“

TheLov
eSongofJ.Al
fr
edPr
ufr
ock”
                                          
-ThomasSt
ear
nsEl
i
ot

I
ntr
oduct
ionoft
hepoem
Thepoem “
TheLov
eSongofJ.Al
fr
edPr
ufr
ock”i
sfi
rstpubl
i
shedi
nPoet
rymagazi
ne
i
n1915andi
nbookf
ormi
nPr
ufr
ockandOt
herObser
vat
ionsi
n1917.Thepoem i
s
wr
it
teni
nthef
orm ofi
nter
iormonol
ogue.I
nter
iormonol
oguei
sadev
icei
nwhi
cha
char
act
erext
ernal
i
zeshi
sthought
ssot
hatt
heaudi
encecanexper
iencehi
sint
ernal
t
hought
s.I
nter
iormonol
ogue i
s di
ff
erentf
rom t
he dr
amat
ic monol
ogue.I
na
dr
amat
icmonol
ogue,
achar
act
erspeakst
othesi
l
entl
i
stener
.Pr
ufr
ock,
thespeaker
oft
hepoem,i
sami
ddl
e-agedmant
alki
ngt
ohi
msel
f.Ther
efor
e,“
I”i
shi
srealsel
f
and“
you”i
shi
sromant
icsel
f.Thepoem i
sat
ruer
efl
ect
ionoft
hesoci
aland
i
ntel
l
ect
ualcondi
ti
ons oft
went
iet
h-cent
uryl
i
fe.(
Forf
urt
herdet
ail
s,pl
ease go
t
hrought
heendnot
esoft
hepoem i
nyourt
ext
book.
)
Thepoem i
swr
it
teni
nfr
eev
erse,andt
hel
engt
hofeachl
i
nev
ari
esi
nthe
whol
e poem.St
il
l,t
her
eisar
hyme i
nthe poem,whi
ch i
s a maj
orst
ruct
ural
component
.Ther
ear
eonl
y12l
i
nesi
ntheent
ir
epoem,
whi
char
eunr
hymed.
Ti
tl
e: 
Thepoem i
snotal
ovesongt
houghl
ovei
stheunder
lyi
ngt
heme.I
trecor
dst
he
i
ndeci
sion,hesi
tat
ionandpost
ponementoft
hepr
oposaloft
hel
over
.Thepoem i
s
r
atherpsy
chol
ogi
cal
,int
endedt
odi
ssectt
hel
over
'ssuppr
essedf
eel
i
ngs,especi
all
y
hi
scowar
diceandi
rr
esol
uti
on.Thei
deaoft
het
it
lewasbor
rowedf
rom t
het
it
leof
Ki
pli
ng’
spoem “
TheLov
eSongofHarDy
al”
. 
Epi
graph:
 
Theepi
graphi
stakenf
rom Dant
e’sepi
cDi
vi
neComedi
a.I
toccur
sther
ein
“
Inf
erno”
.Dant
e,t
hepoet
,makesani
magi
nar
yvi
sitt
ohel
landpur
gat
ory
.Hehasf
or
hi
sgui
det
hepoetVi
rgi
l
.Ther
eheseesandconv
erseswi
thhi
slostf
ri
endsand
enemi
es.Heal
someet
sinhel
l
,achar
act
ercal
l
edGui
do,
whoi
sbur
ningi
nthehel
l
ish
f
ir
e.Dant
easkshi
m whatsi
nshehadcommi
tt
edi
nthewor
ldofmor
tal
s.Ther
eupon
Gui
domakest
hest
atement
.Heal
soagr
eest
otel
lhi
m howmuchhesuf
fer
sandt
o
conf
esshi
ssi
nst
oDant
e. 
Thewor
dsspokenbyGui
doar
econt
ainedi
ntheepi
graph:
 
“
IfIt
houghtmyr
epl
ywer
etoonewhocoul
dev
err
etur
ntoear
th,t
hisf
lame
woul
dshakenomor
e.Butnoonehasev
err
etur
nedal
i
vef
rom t
heGul
f.I
fwhatIhear
i
str
ue,
Icananswery
ouwi
thnof
earofi
nfamy
.”(
“I
nfer
no”
,Cant
oXXVI
I)
. 
 Whati
stheepi
graph'
srel
ati
ont
othepoem “
TheLov
eSongofJ.Al
fr
ed
Pr
ufr
ock”
?Theepi
graphsuggest
sthatGui
doi
sgoi
ngt
omakeadescr
ipt
ionofhi
s
suf
fer
ingsandsi
ns.Byempl
oyi
ngt
hepassageasanepi
grapht
ohi
spoem,El
i
ot
gi
vesusahi
ntt
hatt
hespeakeri
nthi
spoem wi
l
lconf
esshi
shel
l
ishmi
ser
y.I
not
her
wor
ds,i
tisani
nter
iormonol
ogueofPr
ufr
ock.So,i
tcanbesai
dthatt
hepoem i
sa
psy
chol
ogi
cal
dramat
aki
ngpl
acei
nthemi
ndofPr
ufr
ock.“
You”and“
I”ar
e,t
her
efor
e,
t
het
wopr
onounst
hatr
efert
othet
wosel
vesoft
hesamespeaker
.The“
I”r
efer
sto
t
hesubj
ect
ive,r
eal
i
stsel
f,wher
eas“
You”r
efer
stohi
sobj
ect
ive,r
omant
icsel
f.The
epi
graphoft
hepoem i
sapoi
ntert
othenat
ureoft
hewor
ldi
nthepoem.Ev
ident
ly,
t
heepi
graphi
sofgr
eatsi
gni
fi
cancet
othepoem.

