Eliot, ''The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock'' -- Jerz: EL150 (Intro to Literary Study)
"And in short, I was afraid."
Throughout this poem, I felt as though Eliot was talking about how he regrets things he didn't do when he was younger. I choose the quote above because I had a sense that he was afraid to take chances that he now looks back on as an older man and thinks his life would have been more meaningful. He points out the little things that he felt were of importance when he was younger but every time i read though it I felt like he regrets missing out on something big, possibly love.
The reference to Hamlet, I felt was suppose to show that he didn't feel like his life was important like a prince, but ordinary like a servant. Also tying back into what I said about regret of not living his life to the fullest.
Comments (2)
Bethany I definitely agree that he definitely has regrets as he grows older looking back at his younger days. And I think that the whole point of what was stressed to us is that life is short, and we should try to live without regrets and make this life worthwhile.
Posted by Margaret Jones | January 30, 2007 11:23 AM
Posted on January 30, 2007 11:23
I agree as well. Looking back he can see all the things he wanted to but but never had the nerve to.
"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?"
I think this passage supports your claim, saying that he was "pinned" by the eyes and the judgments of others, so he merely did what they expected and not what he wanted.
Posted by HallieGeary | January 30, 2007 5:30 PM
Posted on January 30, 2007 17:30