T. S. Eliot: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

This poem seems the author is talking to a girl, and then it ends up with talking to himself and failing to do something. This poem sounds it is just wandering around and makes no sense. It appears to be clearer and clearer as approaching to the end.
Many images appear in the beginning of the poem, “fog”, “smog”, “sky”, “chimneys” and “restaurants” create an ”etherized” atmosphere. The image of frog lingering around the pool and falling into chimney also gives this poem an etherized and lazy environment. The poet also combines the poem with classic in the modern poem. It makes the poem more diversified.
On the other, repetition has been used really often in the poem. The poet keeps repeating that there are women talking in the room however he persuades himself that “there will be time”, “there will be time” even though he has something to say. It shows the character’s paralysis of making decisions and taking actions. It contrasts the character with the women. And the poet repeats “how would I presume?” several times indicating the internal conflicts that he is face with. “That was not what I meant at all” is said several times to convince him. It seems that the poet is making a big decision.
This poem is structured in a dialogue. The poet talk about that two people are speaking but it doesn’t show the words from that girl, the poet uses “I” throughout the poem so it shows that he is actually persuading himself. He compares himself as “Hamlet” because he keeps delaying his actions the same as “Hamlet”. This metaphor of “hamlet” suggests that his personality can’t fit into the current society. He is trying to be courageous in the second last paragraph. However, he states “I don’t think they will sing to me”. This indicates he comes back to his original thought which is to fail talking action. He still couldn’t get across his barrier in mind. We can’t tell what exactly the action is, instead, we can see the emotions and difficult dilemma that he is confronting.