Anal
ysi
soft
hepoem
St
anzaI
Pr
ufr
ocki
sabal
d-headedagei
ngmanwhoi
sinl
ovewi
thay
oungl
ady
.Hei
s,by
nat
ure,t
imi
dandhi
ghl
yindeci
siv
e.Hef
ear
sthathi
sladyl
ovewi
l
lrej
ecthi
mifhe
pr
oposesmar
ri
aget
oher
.Ther
efor
e,Pr
ufr
ock’
sconsci
ousnessdi
vi
dedi
ntot
wo
par
ts.Hi
sromant
icsel
ftel
l
shi
sreal
i
stsel
fthatbot
hoft
hem got
oget
her
.Iti
s
ev
eni
ngt
imeandi
sspr
eadoutagai
nstt
hesky
.Itspr
eadl
i
keapat
ienti
set
her
izedon
anoper
ati
ont
abl
e.Thepoethascompar
edt
het
wil
i
ghtwi
tht
heet
her
izedpat
ient
.
Thepat
ienti
set
her
ized,gi
venananaest
het
ic,gi
vi
ngof
fasi
ckl
yfeel
i
ngofbei
ng
par
aly
zed.Pr
ufr
ockagai
nsay
stohi
sromant
icsel
ftogoonaj
our
neyt
hrough“
hal
f-
deser
tedst
reet
s”and“
mut
ter
ingr
etr
eat
s”.Thi
sisast
reetwher
echeaphot
elsar
e,
andt
heni
ght
sar
eal
way
srest
less.Per
hapsbyusi
ngt
hewor
ds“
hal
f-
deser
ted”
,
“
mut
ter
ing”and“
rest
less”El
i
otwant
stohi
ghl
i
ghtt
hesi
tuat
ionofst
reet
sofr
edl
i
ght
ar
easwher
ether
eisnopl
acef
orsi
l
ence.Usual
l
y,ni
ght
sar
esi
l
entanddeser
ted,
but
i
nthi
sst
reet
,peopl
e'
smov
ementi
son.Al
ongt
hosest
reet
s,t
her
eal
sost
andcheap
r
est
aur
ant
swi
thsawdustt
osoakupt
hespi
l
tal
cohol
,andoy
stershel
l
sli
eont
he
f
loor
.Ther
omant
icsel
fsay
stogof
rom t
hest
reet
sthatf
oll
ow l
i
keamonot
onous
di
scussi
onordecept
ivepur
pose.Thi
swayl
eadst
oanov
erwhel
mingquest
ion.Thi
s
wi
l
lfi
l
lherwi
thwonder
.Hi
sromant
icsel
fthenr
equest
shi
sreal
i
stsel
fnott
oask
aboutt
hequest
ion.I
nthemeant
ime,hi
srev
eri
eisbr
oken,andheov
erhear
sthe
v
oicesofsomewomencomment
sandadmi
resMi
chel
angel
o’sar
tandscul
ptur
esi
n
t
headj
oini
ngr
oom ofhi
sladyl
ove.Hedoubt
shi
sper
sonal
i
tyandhowwomencoul
d
bei
nter
est
edi
nhi
m whendi
scussi
ngasi
l
lust
ri
ousasMi
chel
angel
o.
Comment
s
•Ur
bandi
cti
on
•Si
mil
e:1-Ev
eni
nghasbeencompar
edwi
tht
heanaest
het
izedpat
ientl
yi
ng
upona
t
abl
e.
      
 
2-t
wir
li
ngst
reet
shasbeencompar
edwi
tht
edi
ousar
gumenthav
ing
i
nsi
dious 
          
i
ntent
ion
•Al
l
usi
on:1-“
womencomeandgo/Tal
ki
ngofMi
chel
angel
o”.El
i
otbor
rowed
most
of
 t
hisl
i
nef
rom t
heUr
uguay
an-
bor
nFr
enchpoetJul
esLaFor
gue
(
1880-
  
             
1887)
;inoneofhi
swor
ks,
Laf
orguewr
otei
nFr
ench.
         2.“
Over
whel
mingquest
ion”
-El
i
otappear
stohav
ebor
rowedt
his
phr
asef
rom
JamesFeni
mor
eCooper
’s1823nov
el,ThePi
oneer
s.I
nthenov
el,
oneoft
he
char
act
ers,
Benj
ami
n,asksaser
iesofquest
ionsendi
ngwi
tht
he
“
over
whel
mingquest
ion”
.
•Tr
ansf
err
edepi
thet
:“r
est
lessni
ght
s”her
ePr
ufr
ocki
srest
less,
nott
heni
ght
.
•Met
aphor
:“mut
ter
ingr
etr
eat
s”
•Ther
hymeschemeoft
hispoem i
sir
regul
arbutnotr
andom.Ther
ear
efew
wor
dsr
hymewi
theachot
her
.Ther
efor
e,t
her
hymeschemeoft
hisst
anzacan
beAABCCDDEEFGGHH
•Ther
eisar
efr
aini
nthest
anza.Manyphr
aseshav
ebeenr
epeat
ed.For
exampl
e:“
Letusgo”hasbeenr
epeat
edt
hreet
imesi
nonest
anza.“
Str
eet
s”-
t
wot
imes.
 
