Portrait of a Lady by T.S. Eliot is telling the story of a young man who is on the receiving end of an older woman's affections. He feels aversion to this lady, while she seems to be falling deeply in love with him.
             The poem is set in three different time frames, set out into the sections I, II, and III.
             Section I is set in winter, in 'the smoke and fog of a December afternoon'. This starts the poem of with a feeling of gloom and misery, and this is added to by the image of the candles making the scene gain 'an atmosphere of Juliet's tomb'. This gives the distinct impression that the gentleman does not want to be in the room. 'You have the scene arrange itself – as it will seem to do'. This shows that the gentleman feels that the scene is unfolding and setting itself out, and that there is nothing he can do about it. It as if he is a puppet being manipulated by the woman.
             He uses an example of 'the latest Pole [transmitting] the Preludes through his hair and fingertips' to imply triviality and falseness. The woman talks about Chopin's music being a 'delicate bloom' that should be resurrected only among friends. The gentleman can see this is all a facade, and that she is trying to impress him. The conversation is simple – 'among velleities and carefully caught regrets' – but still pretentious.
             The lady tells the gentleman that 'I have saved this afternoon for you'. This would alienate most men as it seems very eager, but the remark is probably not subconscious, and is most likely an attempt on her part to get Prufrock's attention, and also to awaken him to the fact that she has feelings for him.
             The woman also remarks on the fact that life without close friendships is 'cauchemar', or a nightmare. This is probably also a conscious remark, and is implying that she imagines his friendship with her to be o...