'The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot
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S'io credesse chc mia risposta fosse
A persona che mai tornasse al mondo,
Questa Gamma staria senza piu scosse.
Ma perciocche giammai di questo fondo
Non torno viva alcun, s'i'odo il vero,
Senza tema d'infamia ti rispondo.
Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherised upon a table;
Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,
The muttering retreats
Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels
And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:
Streets that follow like a tedious argument
Of insidious intent
To lead you to an overwhelming question...
Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?'
Let us go and make our visit.
In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,
The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes
Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,
Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,
Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,
Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,
And seeing that it was a soft October night,
Curled once about the house, and fell asleep.
And indeed there will be time
For the yellow smoke that slides along the street,
Rubbing its back upon the window panes;
There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;
There will be time to murder and create,
And time for all the works and days of hands
That lift and drop a question on your plate;
Time for you and time for me,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of a toast and tea.
In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, 'Do I dare?' and, 'Do I dare?'
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair--
(They will say: 'How his hair is growing thin!')
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin--
(They will say: 'But how his arms and legs are thin!')
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
For I have known them all already, known them all--
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?
And I have known the eyes already, known them all--
The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,
And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,
When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,
Then how should I begin
To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?
And how should I presume?
And I have known the arms already, known them all--
Arms that are braceleted and white and bare
(But in the lamplight, downed with light brown hair!)
Is it perfume from a dress
That makes me so digress?
Arms that lie along a table, or wrap about a shawl.
And should I then presume?
And how should I begin?
. . . . .
Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streets
And watched the smoke that rises from the pipes
Of lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows?
I should have been a pair of ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.
. . . . .
And the afternoon, the evening, sleeps so peacefully!
Smoothed by long fingers,
Asleep ... tired ... or it malingers,
Stretched on on the floor, here beside you and me.
Should I, after tea and cakes and ices,
Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?
But though I have wept and fasted, wept and prayed,
Though I have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought in
upon a platter,
I am no prophet--and here's no great matter;
I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker,
And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker,
And in short, I was afraid.
And would it have been worth it, after all,
After the cups, the marmalade, the tea,
Among the porcelain, among some talk of you and me,
Would it have been worth while,
To have bitten off the matter with a smile,
To have squeezed the universe into a ball
To roll it toward some overwhelming question,
To say: 'I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all'--
If one, settling a pillow by her head,
Should say: 'That is not what I meant at all;
That is not it, at all.'
And would it have been worth it, after all,
Would it have been worth while,
After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,
After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail
along the floor--
And this, and so much more?--
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a
screen:
Would it have been worth while
If one, settling a pillow or throwing off a shawl,
And turning toward the window, should say:
'That is not it at all,
That is not what I meant, at all.'
. . . . .
No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
Am an attendant lord, one that will do
To swell a progress, start a scene or two,
Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
Deferential, glad to be of use,
Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
At times, indeed, almost ridiculous--
Almost, at times, the Fool.
I grow old ... I grow old ...
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think that they will sing to me.
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.
We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot: A Powerful Exploration of Modernity
Are you looking for a poem that captures the essence of modernity and the human condition? Look no further than "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot. This classic poem is a powerful exploration of alienation, anxiety, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.
Let's dive into the poem and explore its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.
Background
First, a little background on T.S. Eliot and the poem itself. Eliot was a prominent modernist poet in the early 20th century, and "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" was first published in 1915. The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, with the titular character, J. Alfred Prufrock, addressing himself and the reader.
Themes
One of the central themes of the poem is alienation. Prufrock feels disconnected from the world around him and struggles to connect with others. He is acutely aware of his own mortality and the fleeting nature of existence. This theme is captured in lines such as "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons" and "Do I dare / Disturb the universe?".
Another major theme is anxiety. Prufrock is constantly worrying about his own inadequacies and the judgments of others. He is haunted by the fear of rejection and the possibility of failure. This theme is exemplified in the lines "Do I dare / Eat a peach?" and "And in short, I was afraid."
Finally, the poem explores the search for meaning and purpose in a world that seems chaotic and meaningless. Prufrock is searching for a sense of identity and purpose, but he feels lost and uncertain. This theme is captured in lines such as "And time yet for a hundred indecisions, / And for a hundred visions and revisions, / Before the taking of a toast and tea."
Symbolism
One of the most powerful aspects of the poem is its use of symbolism. Eliot employs a variety of images and symbols to convey complex ideas and emotions.
