Journal #17

What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?

The significance of the epigraph is that it is from Dante’s Inferno. Dante says that he is not afraid to explain his story to others because no one has ever come back alive from hell. Because of this, he believes that nobody can say that he is wrong. This relates to Prufrock since his story also contains his own thoughts. Since he is so self conscious, it is obvious that his story is not meant for a large audience. They both have a similar privacy level, since they are not meant to be judged or read by the public, since no one else was involved or had insight into their work.

Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?

Prufrock asks multiple times: Do I dare? What is it? Should I, after tea and cakes and ices, have the strength to force the moment to its crisis? So how should I presume? Shall I part my hair behind?

All of these questions show Prufrock’s hesitation and anxieties which are not random at all. The theme of anxiety, uncertainty and fear is constantly shown through his questioning. His self–consciousness shows up in all of his questions as well and is unsure of what he should do. Even trivial things eat away at him and destroy him on the inside. His questions also have a pattern of repetition , which expresses his fears about what will occur later in his life.

3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?

PruFrock's character is his main flaw since he is worrying about everything, even the unimportant and minute things, and is always uncertain about his decisions and himself as well. He truly does not want to be judged by other, and is a minor character in his world and in his opinion, does nothing of great importance. He is so preoccupied with his worries that he does nothing with his life..

4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?

The story is called a love song because of it being ironic that there isn't love in it whatsoever. It is not a love song, but a song of sadness since he is alone and he is not the star or his own life. You empathize with him because of his loveless life.