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The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock, By T. S. Eliot

599 Words3 Pages

Not all love songs have a happy ending after all. The poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” by T.S. Eliot showcases diction, imagery, and allusion to express the speaker’s complex attitude towards his life. In this poem Prufrock is portrayed as a sad and tormented man that simply doesn’t have the courage to act on his desires. J. Alfred Prufrock is a timid, overcautious middle-aged man that walks through the streets of a shabby part of a city, to get to a social gathering were women “come and go, talking of Michelangelo” (lines 13-14). The women at this social event are women that Prufrock would like to speak to, but he is afraid that if he does he will make a fool of himself. Throughout the poem, the speaker is isolated from society due to his self – consciousness and inability to …show more content…

He alludes to John the Baptist and the Eternal Footman all to fully describe the way he feels. By saying, “I have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought in upon a platter I am no prophet” (Lines 82-83). Prufrock believes that revealing his true self to others would kill him because he isn’t brave enough to speak up. Prufrock is unlike John the Baptist, who was murdered for confronting the King and speaking the truth. Another example of an allusion is, “And I have see the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, and in short, I was afraid” (Line 85). The eternal footman is a reference to death, by mentioning this Prufrock is alluding to his fears about life and the fact that he could seize the day or recognize his opportunities before it was too late. J. Alfred Prufrock’s complex attitude is depicted through devices such as diction, imagery, and allusion to express his thoughts and feelings about life. Through these devices Prufrock teaches his audience that you must seize the day and enjoy life to the fullest before you start running out of

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