"When I am Pinned and Wriggling on the Wall"

Who is J. Alfred Prufrock? This is one question I have been asking myself since first reading The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T. S. Elliot. J. Alfred Prufrock is the speaker of the poem and seems to go off on tangents now and again. However, there is a method to his "madness."
After reading this poem, I have concluded that J. Alfred Prufrock is a very self-conscious and insecure man. He feels isolated and separate from the rest of the world. He is especially bad at socializing with women. For example, in lines 39-40, he says: "TIme to turn back and descend the stair, with a bald spot in the middle of my hair." Prufrock is afriad of the comments women will make about his imperfect appearance. In lines 52-53, Prufrock feels lonely: "I know the voices dying with a dying fall beaneath the music from a farther room." He is isolated from the people in the other room. He feels distant and believes he is an outkast. Additionally, another example of his self-consciousness is his false image of his head being "brought in upon a platter" (line 82). Prufrock feels everyone is watching him and noticing the blad spot on his head. Lastly, J. Alfred Prufrock feels trapped and closed in when with other people. For instance, he says: "And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin, when I am pinned and wrigling on the wall, then how should I begin..." (lines 57-59). Again, Prufrock believes everyone is watching him, dissecting him, and judging him.
Prufrock is a very lonely man who never feels comfortable. He dislikes his appearance and his indecisiveness. He can not bring himself to socialize with women, for he is afraid of how they will react to his bald spot and other things. Prufrock does not seem to overcome his insecurities throughout the play. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is a sad story about a very sad man.

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

This is probably the longest and the most confusing poem I have ever read. Thankfully, in this post, I will only focus on a few things I noted while reading this detailed and complex poem. One line that stood out to me was line 120: "I grow old...I grow old...I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled." This line was remembered because I found it to be amusing and a little ramdom. However, when I started to think of reasons why the author used these words, I finally understood what was meant by them. As one grows old and elderly, the physical structure tends to weaken and shrink. SInce this happens often, the trousers worn for years by a woman or man who is growing old suddenly seem wider and longer. Therefore, an old man or woman must "wear the bottoms of [the] trousers rolled." I have yet to figure out exactly why this line is in the poem, but hopefully it is a critical point in the work of literature.
Additionally, in lines 37-48, the speaker seems to be comparing himself to Prince Hamlet of William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. The speaker is very indecisive and does not know whether to act and "show himself" to the "universe," or to take his time without rushing into things. In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet is also very indecisive about an issue concerning his father's death. Hamlet wants to act and avenge the death, but he is unable to take any action and instead lets time pass by. This comparison and part of the poem is a very interesting passage that may give one insight as to who or what the speaker is.
Furthermore, in lines 111 - 119, the author alludes to the play Hamlet, written by Shakespeare. However, the speaker says that he is not Hamlet, but "an attendant lord." He will "advise the prince, an easy tool...glad to be of use." In lines 118-199, the speaker says: "At times, indeed, almost ridiculous- Almost, at times, the Fool." I believe the speaker thinks that he is foolish like Polonius in the play Hamlet. Polonius also tries to give advice to the prince and is glad to be of use by the king and queen in the play. Polonius is an extremely ridiculous man whom Hamlet calls a "fool." This leads me to believe that the speaker is comparing himself to Polonius. I will soon find out!

Poems Teach Lessons

Notice

Steve Kowit

This evening, the sturdy Levi's
I wore every day for over a year
& which seemed to the end
in perfect condition,
suddenly tore.
How or why I don't know,
but there it was: a big rip at the crotch.
A month ago my friend Nick
walked off a racquetball court,
showered,
got into this street clothes,
& halfway home collapsed & died.
Take heed, you who read this,
& drop to your knees now & again
like the poet Christopher Smart,
& kiss the earth & be joyful,
& make much of your time,
& be kindly to everyone,
even to those who do not deserve it.
For although you may not believe
it will happen,
you too will one day be gone,
I, whose Levi's ripped at the crotch
for no reason,
assure you that such is the case.
Pass it on.

This poem, written in FREE VERSE, gives a clear message to the reader. One must live life as if it were the last day he or she would spend on earth. Just like the author's Levi's ripping, not everything lives forever, including people. Even if something or someone seems to be in perfect shape or condition, death can come at any time. Steve Kowit tells the reader to be happy and enjoy life because life is just too short. One never knows when his or her time will come. Time flies by and one must make the best of life - make it count - because you cannot get time back. I believe this poem holds much truth about life, and I hope many people take this POET'S advice. The author uses IMAGERY when he describes the rip as "a big rip at the crotch." Also, a SIMILE is used when the WORDSMITH writes: "drop to your knees now and again like the poet Christopher Smart." The POET writes his work in one STANZA. This poem will stick with me for many reasons. I really liked how Steve talked about his Levi's - something not very significant - first to show how some things happen for no reason. Then he went on to talk about his dead friend. This turn in the poem was shocking, but it did help get a point across. I also love the last line: "Pass it on." The author wants people to enjoy the time they have on Earth. I love how he gives advice to the reader becuase his message is then clearer. Sometimes life is not fair, but one must live it to the fullest in order to be happy and successful. So, pass it on!

Introduction to Poetry

Introduction to Poetry
Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.


This is the perfect poem to introduce poetry and what one should take away from reading poems. The message of this poem is to let poems speak for themselves. The reader should take what he or she wants from a poem. An interpretation should be formulated based on one's own perspective. Reading poetry is not going to be easy and quick. The reader must take time to dissect the poem and work through it to understand the poem. This poem has helped me understand what poetry is really about. Finding meaning in every detail of the poem is not a goal. Poetry should be enjoyed.