Why did Eliot title his poem a "Love Song"?

The fact that T.S. Eliot titled his dreary poem a love song is an example of irony. For anything to be considered a love story/song, it must follow a certain layout. In T.S. Eliot's poem, there is only one main character who argues with himself throughout the entire poem, and for something to be considered a love song, it must involve both a man and a woman directly. This poem is the exact opposite, only showing Prufrock to be arguing with himself. This struggle is, in fact, an aspect of a love story, but because in his case it is a struggle within himself, it doesn't count. Another important aspect of a love story is the ending. For something to be officially considered a love story or a love song, it must leave the audience feeling somewhat emotionally satisfied. T.S Eliot's "love song" does the exact opposite. His use of personification and imagery to paint a dark scene in the readers mind never takes a significant turn to the cheer the reader up towards the end. The dreary tone remains throughout the entire poem. If he had changed it to represent that Prufrock turned out happy in the end, and the readers felt satisfied, this poem would at least fulfill one aspect to bring it closer to being an actual "love song". It is ironic that this poem is titled a love song because Eliot goes against all actual aspects of a love song, which succeeds in throwing the readers off and leaving them wondering his motives in titling it a love song.

The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock Analysis

There are many different conflicts seen in The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock, one of the most glaring being that of Prufrock versus society. All throughout this poem, Prufock hints at the fact that he needs to choose between the society he finds himself in and the one he thinks he should be a part of. Although this is an internal conflict, it affects Prufock in many ways. It represents how even a man who is educated and of a higher class than many can find himself struggling with happiness. Prufrock seems to be in a dark place with himself, repeating "I grow old...I grow old", making it clear that he is aware that he should be settling down and moving to the high society, but for some reason not taking advantage of that knowledge. This struggle between two very different worlds influences Prufrock in his decisions of moving from woman to woman and involving himself in a shady society. If there was not such a gap between the society of those who have "toast and tea" and who spend too much time in "one night cheap hotels", Prufrock would have never faced this internal struggle between the two.

Pride and Prejudice Blog #6

After reading Pride and Prejudice, I believe that Jane Austen intended for her readers to interpret the first line of her novel with a sense of satire. If Jane meant it literally, she would not involve characters with such differing opinions and views on society as she did. This is clear because she specifically stated that "a man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife" (5), rather than saying that all men seek to be married. She then introduces her readers to two examples of very fortunate men, but makes their personalities very different. If she had intended to give her readers the impression that she was serious in when saying her opening line, she would form these two men to be perfect examples of what she stated. They, in fact, are not. Mr. Darcy, for example, does not go out to flirt with women whom he deems suitable for marriage, as one would think a man "in want of a wife" (5) would do. He tends to keep to himself and come off somewhat cold. In the end of the novel, both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley end up marrying, but that does not mean that Jane Austen meant that literally all men of fortune search for a wife. The only part of that opening statement that I believe was meant to be taken literally was when she stated that "it is a truth universally acknowledged" (5). By saying this, Jane wanted her readers to understand the magnitude of that society's view on the importance of marriage. Marriage in that society was, in fact, seen with that much importance, leaving only the rest of her statement to be meant satirically. Not only is the rest of this statement said with satire, but it also contains a strong use of hyperbole, exaggerating that all wealthy men fervently search for wives, only to prove that to be false throughout the rest of the story.