St
anzaI
I
Pr
ufr
ocknot
icedt
haty
ell
owev
eni
ngf
ogl
ooksl
i
keagol
dencatr
ubsi
tsback
upont
hewi
ndowpanes.Theni
trubsi
tsmuzzl
eont
hewi
ndowpanesandl
i
ckedi
ts
t
onguei
ntot
hecor
ner
soft
heev
eni
ng.Af
tert
hat
,itl
i
nger
edupont
hepool
soft
he
dr
ains.I
tal
sol
ett
hechi
mneysootf
alluponi
tsback,andt
heni
tsl
i
ppedsmoot
hly
al
ongt
het
err
ace.I
tthenmadeasuddenl
eapandmov
edar
oundt
hehousei
na
cur
li
ngmot
ion.Pr
ufr
ockt
hennot
icedt
hati
twasapl
easantOct
oberni
ghtmov
ed
cur
vedl
yal
ongt
hehouseandcov
eredi
t.
 
El
i
othaspr
esent
ed t
hebi
tt
err
eal
i
tyoft
heenv
ironment
.Onal
i
ter
all
evel
,the
i
ndust
ri
ali
zedci
ti
esi
nwhi
chEl
i
otspentmuchofhi
sear
lyadul
thoodwer
equi
te
pol
l
utedi
nthel
ateni
net
eent
handear
lyt
went
iet
hcent
ury
,whenhewr
otet
hepoem.
The“
yel
l
owf
og”and“
yel
l
owsmoke”ar
eani
mat
edr
epr
esent
ati
onsoft
hesmogt
hat
coul
dbef
oundi
nsuchi
ndust
ri
alar
eas.Whi
l
ePr
ufr
ockmaybedescr
ibi
ngt
he
env
ironment
alcondi
ti
onsofamoder
nci
ty,t
hey
ell
ow f
og al
so f
unct
ionsona
sy
mbol
i
clev
el.
I
nasense,
they
ell
owf
ogsy
mbol
i
zesPr
ufr
ockhi
msel
f.Thef
ogi
sdepi
ctedas
aki
ndofani
mal
—per
hapsacat
—sl
i
nki
ngt
hrought
heci
tysol
i
tar
il
y,r
ubbi
ngi
ts“
back”
and“
muzzl
eont
hewi
ndow-
panes”and“
li
nger
[i
ng]upont
hepool
sthatst
andi
n
dr
ains.
”Justast
hef
eli
nef
ogl
urksar
oundt
heedgesoft
heci
ty,sot
oodoes
Pr
ufr
ockmov
eaboutt
heci
tyal
one,
feel
i
ngt
hathei
snotpar
toft
hesoci
alf
abr
ic.
Comment
s
•Foghasbeenper
soni
fi
edasal
urki
ngcat
.Howev
er,i
tisnotconf
ir
medt
hat
t
hepoethasgi
vent
her
efer
encet
oacatoranyot
herani
malbecauseonl
ythebody
par
tsofanani
mal
hav
ebeenment
ioned.
•Repet
it
ion:Li
nef
if
teenandsi
xteenst
art
swi
th“
they
ell
ow”andendswi
th
“
window-
panes.
”
•Ref
rai
n:Thel
i
nesr
epeat
edatsomedi
stancei
nthepoemsar
ecal
l
ed 
ref
rai
n.
Thephr
asessuchas“
they
ell
ow”“
window-
panes”and“
letusgo”hav
ebeenr
epeat
ed.
Ther
efor
e,t
heyhav
ebecomeat
ypeofr
efr
ain.
St
anzaI
II
Pr
ufr
ockagai
nget
slosti
nhi
sdr
eamyt
hought
s.Hi
sreal
i
stsel
fisunwi
l
li
ngt
o
got
othey
oungbeaut
yandt
opr
oposet
oherf
ormar
ri
age.I
ttel
l
shi
sromant
icsel
f
t
haty
ouhav
emucht
ime;t
her
eisnohur
ry.Ther
eal
i
stsel
fgi
vest
heexampl
eof
y
ell
owsmoke,
whi
chgl
i
desal
ongt
hest
reetandr
ubi
tsbackupont
hewi
ndowpanes,
andi
twi
l
lgl
i
det
omor
rowagai
n.I
ndeed,t
her
ewi
l
lbet
imef
ort
hef
ogt
ogl
i
deagai
n.
Ther
eispl
ent
yoft
imet
opr
epar
eyour
sel
ftomeett
hef
aces.Ther
ewi
l
lbet
imet
o
mur
dery
ourr
ealsel
fandcr
eat
eaf
acet
hathascour
age.Ther
eal
i
stsel
fsay
stot
he
r
omant
icsel
fthaty
ouhav
elot
soft
imet
ofi
ndv
ari
ousway
stopr
oposet
ohert
o
accepthi
spr
oposal
.Ther
efor
e,hehast
imet
osel
ectt
hebestoneandmur
deral
lthe
r
estway
s.Hecanr
aiset
hequest
ionoft
hepr
oposalandabandoni
t.Ther
eal
i
stsel
f
say
sther
eispl
ent
yoft
imet
odoal
lthewor
ksy
ouhav
etakeni
nyourhandst
odr
op
t
hisquest
ionr
ightnow.Ther
eist
imef
ory
ouandmesot
hatwecanpr
epar
e
our
sel
vesf
ort
hepr
oposal
.Ther
ewi
l
lbet
imef
orust
othi
nkaboutourdeci
sions,of
whi
chatpr
esenty
ouar
eunabl
etodeci
de.I
nthatt
ime,y
oucanr
evi
set
hewayhow
y
ouwi
l
lpr
oposeorwhet
hery
oushoul
dpr
oposeornotbef
oret
hef
inalpr
oposalof
mar
ri
age.
 
