Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock as a Dramatic Monologue- In this article, I try to include a comprehensive answer to this question.
A dramatic amonologue is a record of a character’s feelings and not of the poet. Browning has written dramatic monologues of important persons where each one describes the inner state of mind cogently and systematically, However, in the case of Prufrock the poet does not deal with his feelings.
He does not view an imaginary character as his mouthpiece, but the split personality of Prufrock. There is, however, no coherence or development in the thoughts and feelings of Prufrock. There are sudden jumps on the pattern of the steam of consciousness technique.
Split Personality of Prufrock:
Prufrock is a neurotic character, he feels helpless and confused in his attitude to love. He realizes the futility and impotence of his life. He compares himself to a worm wriggling on a wall. He has measured his life, with coffee spoons-somethings which is trivial and insignificant. He has mixed in high society known women intimately, and smelt their bodies and dresses, but he has not been able to decide about the future course of his life whether he should settle down after marrying the girl he loves. The trouble with Prufrock is that though he is in love, He cannot decide about proposing to a lady. He feels nervous and diffident. He is almost a coward in love.
While the Caroline poets could be aggressive in love and make the first advance in the hope of a favorable response from the beloved, Profrock cannot decide whether he should propose at all to the lady. He realizes that he is aging and his vigor is on the decline. Moreover, his proposal will mean his discontinuing the career of a free sexual relationship. To propose or not to propose this is his problem. Supposing, the lad gives him a cold shoulder, she may rebuke him that he has misunderstood her politeness. She has no intention at all of considering him for marriage. Prufrock is a mental case he suffers from the paralysis of the will.
While the Caroline poets could be aggressive in Love and make the first advance in the hope of a favorable response from the beloved. Prufrock cannot decide whether he should propose at all to the lady. He realizes that he is aging and his vigor is on the decline. Moreover, his proposal will mean his discontinuity of the career of free sexual relationships. To propose or not to propose this is a problem. Supposing the lady gives him a colder shoulder she may rebuke him he has misunderstood his politeness. She has no intention at all of considering him for marriage. Prufrock is a mental case he suffers from the paralysis of the will.
A rewarding love: Prufrock expects something vital a meaningful responsible relationship after marriage. This is just an expectation but it may materialise or not. In the meantime, he must make up his mind to propose and be sure of her.
He is an extremely introvert type, and cannot reconcile himself to the possibility of another frustration in life. His life is already full of barrenness and failure, he is fed up wit the triviality and boredom of the routine of the city life.
Life is hollow sham it ti measured and judged not in terms of tasks done but in terms of coffee spoons drunk at social parties.
