poet. php/prmPID/18

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