Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Prufrock: Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?
T.S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock analyzes the frailty of an erratic, love-torn man who dehumanizes himself by doubting his significance. Specifically, the line "Do I dare disturb the universe" unquestionably reveals the narrator's inability to grasp his potentially grand life. Moreover, much like that of Shakespeare's Hamlet, the narrator questions the standards, ideals, and praises of man in comparison to his own fears; in fact, the narrator doubts that his existence has any meaning in the complicated world he abides by. The narrator's ironic comparison to Hamlet reveals an emotionally distraught character who is directed by his own doubts. Therefore, although he ultimately understands a greater meaning to the power of love within his world, the narrator consistently reveals a self-conscious state of unparalleled fear, which also congruently displays the narrator's confusion on living in general.
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Brady great paragraph. the use of connecting Hamlet and the speaker of the love song is great in the sense you addressed the theme of existence and how both characters questioned the value of their own existences. My only suggestion would be to add a little more specificity when you bring Hamlet into your argument.
ReplyDeleteIf i didn't choose mine line about how insecure he is i would have chosen this one. Although that line is quite clever "Do I dare disturb the universe" it is actually very sad and reveals his negative view on life or as you said his "inability to grasp his potentially grand life". Which is very well said. I enjoyed reading your opinion on the poem's lines very well done. Keep it up B.
ReplyDelete- David Derval
mr. canuck, i love your comparison to Hamlet. i too agree that the narrator questions the doubts that his existence has any meaning through Hamlet and that the comparison reveals emotional distraught. well done for catching that!
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