Summary of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
The poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is about a man named Mr. Prufrock. He is shy, lonely, and full of doubts. He wants to talk to people and express his feelings, but he is afraid that others will laugh at him or judge him.
At the beginning, Prufrock invites the reader to walk with him through dark, empty streets of the city. These streets are dirty, full of smoke, and look sad. He sees people going to parties and talking about art, but he feels that he doesn’t belong there.
He worries about his looks — his hair is getting thin, and people might think he is old and boring.
Prufrock says that he has done the same things again and again in his life. He measures his life with coffee spoons — which means his life is small, routine, and unexciting. He feels that nobody really listens to him or understands him.
He also says he is not like Prince Hamlet (a brave man from Shakespeare’s play). Instead, he is just an ordinary man — polite, careful, and afraid of taking risks.
At the end, Prufrock dreams about mermaids singing in the sea. But he thinks they will not sing for him because he is too ordinary. He feels lonely and lost in his own thoughts.
The poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is written by T. S. Eliot, one of the greatest modern poets.
It tells the story of a man named Mr. J. Alfred Prufrock, who is very shy, lonely, and afraid to express his feelings.
The poem is not a “love song” in the usual way. It is about a man who wants to love and be loved, but he cannot gather the courage to speak or act.
At the start, Prufrock speaks to the reader and invites us to walk with him through the city at night.
He says, “Let us go then, you and I.”
The night sky is described as a patient lying on an operation table, which gives a sad and sick image.
This shows that the world around him feels lifeless and dull.
Prufrock walks through lonely streets, filled with cheap hotels and dirty restaurants.
These streets represent his own empty and meaningless life.
He feels that everything around him is boring and hopeless.
He also says that women keep entering and leaving rooms, talking about Michelangelo, a famous artist.
This shows that people around him only talk about high-class things, but without real feeling or care.
Prufrock feels like he doesn’t fit in with them.
Then, Prufrock describes a yellow fog that moves through the city streets.
He compares it to a cat, rubbing its back on windows and licking corners.
This image makes the city seem mysterious and sleepy.
The yellow fog represents the confusion and dullness of his mind — everything is unclear and uncertain.
Prufrock keeps saying, “There will be time.”
He means that there will always be time to do things later — to talk to people, to express love, to make decisions.
But in truth, he never does anything.
He keeps delaying everything and making excuses.
This shows that he is indecisive and afraid to act.
He keeps asking himself:
“Do I dare?”
“Do I dare?”
He worries about his appearance, like his thin hair and skinny arms.
He imagines people whispering about how old and weak he looks.
This shows that Prufrock is too self-conscious — he cares too much about what others think of him.
Prufrock says he has already done everything in life, but it all feels small and unimportant.
He says:
“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.”
This means his life has been quiet, repetitive, and meaningless — full of small daily habits but no excitement or passion.
He has seen parties, conversations, and people — but none of it makes him happy.
He feels that people judge him and don’t really care about what he says.
He compares himself to an insect pinned to a wall, showing how trapped and helpless he feels.
Prufrock also talks about women.
He says he knows many types of women — those who wear perfume and bracelets, and whose arms are pale in the light.
But even when he thinks about love, he gets distracted and confused.
He cannot speak to them because he feels too shy and unsure.
He keeps wondering:
“How should I begin?”
“What should I say?”
He feels alone even in a crowd, unable to connect with anyone.
Later, Prufrock imagines the quiet evening as if it were a peaceful creature sleeping.
He wonders if he has the strength to disturb the calm and speak his heart.
He compares himself to John the Baptist, whose head was cut off and placed on a plate — but then he says, “I am no prophet.”
He means that he is not brave or special — he is just an ordinary man, afraid of life.
He asks again, “Would it have been worth it?”
Would it have been worth taking the risk to speak his heart?
He feels that even if he did, people would not understand him.
They would just say, “That is not what I meant at all.”
This shows that Prufrock feels completely misunderstood.
At the end of the poem, Prufrock says he is not like Prince Hamlet — the brave hero who acts and makes choices.
He is only a minor character, polite and nervous, who never does anything important.
He is growing old, and life is passing him by.
He says:
“I grow old… I grow old…”
“I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.”
This shows that he is aware of his age and loneliness.
He wonders if he dares to eat a peach or walk by the beach — small, simple things that he still fears doing.
Finally, Prufrock dreams of mermaids singing in the sea.
But he knows they will never sing for him, because he does not belong to that world of beauty and freedom.
He has stayed silent and afraid all his life.
When he hears human voices again, his dream ends — and it feels like drowning..
1. Prufrock is shy, lonely, and full of fear.
He wants to speak and love, but he cannot.
2. He feels judged by society.
People care more about looks and status than about real feelings.
3. He keeps delaying his decisions.
He always says “there will be time,” but never acts.
4. He is afraid of growing old and useless.
He worries that life will pass without meaning.
5. He feels disconnected from the world.
He lives more in dreams than in real life.
6. The poem shows modern man’s sadness.
It tells us how people can feel lonely even in a crowded world.
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is not really a love song — it is a sad song of fear, doubt, and loneliness.
Prufrock represents the modern man who thinks too much, feels too little, and never takes bold steps in life.
He wants love and meaning, but ends up with only regret and silence.
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