Pr
ufr
ock’
sst
ream oft
hought
sissuddenl
ybr
okenagai
n.Heov
erhear
ssome
womencomment
ingonMi
chel
angel
o’sscul
ptur
e'sar
twhi
l
etheycomeoutof
,and
goi
nto,
theadj
oini
ngr
oom.I
tshowst
hatl
i
fei
srepet
it
iveanddul
l
.
Thepr
esentst
anzashowst
hei
ndeci
siv
enat
ureofPr
ufr
ock.I
tshowst
hathehasno
cour
aget
opr
oposet
ohi
sladyl
ove.Hav
ingencour
agedhi
msel
ftogot
oheratonce,
heput
sof
fhi
sdeci
sion,say
ingt
hathehaspl
ent
yoft
imet
othi
nkov
erhi
sdeci
sion.
Hei
sunsur
eofhi
sint
ent
s.I
trai
sest
het
hought
sthatPr
ufr
ocki
snotr
eadyt
oface
t
hesi
tuat
ionaf
tert
hepr
oposal
.Thati
swhyhei
spost
poni
ngt
hisev
ent
.
Comment
s
•Repet
it
ion:Thewor
d“t
ime”hasbeenr
epeat
edsev
ent
imesi
nthest
anza.
Thesenseoft
ime,t
ime,t
imepr
essesupont
her
eader
,andt
he 
repet
it
ionoft
he
wor
ldmakest
her
eadermor
econsci
ousoft
hemi
nut
es'passi
ng,r
athert
hanl
ess.
Ther
efor
e,i
tcanber
eadast
hehast
yrushofdai
l
yli
fe,
thatnomat
terhowmucht
ime
t
her
eis,
nomat
terhowonet
hinksabouti
t,t
her
eisal
way
sgoi
ngt
obeenough.
•Thedescr
ipt
ionoft
hebodypar
ts(
asi
thasbeengi
veni
nthepr
evi
ous
st
anza)
,li
ke “
hands”
,“f
aces” i
nst
ead of i
ndi
vi
dual
,may r
eveala sense of
wor
thl
essnesst
hatPr
ufr
ockdi
spl
ayst
owar
dst
hei
ndi
vi
dual
.
•I
rony
:Pr
ufr
ock’
sreal
i
stsel
fsay
s,“
ther
ewi
l
lbet
ime”
,butact
ual
l
y,hedoes
nothav
eti
mebecausehehasal
readycr
ossedt
heageofmar
ri
age.
 
•Thedr
oppi
ngof“
aquest
ionony
ourpl
ate”r
eveal
show Pr
ufr
ocki
sfaced
wi
thdi
l
emmasi
nwhi
chuncer
tai
ntypl
aysal
argef
act
or.
•Ur
bandi
cti
on
•Ther
eisnopar
ti
cul
arr
hymeschemei
nthi
sst
anza,howev
erf
ew wor
ds
r
hymewi
theachot
heri
ntheendofeachl
i
ne.
•Al
l
usi
on:1-“
ther
ewi
l
lbet
ime”t
hisphr
aseal
l
udest
otheopeni
ngl
i
neof“
To
Hi
s 
           CoyMi
str
ess”byAndr
ewMar
vel
l
.Int
hispoem,
thespeakerur
ges
hi
s
 bel
ovednott
obecoybuti
nst
eadt
osei
zet
hemoment
-tot
ake
adv
ant
age
ofy
out
hand“
spor
tuswhi
l
ewemay
”.Pr
ufr
ock,
int
heopposi
teof
i
t
cont
inual
l
ypost
poneshi
smeet
ingwi
thhi
sladyl
ovebysay
ing
“
ther
e  
          
  wi
l
lbet
ime”
.
         
2-“
all
thewor
ksandday
s”,
“Wor
ksandDay
s”i
sal
ongpoem byHesi
od,
 
           
 aGr
eekwr
it
erwhol
i
vedi
nthe700’
sB.
C.“
wor
ks”r
efer
stof
arml
abour
 
           
 and“
day
s”r
efer
stoper
iodsoft
hey
earf
orper
for
mingcer
tai
n
agr
icul
tur
al 
           
