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Week 9 Blog
Mar. 11th, 2012 02:06 pmPart 1:
I think this poem is quite ironic in that the title “The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock”, would give one the impression that it is a deep and romantic love story. However, the main character is actually not in a relationship at all. In Prufrock’s words about himself he seems to have very low self confidence and does not view himself as a desirable man. He thinks that other men will ridicule his appearance by saying “But how his arms and legs are thin!”. He also describes himself as growing thin and bald.
It is also somewhat ironic how Prufrock describes women within the poem. One might assume that women would be portrayed as being desired, beautiful and somewhat trophy like as the title of the poem would make it seem. However, the narrator describes women in a much different light. His descriptions make them seem dull and unappealing. He doesn’t view himself as being interesting enough to impress a woman when he says "I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me”. This statement shows his lack of self esteem in that he has no hope that any women will notice him.
Part 2:
The story of Demeter and Persephone, Demeter is also referred to by the name Ceres (goddess of harvest). Persephone is Demeter’s daughter who has been taken by Hades to be his wife. Hades who is also known as the god of the underworld has left Demeter with a desperate search for her daughter which leads her harvest and crops to die while she is away. Zeus is the one who demands Hades release Persephone but as a result of her consuming Pomegranate while in the underworld Hades then had right to keep her with him.
They came to a conclusion and an agreement that Persephone had to spend 4 months with Hades and 8 months above ground with her family. Each time that Persephone must re-enter the underworld her mother becomes emotional and depressed causing the crops to die once again, and then when her daughter returns in the spring they are reborn. This theme symbolized life and death and re-birth, which is something that becomes named as the Eleusian Mysteries.
A universal theme is love and different types of love. One being love that is possessive, one person belonging to another like an item or possession. Another form of love being one that must be let go and is cherished every day whether it is present or distant. The idea that some things have to leave us in order to be appreciated upon return.
I think this poem is quite ironic in that the title “The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock”, would give one the impression that it is a deep and romantic love story. However, the main character is actually not in a relationship at all. In Prufrock’s words about himself he seems to have very low self confidence and does not view himself as a desirable man. He thinks that other men will ridicule his appearance by saying “But how his arms and legs are thin!”. He also describes himself as growing thin and bald.
It is also somewhat ironic how Prufrock describes women within the poem. One might assume that women would be portrayed as being desired, beautiful and somewhat trophy like as the title of the poem would make it seem. However, the narrator describes women in a much different light. His descriptions make them seem dull and unappealing. He doesn’t view himself as being interesting enough to impress a woman when he says "I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me”. This statement shows his lack of self esteem in that he has no hope that any women will notice him.
Part 2:
The story of Demeter and Persephone, Demeter is also referred to by the name Ceres (goddess of harvest). Persephone is Demeter’s daughter who has been taken by Hades to be his wife. Hades who is also known as the god of the underworld has left Demeter with a desperate search for her daughter which leads her harvest and crops to die while she is away. Zeus is the one who demands Hades release Persephone but as a result of her consuming Pomegranate while in the underworld Hades then had right to keep her with him.
They came to a conclusion and an agreement that Persephone had to spend 4 months with Hades and 8 months above ground with her family. Each time that Persephone must re-enter the underworld her mother becomes emotional and depressed causing the crops to die once again, and then when her daughter returns in the spring they are reborn. This theme symbolized life and death and re-birth, which is something that becomes named as the Eleusian Mysteries.
A universal theme is love and different types of love. One being love that is possessive, one person belonging to another like an item or possession. Another form of love being one that must be let go and is cherished every day whether it is present or distant. The idea that some things have to leave us in order to be appreciated upon return.
