Proof of a Rock

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot is a story about a man's failure to balance himself in the world, and his ultimate rejection of his circumstance and the resulting excuses. Prufrock wanders through life aimlessly, wandering around the possibly the seedier parts of town to reestablish himself in a world he has inadvertently cut himself off from, possibly from too many bad experiences. This has led Prufrock to begin doubting himself, those around him, and even the legitimacy of characters made up in his own mind, like the mermaids. He talks about how they are merely dilletantes to art, not seeing deep into the subject, possibly a reflection about how he thinks people view himself (They think only of his bald spots and skinny limbs). This eventually leads to him being doubtful of every move he makes, measuring his life in “coffee spoons” rather than taking the full measures he wishes he could. This self doubt leads to suicide, whether physically, or mentally, of Prufrock at the end of the poem that leaves the reader a little out in the cold. Prufrock’s detachment from reality leaves the reader wondering where exactly Prufrock was headed, what these thoughts actually are, whether the reader is on the inside of his mind or merely listening in on a conversation. In the end, Prufrock leaves the reader a little sad with the results.