The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Blog 2

The entitlement of Eliot's piece is full of irony, but also with some hidden meaning. The poem is about a man who is struggling with an internal conflict, trying to decide which of two worlds he belongs in. It is ironic that the title would make one think that it is all about love lost, when it is really about a man lost in the gray area between two societies. Love songs always include an object of one's affection, but in this case, the man is speaking about himself. The speaker feels as though he has lost love for himself, making this a very nontraditional love song, so much so that the idea of it being called one is ironic. On the other hand, the two worlds of this piece could be considered forbidden lovers and the subject is trying to allow them to be together in his mind, but to no avail. This would make for a very depressing love song, much like this poem seems to show a man in despair. The two worlds are nothing alike, there is a stark contrast between worlds that have "necktie(s) rich and honest" versus those that are peppered with "lonely men...leaning out of windows". The subject of the poem is faced with the daunting task of choosing where to fit in. By trying to bring these two forbidden worlds together, he risks losing one forever.