One of the most significant symbols in the poem is the city itself. Prufrock is wandering through the streets of a modern city, and the city becomes a symbol for the chaos and confusion of modernity. The city is described as "half-deserted" and "like a patient etherised upon a table". This image captures the sense of alienation and disconnection that Prufrock feels.
Another important symbol is the mermaids. Prufrock imagines himself as a mermaid, singing a song to lure sailors to their deaths. This image represents his fear of rejection and failure. He sees himself as a creature who is both alluring and dangerous.
Finally, the image of the fog is significant. Prufrock repeatedly refers to the fog that surrounds him, and this image represents the confusion and uncertainty that he feels. He is lost in a world that is shrouded in mist and ambiguity.
Literary Devices
Eliot employs a variety of literary devices to create the powerful and haunting atmosphere of the poem.
One of the most significant devices is the use of repetition. The poem is filled with repeated phrases and images, such as "Do I dare?" and "In the room the women come and go / Talking of Michelangelo." These repetitions create a sense of circularity and inevitability.
Another important device is the use of allusion. Eliot draws on a variety of literary, cultural, and historical references to create a complex and layered text. References to Dante's "Inferno", Shakespeare's "Hamlet", and the Bible are all woven into the fabric of the poem.
Finally, Eliot employs a variety of techniques to create a fragmented and disjointed narrative. The poem is filled with abrupt shifts in tone, perspective, and imagery. This fragmentation creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, mirroring the experience of modernity itself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is a powerful and complex poem that explores the themes of alienation, anxiety, and the search for meaning in a modern world. Eliot's use of symbolism, literary devices, and allusion creates a rich and layered text that rewards multiple readings and interpretations. If you're looking for a poem that captures the essence of modernity, look no further than this classic work.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock: A Masterpiece of Modernist Poetry
T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is a classic poem that has been studied and analyzed by literary scholars for decades. It is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that captures the essence of the early 20th century and the disillusionment of the modern man. The poem is a monologue that explores the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, J. Alfred Prufrock, as he contemplates his life and his place in the world. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its significance and impact on modernist literature.
The poem begins with the famous lines, "Let us go then, you and I, / When the evening is spread out against the sky / Like a patient etherized upon a table." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing a sense of unease and uncertainty. The metaphor of the evening as a patient etherized upon a table suggests a sense of paralysis and helplessness, as if the world is waiting for something to happen but nothing ever does.
Throughout the poem, Eliot uses vivid and often disturbing imagery to convey the sense of isolation and alienation felt by the protagonist. For example, he describes the streets as "tedious arguments / Of insidious intent" and the women as "arms that are braceleted and white and bare / [w]ould it have been worth while / To have bitten off the matter with a smile." These images suggest a sense of emptiness and futility, as if life is nothing more than a series of meaningless gestures and empty conversations.
One of the central themes of the poem is the idea of time and the passing of time. Prufrock is acutely aware of his own mortality and the fact that time is slipping away from him. He says, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons" and "And time yet for a hundred indecisions, / And for a hundred visions and revisions, / Before the taking of a toast and tea." These lines suggest a sense of regret and a longing for something more, as if Prufrock is aware that he has not lived his life to the fullest.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of love and the fear of rejection. Prufrock is deeply insecure and afraid of being rejected by the women he desires. He says, "Do I dare / Disturb the universe? / In a minute there is time / For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse." These lines suggest a sense of hesitation and indecision, as if Prufrock is afraid to take action for fear of being rejected.
Eliot uses a variety of literary devices to convey the themes and ideas of the poem. One of the most prominent is the use of repetition, particularly in the phrase "In a minute there is time." This phrase is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the sense of urgency and the fleeting nature of time. Eliot also uses allusion, referencing the works of Dante, Shakespeare, and other literary figures to add depth and complexity to the poem.
In addition, Eliot uses a fragmented and disjointed structure to convey the sense of confusion and disorientation felt by the protagonist. The poem is composed of a series of disjointed images and thoughts, reflecting the fragmented nature of Prufrock's consciousness. This structure also emphasizes the sense of isolation and alienation felt by the protagonist, as if he is unable to connect with the world around him.
Overall, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that captures the essence of the early 20th century and the disillusionment of the modern man. Through vivid imagery, powerful themes, and innovative literary devices, Eliot creates a portrait of a man struggling to find his place in the world and come to terms with his own mortality. It is a poem that continues to resonate with readers today, nearly a century after its initial publication.
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