Discuss The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock as a Dramatic Monologue

What dramatic elements do you find in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock?

Or, 

Discuss the novel form and technique of The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.

Or,

Show The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock as a dramatic or interior monologue. 

A dramatic monologue is a literary work that records a person’s inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences to an implied listener. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (1915) by T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) is a dramatic monologue as it contains the inner thoughts of the speaker Prufrock. He shares his internal thoughts and feelings with us. Here, we will discuss why this poem is considered a dramatic monologue.

First-Person Perspective: This poem has been composed from a first-person point of view. Prufrock is the poem’s narrator and directly addresses the audience, creating an intimate and personal connection. This takes us into Prufrock’s consciousness and helps us understand his thoughts and feelings. Thus, this point is successful in proving this poem a dramatic monologue. 

Monologue Format: In a monologue format, there exists no second speaker. Throughout the poem, only Prufrock talks about his desires and fears. We find no interruption or any responses from a second character. Prufrock’s monologue delivers an unfiltered look into his mentality.

Inner Turmoil and Self-Examination: Prufrock is deeply thoughtful. He questions his social position, self-worth, and romantic desires. He loves a lady and loves to get women in touch but fears making a love proposal to them. He expresses his self-doubt about his beloved’s supposed reply: 

“I do not think that they will sing to me.”

His self-examination makes the poem a successful dramatic monologue where we notice Prufrock’s inner turmoil. 

Ambiguity and Uncertainty: Prufrock’s monologue is filled with uncertainty and vagueness. He questions himself, 

“Do I dare disturb the universe?” 

These uncertainties reflect his hesitation and self-doubt, which are the central themes of the poem.

Rich Symbolism and Imagery: Eliot uses rich symbolism and explicit imagery to share Prufrock’s emotions and world perception. For example, the “yellow fog” signifies the suffocating nature of his social world, and the “mermaids” symbolize inaccessible desires. These symbols make the monologue truly suggestive and metaphorically powerful.

Social Anxiety and Alienation: Prufrock’s thoughts reveal his social anxiety and feelings of isolation. He fears how others perceive him and feels separated from the people around him. This sense of aloneness is a regular theme in dramatic monologues.

Stream of Consciousness: It is a sort of narration that presents a character’s internal thoughts and feelings in a continuous flow. The poem utilizes a stream-of-consciousness technique, where Prufrock’s thoughts and feelings are depicted in an unstructured form. This displays the roaming nature of his mind and makes the poem a true dramatic monologue. 

The Title’s Irony: The title, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” is an ironic representation. It indicates a love song, but the poem is more about Prufrock’s inner conflicts than a traditional love poem. Thus, the title also leads the poem to become a dramatic monologue. 

In conclusion, the poem is a celebrated dramatic monologue from the modern age. It explores the protagonist’s mind and displays his inner turmoil, anxieties, and insecurities. Through the first-person point of view and in the absence of a second character, the use of rich symbolism and imagery makes Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” a true dramatic monologue.