The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is a poem written by T.S. Eliot.
J. Alfred Prufrock, a presumably middle-aged, intellectual, indecisive man, invites the reader along with him through the modern city. He describes the street scene and notes a social gathering of women discussing Renaissance artist Michelangelo. He describes yellow smoke and fog outside the house of the gathering, and keeps insisting that there will be time to do many things in the social world.
The title of the poem suggests it not a traditional love poem at all. "J. Alfred Prufrock" is a farcical name, and Eliot wanted the subliminal connotation of a "prude" in a "frock." (The original title was "Prufrock Among the Women.").
Eliot opens "The Love Song" with this quotation from Dante's epic poem to suggest that Prufrock, like Count Guido, is in hell. But Prufrock is in a hell on earth-a hell in the form of a modern, impersonal city with smoky skies. The quotation also points out that Prufrock, again like Count Guido, can present his feelings "without fear of infamy."
In the first stanza the poet invites the listener to walk with him into the streets on an evening that resembles a patient, anesthetized with ether, lying on the table of a hospital operating room. The imagery suggests that the evening is lifeless and listless. The poet and the listener walk through lonely streets-the business day has ended-past cheap hotels and restaurants.in conclusion, the listener asks the poet a question about the poet's life-perhaps why he visits these seedy haunts, which are symbols of his life, and why he has not acted to better himself.
In the second stanza some women discuss about the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo in a room. Prufrock may wonder how they could possibly be interested in him when they are discussing someone as illustrious as Michelango.
In third stanza the poet describes the smoky haze, which spreads across the city. The haze is like a quiet, timid cat padding to and fro, rubbing its head on objects, licking its tongue, and curling up to sleep after allowing soot to fall upon it. The poet resembles the cat as he looks into windows or into "the room," trying to decide whether to enter and become part of the activity. What this stanza means is that Prufrock feels inferior and is unable to act decisively.
I the fourth stanza, the poet explains there is time to decide and then to act-time to put on the right face and demeanor to meet people. There is time to kill and time to act; in fact, there is time to do many things. There is even time to think about doing things-time to dream and then revise those dreams-before sitting down with a woman to take toast and tea.
In the fifth stanza the poet repeats the second stanza: the women are still coming and going, still talking of Michelangelo. It suggests that life is repetitive and dull.
In the sixth stanza, Prufrock says there will be time to wonder whether he dares to approach a woman. He feels like turning back. Then he describes his physical appearance and his clothes, from which he has doubts about the acceptability of them.
In the seventh stanza, Prufrock realizes that the people here are the same as the people he has met many times before-the same, uninteresting people in the same uninteresting world. They all even sound the same. The words evenings, mornings, afternoons express a duration in which present and past are equally real (stream of consciousness).
In the eight stanza, he tries to explain himself the mediocrity and the ordinariness of his life.
In the ninth stanza, he says he knows many kinds of women. Then, he thinks to know a woman from the smell of her perfume.
In the tenth stanza, he tells a woman that he came through narrow streets, where lonely men (like Prufrock) lean out of windows watching life go by but not taking part in it. He should have been nothing more than crab claws in the depths of the silent ocean.
In the eleventh stanza, The poet describes the passing of time peacefully. It is as if the afternoon/evening is sleeping or simply wasting time, stretched out on the floor. He has suffered; he has even imagined his head being brought in on a platter, like the head of John the Baptist. Of course, unlike John, he is no prophet. He has seen his opportunities pass and even seen death up close, holding his coat, snickering. He has been afraid.
In the twelfth and thirteenth stanza, the poet is drinking tea and he tries to make a connection with one of the women.
in the fourteenth stanza, the poet compares Prufrock with Hamlet: they are both indecisive. But Prufrock lacks the majesty and charisma of Hamlet. Therefore, he fancies himself as Polonius, the busybody lord chamberlain in Shakespeare's play.
In the last fifth stanzas, the poet realizes that time is passing and that he is growing old. However, like other men going through a middle-age crisis, he considers changing his hairstyle and clothes. In addition, he compares himself with Odysseus: like Odysseus in the Odyssey, he has heard the song of the sirens. However, they are not singing to him.