Poetry Paper – The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
             As men get older, they go through mid-life crisis and begin to experience many different feelings. They begin to think about accomplishments in life, in addition to their age. They contemplate if they still have time to achieve the things that they did not. They become depressed and sad because society no longer looks at them or accepts them as they once were. They also begin to recognize women respond to them differently at this time in their life.
             "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," written by T. S. Elliot, refers to a man, who is middle aged and has encountered his crisis. He is gloomy, miserable and seems to have given up on life. He believes society, especially women, no longer acknowledge him the same due to his age and diminishing appearance. Prufrock is very indecisive. He begins to measure his life, debating if it is worth it or if he has the time "for decisions and revisions" (48). He knows that if he makes a decision he will reverse it. All through the poem he is battling with time. He seems to be seeking self-worth and the approval of others, but realizes his age, combined with his looks and gives up. Throughout the poem, he even mentions having an encounter with death and being afraid because he did not measure up. "And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker,/And in short, I was afraid" (85-86).
             Prufrock is clearly growing older and insecure about his appearance. He has a bald spot in the middle of his head and his hair is thinning. He seems to be a man that was sociable and well known in society, for he refers to knowing of places where women are "talking of Michelangelo" (14), and he makes a reference to "the taking of toast and tea" (34). He seems to be seeking greatness or acceptance, but time and his age is a hindrance. He no longer believes that he is capable of the...