 chor
es.Thepoem st
ressest
hei
mpor
tanceofhar
dwor
kandt
her
ight
 
           
 l
i
vingandcondemni
ngmor
aldecay
.
St
anzaI
VandV
Pr
ufr
ockagai
nlosti
nhi
sdr
eamyt
hought
s.Her
ehi
sreal
i
stsel
fandr
omant
ic-
sel
fspeakoneaf
tert
heot
her
.Ther
omant
icsel
fsay
sindeedt
her
ewi
l
lbet
imet
o
t
hinkupont
hedeci
sionwhet
herIcandar
etopr
oposet
oherornot
.IfIdonothav
e
t
hecour
age,Ishoul
dtur
nbackanddescendt
hest
air
sofherhouse.Ihav
eabal
d
spoti
nthemi
ddl
eofmyhai
r.I
fIpr
oposet
oher
,thenei
ghbour
ingwomenmi
ght
commentonmybal
dnessas“
howhi
shai
risgr
owi
ngt
hin!
”.Ihav
eav
erysi
mpl
ecoat
whosecol
l
armount
ingf
ir
mlyt
othechi
n,andIhav
eacost
lyandmodestneckt
ie,
but
i
tisasser
tedwi
thasi
mpl
epi
n.Thewomenwi
l
lst
il
lnot
iceandcommentonmy
phy
sical
appear
anceas“
Buthowhi
sar
msandl
egsar
ethi
n!”
.Ther
omant
icsel
fasks
hi
sreal
i
stsel
fthatnowt
ell
smet
odoIdar
edi
stur
btheuni
ver
seofher
s.I
nami
nut
e,
If
eelt
hatt
her
eist
imet
othi
nkupont
hisdeci
sion,andIcanr
evi
set
hewayt
o
pr
oposet
oher
,butatt
hesamet
ime,
itr
ever
ses.
ThenextmomentPr
ufr
ockcomesoutf
rom hi
sthought
sand ov
erhear
s
v
oicesofsomewomenmi
xedwi
tht
hemusi
cofi
nst
rument
sint
hef
art
herr
oom,
and
hemut
ter
stohi
msel
f.Hesay
sthathehasknownal
loft
hem al
ready
.Hehasspent
mor
nings,af
ter
noons,andev
eni
ngswi
tht
hem.Hehasspental
lhi
sli
fei
nhot
els,
cl
ubs,et
c.,t
aki
ngt
eaandcof
fee.Now hef
eel
sli
kehi
sli
fei
sli
keacof
feespoon.
Ev
erydeci
sionhemakesi
scar
eful
l
ywei
ghedandmeasur
ed.
 
Her
ecogni
zest
hev
oicesdy
ingwi
thady
ingf
allundert
hemusi
calnot
escomi
ng
f
rom af
art
herr
oom.Het
hent
urnsbackt
ohi
sthought
s.Heaskshi
msel
fhow he
shoul
dex
presshi
slov
etohi
sladyl
ove.Howcoul
dhet
akeuponhi
msel
fwi
thov
er
bol
dness?
Hehasal
readyseent
hemagi
coft
heey
esofhi
sbel
oved.Hesay
sthathe
knowst
heey
esofal
lwomenwhol
ookf
ory
oungmenandt
heey
est
hatmakesone
mot
ionl
ess.Ther
efor
e,hef
eel
sdi
shear
tenedbecausehei
sami
ddl
e-agedbal
dman.
Nev
ert
hel
ess,st
il
l,t
hedeepnessoft
heey
esofhi
sbel
ovedmakeshi
mfor
mul
ated.
Hef
indshi
msel
fspr
awl
edonapi
ntwi
sti
ngont
hewal
l
.Hencehowwi
l
lhebeabl
eto
expl
ainhi
msel
ftot
hem-
theor
dinar
iness,t
hemedi
ocr
it
y,ofhi
sli
fe?Mor
eov
er,when
heget
slosti
nthewebofhi
sbel
oved'
sey
es,
howcoul
dhebegi
ntot
ellt
hemanner
s
andr
estoft
hel
i
fepl
anni
ngt
oher
.So,t
hequest
ioni
s,how shoul
dhegat
hert
he
cour
aget
ospeakt
oheraboutt
hem.
Comment
s
•Repet
it
ion:El
i
othasusedt
her
epet
it
iont
echni
quet
ohi
ghl
i
ghtt
hepar
ti
cul
ar
obj
ect
.Forexampl
e,i
nthesest
anzas,her
epeat
edt
hephr
ase“
Ihav
eknownt
hem,I
hav
eal
readyknownt
hem”
,“DoIdar
e?”
 
