Right now as a class we are blogging to learn about and understand modernist ideas
I’ll be researching the pshycological aspect of modernism…
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”
-T.S. Elliot
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.
This excerpt describes the feeling of insecurity that the narrator, Prufrock experiences. Feeling inferior to everyone else, as well as feeling like he doesn’t even belong in their universe causes him to believe that he may become a disturbance, if anything, to all the other people. Alfred shows his insecurity by constantly bringing into the context what the other people may have said about him, for example his skinny arms and legs as well as his thin hair. His psychological stuggle is shown in the second line as he says, “Do I dare?”.
Yeah! A good observation. I think you’re right, he seems really disjuncted from society and even reality, kind of trapped in his own mind. See what I’m saying?
Comment by jv06 — February 1, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
You did an awesome job describing what Prufrock was talking about
It’s like he was pretty paranoid about every little thing about him, and he was too scared to make a wrong move and give people more reason to supposedly talk about him. Maybe? haha
Comment by allisonr46 — February 1, 2008 @ 8:06 pm
Yeah, I think the whole paranoia thing is definitely conveyed in the poem. Prufrock does, however, seem to have something big to say, something that if he says it will “disturb the universe.” Or maybe, it’s more just like a furtherance of what Mark Strand had been trying to get at where he is the disturbance of the world around him. It’s like Prufrock entering himself into the lives of the others in the room wouldbe a disturbance of their lives and the overall scene, definitely having a negative effect. That is, at least in the eyes of Prufrock.
Comment by jv06 — February 1, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
Do you think Prufrock’s struggles are peculiar to him or are they more universal?
Eliot’s imagery is rather startling in its starkness. Do you think the scuttling crustacean or the muting waters still resonate with readers today? If so, why? If not, why not?
Comment by cgbaz — February 6, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
Good job, this must be a tough attribute but i feel like you got a handle on it. It was well seen in the poem that Alfred struggles with his insecurity. Maybe his insecurities is what caused him to be lonely
Comment by mopo07 — March 23, 2008 @ 11:42 pm