Imagery
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
Prufrock's Problem
Types of Imagery
Animal Imagery
Crabs
"I should have been a pair of ragged claws/ Scuttling across the floors of silent seas" (73). Crabs Walk backwards; they don't have full knowledge of where they are going. They are also very defensive and use their shell to protect themselves from anything that seems like a threat.
Cats
"The yellow fog that rubs its back... rubs its muzzle... lingered upon the pools" (15-18). Alfred relates the yellow fog to a cat, which emphasizes his own problems due to their nature. Cats linger and act lazy, avoiding action and other people. They do not seem to need anything from anyone else as well.
Oyster
"sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells" (7). Alfred uses oysters to describe the setting of his story at the beginning of his poem, showing the shallowness of his thoughts. Oysters - which are normally related to sexual imagery - represent how Alfred's setting is reminiscent of a meaningless sexual relationships. The readers can suspect that he is not able to obtain a meaningful social life due to his lack of action.
Body Parts Imagery
Eyes
"The eyes that fix you in a formulated phase" (56) Prufrock is fearful of eyes because they tend to freeze him; sight is generally used by others to judge actions. Later, Prufrock refers to being "pinned and wriggling on the wall". Here, Prufrock is comparing the eyes to scientists, and how they would pin up images of insects in an attempt to preserve them so that they may be scrutinized later.
Arms
"And I have known the arms already, known them all" (62) Prufrock uses arms to represent women. Prufrock proves to be unable to talk to perfect looking women with "arms that are braceleted and white and bare". However, in the lamp light he would notice that they are "drowned in light brown hair". Prufrock still doesn't take action. His social problems are more evident than before since he is still not able to talk -or simply socialize- with these 'not so perfect' people.
Faces
Prufrock is obsessed with his facial appearance. He thinks he will be judged by others because of the bald spot on his hair. The people will comment, "How his hair is growing thin!" Due to this constant judgement, Prufrock constantly states, "Do I dare?". Prufrock is unsure of himself and therefore, not sure whether he should go out and meet people.