Mr. Nick
Analysis of TS Eliot’s The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock
Stanza Three
Eliot attempts to sidetrack the readers train of though away from the feeling of depression due to the description of the current society by describing his surrounds in dept. This shadows the ‘overwhelming question’ of ‘what happens to society after World War 1?’ and gives the reader hope in the form of reassurance that there will be “time” for answers later, allowing them to carry on with their lives.
This stanza links the theme ‘going it alone’ through Eliot’s optimism of the future. The current mood among society is dark and depressed due to World War one and Eliot’s opinion would not have been shared by the majority.
* Eliot uses the repetition of “the will be time” highlights that he his attempting to convince society that although the conditions are bad, with “time” they will improve. * “To lift and drop a question” reflects the way society is attempting to grasp an idea on the current issues but cannot hold on to them therefore metaphorically dropping them.
The author uses the metaphor “the yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window panes” to describe that the depression and anxiety of the outcomes of WW1 are “there” or “present with us”. Shortly after describing this the author says that even though all the emotions and hardships and “with us”, they should go on with their lives and try to live with the presence of these things.
Jake Meincke and James Nadin
Stanza 4
And indeed there will be time | | To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?” | | Time to turn back and descend the stair, | | With a bald spot in the middle of my hair— | 40 | (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!”) | | Do I dare | 45 | Disturb the universe? | |
Stanza Three
Eliot attempts to sidetrack the readers train of though away from the feeling of depression due to the description of the current society by describing his surrounds in dept. This shadows the ‘overwhelming question’ of ‘what happens to society after World War 1?’ and gives the reader hope in the form of reassurance that there will be “time” for answers later, allowing them to carry on with their lives.
This stanza links the theme ‘going it alone’ through Eliot’s optimism of the future. The current mood among society is dark and depressed due to World War one and Eliot’s opinion would not have been shared by the majority.
* Eliot uses the repetition of “the will be time” highlights that he his attempting to convince society that although the conditions are bad, with “time” they will improve. * “To lift and drop a question” reflects the way society is attempting to grasp an idea on the current issues but cannot hold on to them therefore metaphorically dropping them.
The author uses the metaphor “the yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window panes” to describe that the depression and anxiety of the outcomes of WW1 are “there” or “present with us”. Shortly after describing this the author says that even though all the emotions and hardships and “with us”, they should go on with their lives and try to live with the presence of these things.
Jake Meincke and James Nadin
Stanza 4
And indeed there will be time | | To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?” | | Time to turn back and descend the stair, | | With a bald spot in the middle of my hair— | 40 | (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!”) | | Do I dare | 45 | Disturb the universe? | |