American World Literature - Essay Example

He argues, “In a minute there is time For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.” (www.bartley.com.Lines 47-48) This is particularly addressed to the woman he loves, but he is unable to take love to its logical conclusion and keeps on stalling. He thinks that time is no bar to take a decision. Throughout the poem, T. S. Eliot creates a character in J. Alfred Prufrock, who is not able to define himself clearly and decisively well in time, and his line of thinking is so profound that it borders ambiguity and beyond the reach of a lay reader.

Aspire for the perfect societal conditions but when they are not there, carry on with the available discipline, and continue to strive for perfection, seems to be Prufrock’s philosophy of life. He enjoys the small pursuits of the common folk and happy to observe the joy they derive out of their disposition, howsoever insignificant they appear to be. There is plenty of time to achieve them. He argues, “Time for you and time for me, And time yet for a hundred indecisions, And for a hundred visions and revisions, Before the taking of a toast and tea.

(Lines 31-34) Perhaps he wished to achieve something important in life, but failed in his endeavors. Silent frustration has crept in his thought processes and his heart remains impacted by cynicism. He has accomplished much in life, but fails to get at what he really wanted to own. He remains groping in the details and is unable to reach out to the essence that he intends to grasp. He has regrets about it, but hides his true feelings and suffers silently. He gives the hint, if he is to accomplish what he wants, that would have been life-altering, but he is afraid of being rejected.

This is the position of his unfulfilled ambition. He often refers to time which has the telling effect on his life, with the advancing age. The thing really important to him once does not fascinate him anymore. With cynicism he argues, “I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker, And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, And in short, I was afraid.” (Lines 84-86) He has his opportunities of love in life of but they are gone forever now. The best and the ideal are past now and he awaits only death.

He is no more interested in the investigative aspect of the life; rather he has lost the inclination and will power to give direction to life. More correctly, he now realizes that a stage has arrived in his life when he has to watch the show like a spectator in the gallery. He has no opinions to give, no goals left to target. Other small details like the secular needs necessary for proper functioning of the body have assumed importance now, for example, to roll his pant-legs or to eat a peach!

With the advancing age, transition in the belief systems in life has begun to take place, and Prufrock now appreciates the beauty of the sunset, instead of raveling in the glow of the sunrise. But in his case, the transition is not smooth. His condition is like the injured athlete who is intent upon completing the race, but has no hope of winning. Prufrock addresses a potential lover in the poem, intent upon the consummating the relationship. But the lover is not sure about his abilities and potentialities; his understanding of the life is too deep with profound imaginings.

This lover lacks confidence, aware of his shortcomings, and has identified his second-rate status, as he asserts, “