The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Group

Question:


taya
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Explain Prufrock's expectations of the party guests in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

Lines 49-69

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Posted by taya on Wednesday October 22, 2008 at 12:16 PM and tagged with characters, lines 4969, party guests, speaker, the love song of j. alfred prufrock, themes.

Answers:


  1. cnorth Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Prufrock reveals his self conscious nature when he states,

    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!"]

    He is insecure about his looks and anticipates the comments the the ladies may make. He is anxious and nervous and wonders, "do I dare"?

    Prufrock seems to be inexperienced in social situations, especially in the presence of ladies. He indicates his excitement with,

    And I have known the arms already, known them
    all-
    Arms that are braceleted and white and bare
    [But in the lamplight, downed with light brown
    hair!]

    He finds pleasure in the smallest detail, that of a woman's arm. In that arm he sees possibilities, and yet is afraid of those possibilities. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/love-song/critical-overview
    http://www.enotes.com/love-song/text-poem
    http://www.enotes.com/love-song/themes

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    Posted by cnorth on Thursday October 23, 2008 at 2:53 PM

  2. tanifa
    tanifa Student
    College - Senior

    Explain Prufrock's character.

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    Posted by tanifa on Wednesday March 4, 2009 at 10:15 AM