•Ref
rai
n:“
Sohowshoul
dIpr
esume?
”
•“
Ihav
emeasur
edmyl
i
fewi
thcof
feespoons”showst
hatPr
ufr
ockhasa
monot
onousr
out
ineofl
i
fe.
•Ur
bandi
cti
on
•Thepoethasusedt
hebodypar
tsagai
nli
ke-hai
r,chi
n,ar
msandl
egs,
eyes.
St
anzaVIandVI
I
Recol
l
ect
ingt
het
hought
sabouthi
sladyl
ovePr
ufr
ocksay
sthathehasseen
herar
mst
oo.Hehasseent
hear
msofot
her
stoo.Howev
er,herbr
acel
eted,whi
te
andsl
eev
elessar
ms,whi
chi
nthel
ampl
i
ghtar
ebeaut
if
iedbyherl
i
ghtbr
ownhai
r,
castamagi
cspel
lonhi
m andmakehi
m mot
ionl
essandmut
e.Somet
imest
heyl
i
e
al
ongwi
that
abl
eorwr
apaboutashawl
.Isi
tthescentofherdr
essort
hechar
m of
herbeaut
ythatmakeshi
mtur
nfr
om t
hepr
imar
ypur
poseofhi
svi
sit
?Ther
omant
ic
sel
fagai
nget
sconf
usedandaskshi
srealsel
f,shoul
dhenotgat
hert
hecour
aget
o
speakt
oher
?Ev
eni
fhedar
est
ovi
sither
,howwi
l
lhebegi
nhi
sconv
ersat
ion?
Shoul
dhebegi
nhi
sconv
ersat
ionbysay
ingt
hathehaswal
kedt
hrought
he
nar
rowst
reet
satsunsetandnot
icedl
onel
ymeni
nshi
rt
-sl
eev
es,
smoki
ngpi
pesand
l
eani
ngoutofwi
ndowswat
chi
ngout
war
ds?Theywer
enot
ici
ngl
i
febutnott
aki
ng
par
tini
t.Hewi
sheshewer
easeaani
malwi
thr
aggedcl
awsandswi
mmi
ngacr
oss
t
heoceansur
face.
Comment
s
•Thest
anzashowst
hatPr
ufr
ocki
sver
ysel
f-
consci
ousabouthi
slooks.Hi
s
bal
dspot
,thi
nlegsandar
ms,t
hinhai
rsar
etheobst
ruct
ionbef
orehi
spr
oposal
becausel
adi
esl
ovepeopl
eli
keMi
chel
angel
oashei
stheper
fectexampl
eofani
deal
mal
ewi
thper
fect
ion.Ont
hecont
rar
y,Pr
ufr
ockdoesnothav
eanyqual
i
ty.Ther
efor
e,
heshoul
dthi
nkagai
nabouthi
sdeci
sion.Per
hapsEl
i
oti
scomment
ing ont
he
i
mpor
tanceofphy
sicalappear
ancer
athert
hanr
eall
ove.Secondl
y,i
tal
sohi
ghl
i
ght
s
t
hemi
ddl
e-ageddi
ff
icul
ti
es.
•Pr
ufr
ocknot
icesonl
ythebodypar
tsofwomeni
nst
eadofabodyasawhol
e.
Per
hapsi
tindi
cat
est
hathef
ail
stor
elat
ehi
msel
fwi
thot
her
sbecauseofanxi
ety
.He
i
ssubconsci
ousl
yunabl
etor
ecogni
zet
hef
emal
eshei
nter
act
swi
thasawhol
e
humanbei
ngandi
nst
eadmustv
iewt
hem asi
ndi
vi
dual
bodypar
ts.
•Thesy
mbolofr
aggedcl
awsconj
urest
hei
mageoff
uti
l
ity
,ofmov
ingsl
owl
y
andwi
thi
ncr
edi
bledi
ff
icul
ty.Thi
simageal
sobr
ingst
hei
deaof“
crabbi
ness”orani
l
l-
t
emper
edmoodof
tenl
i
nkedt
ogr
owi
ngol
dandconf
used.
•Sy
necdoche:
raggedcl
aws(
clawshav
ebeenusedi
nst
eadoft
hewhol
ecr
ab)
St
anzaVI
IIandI
X
Hav
ingemer
gedf
rom hi
sthought
s,Pr
ufr
ockcomment
sont
hequi
et,sl
eepy
ev
eni
ng.Hecompar
esi
ttoacatl
yi
ngont
hef
loor
.Thet
imepassespeacef
ull
y.I
tis
asi
ftheaf
ter
noon,t
heev
eni
ng,sl
eepi
ngsopeacef
ull
yasi
fitwer
ethecatl
ull
edt
o
sl
eepst
ret
chedoutont
hef
loorbyt
hel
ongf
inger
s.I
tisei
therasl
eep,t
ir
ed,or
pr
etendst
obei
l
ltoescapedut
y;i
tli
esont
hef
loorbesi
det
her
ealsel
fandr
omant
ic
sel
f.
 
Pr
ufr
ockt
henagai
nget
slosti
nhi
sthought
sandbegi
nst
othi
nkabouthi
s
l
ove.Heaskshi
sreal
i
stsel
fwhet
herheshoul
dmust
ert
hecour
aget
oexpr
esshi
s
l
ovet
oheraf
tert
het
reatofi
cecr
eams,
cakeandt
ea.I
tmaygi
vehi
m st
rengt
h,butat
t
hatmoment
,thi
spr
oposalmaygi
ver
iset
oacr
isi
sinl
i
fe.Hehassi
ghedf
orher
,has
f
ast
edandpr
ayedt
oGodt
omar
ryher
.Int
hispr
ocess,hehasgr
ownbal
donhi
s
head.I
nthi
srespect
,hehasbeen,
asi
twer
e,beheadedbyol
dage,
andhi
sheadhas
beenpr
esent
eduponapl
att
ert
oher
,justasJohnt
heBapt
ist
’sheadwaspr
esent
ed
uponapl
att
ert
oSal
ome,Ki
ngHer
od’
sdanci
nggi
rl
.Buthenotamar
tyr
-l
ikeJohn-
t
heBapt
ist
.Hei
sanor
dinar
yvi
cti
m ofol
dage,
andt
omar
ryi
tisnotagr
eatmat
ter
.
Heal
soexper
iencedsomet
err
ibl
emoment
swhenev
erhet
ri
edt
opr
oposet
oher
.
Ev
eryt
imehi
scour
agef
ail
ed hi
m.Hef
eltasi
fhewer
eint
hegr
ip ofdeat
h.
Fur
ther
mor
e,deat
hlef
thi
m al
i
ve,
mocki
ngathi
sti
midi
ty.I
nshor
t,hehasbeenaf
rai
d
t
otel
lhert
hathel
ovesher
.
Ther
omant
icsel
ftel
l
sther
eal
i
stsel
fthatper
hapsaf
tert
hecups,t
heor
ange
j
amsandt
het
eaandkeepi
ngt
heey
esonpor
cel
aincupsandsmi
l
ingont
hef
ace
shoul
dhei
ntr
oducet
het
opi
c.Woul
ditbewor
thi
tifhecondensest
hewhol
emat
ter
i
ntoashor
tsent
enceandasksheraboutt
hepr
oposalofmar
ri
agei
nthef
orm ofan
amazi
ngquest
ion?Ther
omant
icsel
fsay
sthathei
snotLazar
uswhowi
l
lret
urn
f
rom t
hedeadt
otel
lheraboutt
hel
ovet
hathef
eel
sforher
.Ther
efor
e,heshoul
dtel
l
herabouthi
spr
oposal
.Agai
n,Pr
ufr
ocki
sdoubt
ful
.Ther
eal
i
stsel
frepl
i
est
he
r
omant
icsel
f;whati
fshesay
sbyset
tl
ingapi
l
low byherheadt
hatherpol
i
te
behav
iournev
ermeantanyl
ovef
orhi
misnotl
ove.
Comment
s
•ForPr
ufr
ockpr
oposi
nghi
sbel
ovedi
sthemostchal
l
engi
ngt
ask.Hehas
compar
edpr
oposi
ngt
oagi
rli
sli
kesqueezi
ngt
heuni
ver
sei
ntoabal
l
.
•Al
l
usi
on:1-El
i
otal
l
udest
oaBi
bli
calst
ory
.Accor
dingt
oit
,John-
theBapt
ist
,
who
was 
apr
ophet
,wasbeheadedatt
hecommandofKi
ngHer
od,
his
head
was 
“br
oughti
nuponapl
att
ert
oSal
ome,
adanci
nggi
rlofKi
ng
Her
od’
s 
cour
t”.
         
