The Pitiful Prufrock

A detailed Summary of The Pitiful Prufrock


T.S. Elliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," is a melancholy poem of one man's frustrated search to find the meaning of his existence. The speaker's strong use of imagery contributes to the poems theme of communion and loneliness.

The Poem begins with an invitation from Prufrock to follow him through his self-examination. The imagery of this invitation begins with a startling simile, "Let us go then you and I/ When the evening is spread out against the sky/ Like a patient etherised upon a table." This simile literally describes the evening sky, but functions on another level. Prufrock's description of the "etherised" evening indicates an altering of perception, and an altering of time, which creates a dreamlike quality throughout the poem. This dreamlike quality is supported throughout the poem with the "yellow fog" that contributes to the slowed-down-etherised feeling of the poem. Time and perception are effectivel


Prufrock moves his attention from the city to his final destination; "the room the women come and go/ Speaking of Michealangelo." This couplet contrasts with the previous urban landscape and adds anticipation to the ominous tension surrounding the event. This line also is about time. The couplet suggests that Prufrock has been around to see these women "come and go," implying Prufrock has been situated in the high societal environment for some time. The line also implies that while others have come and gone from the social circles Prufrock is a part of; Prufrock has stayed stagnating. On the way, Prufrock deliberates on whether he can find value in the cold superficial environment, and ask the overwhelming question, "Do I dare/ Disturb the universe?". He feels if he can muster the courage to ask the question, he may at last find value in his life: "would it have been worth while/ To have bitten off the matter with a smile,? To have squeezed the un

Some common words found in the essay are:
Alfred Prufrock, Prufrock Prufrock, Speaking Michealangelo, throughout poem, etherised patient, lonely setting, bald spot, dreamlike quality, prufrock's description, overwhelming question, life prufrock,

Approximate Word count = 641
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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