Tuesday, October 12, 2010
"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons"
T.S. Elliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" illustrates the lack of confidence that a modern man faces through every thought and step in life. The whole poem creates a mediocre yet depressing setting through Elliot's diction; however, one line truly stood out to me, being: "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons". The character of Prufrock is obviously attempting to try and pull himself together, but this line illustrates his inability, as well as his suspicion of whether or not he really belongs in the world he lives in. As a man who does not receive any attention and fantasizes about women's arms, Prufrock is unable to make another step in his life, thus he measures out his achievements in life with one of the smallest and most insignificant things in life -- coffee spoons. Not only are coffee spoons something that every person sees every day, they also remain unnoticed in a world full of hustle-and-bustle. Therefore, the character of Prufrock feels as unimportant as coffee spoons, thus believes that his place in the world is not important to anyone around him, or even to Prufrock himself.
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Coffee spoons! How trivial! Good analysis.
ReplyDeleteSam, I also chose the line "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons" I really like that line and the complex figurative meaning it provides. It's very unique how the author uses the idea of "coffee spoons" to measure out his life's failures in Prufrock's case. I totally agree with the last line of your paragraph.
ReplyDeleteSam- I absolutely love and agree with your paragraph on the coffee spoons line!!! It is so true that Prufrock's insecurities make him feel inadequate in comparison to the rest of the world. The fact that he measures his life in such a trivial thing as coffee spoons gives us insight into how much he really feels inferior and unimportant.
ReplyDeleteSam, I, too, found this line to be very depressing yet striking. I agree completely with your analysis and that Prufrock's usage of "coffee spoons" to describe his life shows his depression and meaningless feel for himself in the world he lives in. Good job!
ReplyDeleteReally like your analysis on this crucial and quirky line in the poem. I totally agree that it portrays "his inability, as well as his suspicion of whether or not he really belongs in the world he lives in." Furthermore, your point about Prufrock's "coffee spoons" really does portray how he measures out his achievements with such a trivial concept.
ReplyDeleteSo rich a line....I like your analysis : his suspicions whether he belongs to this world or not ... and life is so insignificant....truly to measure in a coffee spoon.....
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