2-“
tohav
esqueezedt
heuni
ver
sei
ntoabal
l
”thi
sphr
asei
sanal
l
usi
ont
o 
           Mar
vel
’
s“ToHi
sCoyMi
str
ess”
.Int
hel
astst
anzaoft
hatpoem,t
he
speaker
/per
sona
say
s,“
Letusr
ollal
lourst
rengt
handal
l/Oursweet
ness 
upi
ntoonebal
l
.”
I
nEl
i
ot’
s
poem,t
hespeakeraskswhet
heri
twoul
dhav
ebeenwor
thi
ttodot
he
samet
hing
wi
thawomanofhi
schoosi
ng.
 
         
 3-Lazar
us(
li
ne94)
:Nameoft
woNewTest
amentf
igur
es:
(1)Lazar
usof
 
           
 Bet
hany
,br
otherofMar
thaandMar
y.Jesusr
aisedhi
mfr
om t
hedead 
           
 (
GospelofJohn,Chapt
er11:Ver
ses18,30,32,38)
;(2)Lazar
us,a
l
epr
ousbeggar
(
GospelofLuke,Chapt
er16:Ver
ses19-
31)
.WhenLazar
usdi
ed,
 
hewas
t
aken
 i
ntoheav
en.Whenar
ichmannamedDi
vesdi
ed,hewentt
ohel
l
.He
r
equest
ed
t
hatLazar
usber
etur
nedt
oear
tht
owar
nhi
sbr
other
saboutt
hehor
rorof
hel
l
,but
hi
srequestwasdeni
ed.
 Repet
it
ion:
“Ihav
eseen”
,“t
ell
youal
l
”, 
St
anzaXandXI
Ther
omant
icsel
frepl
i
esandaskshi
srealsel
fwhet
heri
twoul
dnothav
e
beenusef
uli
fhehadgi
venherahi
ntofhi
slov
eaf
tert
hesunsett
ea,t
hedoor
yar
d
meet
ingandl
atei
ntheev
eni
ngwhent
hest
reet
shadbecomel
onel
y.Hecoul
dal
so
hav
egi
venherhi
ntsaf
tergi
vi
ngt
henov
elsaf
tert
het
ea-
cups,
aft
ert
hedancesi
nbal
l
-
room andaf
tert
hisandt
hatanyot
hersui
tabl
eanot
heroccasi
on.St
il
l,t
her
eisa
needt
opr
oposet
oher
?Thenagai
n,t
her
omant
icsel
fsay
sfur
thert
hathecannot
sayj
ustwhathemeansi
nfr
ontofher
.Iti
sasi
fshecoul
ddi
scov
erhi
sinnat
e
f
eel
i
ngswi
thherdeepey
esl
i
keamagi
clant
ernandsaybyt
hrowi
ngof
fapi
l
lowor
shawlandt
urni
ngt
owar
dthewi
ndowt
hathehadmi
sreadherandt
hatshedi
dnot
l
ovehi
m atal
l
.Woul
ditbet
oler
abl
eforme?
 
Pr
ufr
ock’
sromant
icsel
fsay
sthathecannotdeci
dewhatheshoul
ddo,
andhe
wasagr
eat
,nobl
e,br
ave,handsomey
oungpr
ince.Hesay
sno,hei
snotl
i
kePr
ince
Haml
etandt
her
efor
e,hedoesnotcompar
ehi
msel
fwi
thHaml
et.Hewoul
dlov
eto
cal
lhi
msel
fanat
tendantl
ord(
Pol
oni
us)ofPr
inceHaml
et,whocoul
dhel
ppr
ogr
ess
t
hesi
tuat
ionandt
akepar
tinasceneort
wo.Hecoul
dadv
iset
hepr
ince,andi
nthi
s
way
,hewoul
dbeanor
dinar
ybutr
espect
fulser
vant
.Hewoul
dbegl
adt
obeofsome
useandj
udi
cious,
caut
iousandmet
icul
ous,
ful
lofopi
nionandmayabi
tdul
l
-wi
tt
ed.
Att
hesamet
ime,
occasi
onal
l
yabi
tri
dicul
ousandal
mostf
ool
.
Comment
s 
•Al
l
usi
on:El
i
othas used Haml
et,t
he pr
ince ofDenmar
k,t
he her
o of
Shakespear
e’st
ragedyHaml
et.Her
ePr
ufr
ockcompar
eshi
msel
ftohaml
etbecause
Pr
inceHaml
etwasal
sot
oomuchi
ndeci
siv
e.Thenhef
eel
sthatanor
dinar
yman
cannotcompar
ehi
msel
ftot
henobl
epr
ince.
•Repet
it
ion:
“woul
dithav
ebeenwor
th”hasbeenr
epeat
edt
hreet
imes.
•Ref
rai
n:“
Aft
ert
he”
-fourt
imes,
“att
ime”
-twot
imes
•Pun:“
norwasmeantt
obe”Pr
ufr
ockcompar
eshi
msel
ftoHaml
etbecause
ofhi
sindeci
siv
enat
ure,butact
ual
l
y,hehasdeci
dedt
hatt
hedoesnotmeant
obe
l
i
keHaml
etbutwoul
dlov
etocal
lhi
msel
fli
kePol
oni
us.I
nthewhol
epoem,f
ort
he
f
ir
stt
ime,
Pruf
rockdeci
dessomet
hing.

St
anzaXI
I
I
nthepr
esentst
anza,t
her
omant
ic-
sel
faskst
her
eal
i
s-sel
fofPr
ufr
ocksay
s
t
hathei
sgr
owi
ngol
d,andi
tisat
ragi
cfact
.Thenhet
hinksf
orsomemoment
sand
concl
udest
hatheshoul
dst
artwear
ingt
het
rouser
swi
tht
urn-
upswor
nbyy
oung
men.Thet
rouser
swi
l
lhi
dehi
sol
dageandshowhi
m of
fasay
out
hbel
i
evi
ngi
nthe
l
atestf
ashi
on.Thegi
venl
i
nesar
eabi
tir
oni
calsi
ncer
oll
edupbot
tomscannotmake
anol
dermany
oungi
nst
ead,
itcanbecomet
her
easont
olaugh.
Ther
omant
ic-
sel
ffur
theraskst
hatshoul
dhepar
tmyhai
rsf
rom t
hebackt
o
hi
dehi
sbal
dnessf
rom behi
nd(
buthecannothi
det
hebal
dnessf
rom t
hemi
ddl
eof
t
hehead)
.Shoul
dhedar
etost
arteat
ingpeach?Her
epeachi
sahar
dfr
uit
,and
t
her
efor
eol
dagepeopl
eav
oidt
oeati
tbecauseofl
ooset
eet
h.Pr
ufr
ockwant
sto
hi
dehi
sol
dagebyst
arteat
ingpeaches.Hesay
sthatheshoul
dst
artwear
ingf
lannel
t
rouser
sandwal
kont
hebeach.Beachf
il
lshi
smi
ndwi
thav
isi
onofbat
hingbeaut
ies,
andt
her
efor
ehesay
sthathehashear
dbeaut
if
ull
adi
essi
ngi
ngt
oeachot
her
.The
memor
yoft
hesemer
mai
dsr
omant
ici
zeshi
shear
t,butsoonher
eal
i
zest
hatt
heydo
notsi
ngf
orhi
m.Hehasseent
hem r
idi
ngont
heboatandswi
mmi
ngseawar
dand
backwar
dsont
hewav
es,andt
hei
rhai
rget
swhi
tei
nwhi
tef
oam ofwat
erandt
urns
bl
ackwhent
hewav
esbl
owback.
Fi
nal
l
y,Pr
ufr
ocki
magi
nest
hatt
hey(
real
-sel
fandr
eal
i
st-
sel
f)hav
eli
nger
edi
n
t
hechamber
soft
heseawher
esea-
gir
lst
obehi
smai
ds.Theyhav
ecr
ownsofr
ed
andbr
ownseaweedsont
hei
rheads,
andt
heywi
l
lgetl
osti
nthi
sdr
eamywor
ld.They
wi
l
lst
ayt
her
eunt
ilt
hehumanv
oicesshat
tert
hisday
dream unt
ilt
heywantt
odr
own
t
hemsel
vesi
nthi
simagi
nedr
eal
i
tyandenj
oyt
het
ime.
Comment
s
•Sy
mbolofPeach:i
tist
heChi
nesesy
mbolf
ormar
ri
ageandi
mmor
tal
i
ty.I
t
al
soshowsPr
ufr
ockwant
stoeatpeachbecausehedesi
ressexashei
sst
il
lsi
ngl
e,
ori
tcanbesai
dPr
ufr
ockwant
edt
oat
tai
nsexual
pleasur
e.
•Theconcl
udi
ngt
wo,t
hree-
li
nest
anzasactasasest
et.Thel
astl
i
nesshow
t
hatPr
ufr
ockhasanunat
tai
nabl
eideall
ove.Ther
efor
e,hei
sfr
ust
rat
edandhas
par
aly
zeddesi
ref
oral
lwomenwhor
ejecthi
m andhencehewant
sthem ashi
smai
d
andwant
stodr
ownwi
tht
hem i
ntheseachamberunt
ilanyr
emi
nderoft
hesoci
al
wor
ld.
•Thedi
cti
oni
sur
ban.
•Ther
hymeschemei
sAABBBCDEECFF.
•Ref
rai
n:“
Igr
owol
d”