Monday, February 11, 2013

Comparison between Hamlet and J. Alfred Prufrock



It is interesting to see Prufrock from The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot compare himself to Hamlet. Of course, Prufrock immediately rejects the idea, claims he is nowhere as important as Hamlet, and returns to his usual self-criticism. He suggests that he would be a minor character in a play, not the protagonist. However, Prufrock's denial in being similar to Hamlet is somewhat more ironic than true because he does, in fact, resemble him. Similar to Hamlet, Prufrock's greatest flaw is his indecisiveness as well as his self-deprecation.
Although Hamlet and Prufrock have completely different situations – one hesitating to murder his uncle and the other hesitating to ask a girl out – these two characters prove to the readers that the way they act (or don’t act) upon these dilemmas are exactly the same. These characteristics are illustrated in each of their monologues. Hamlet saying “I do not know why yet I live to say this thing’s to do” seems to be almost identical to Prufrock’s obvious lines such as “That is not it at all; that is not what I meant at all.” Both these characters are revealed to be overly analytical and indecisive through their attempts in taking action. In the case of Hamlet, he is overwhelmed by his feeling of revenge but hesitates in the murder of Claudius due to his fear of making the wrong decision. Hamlet is held back by his excessive consideration of religious morals and beliefs and his fear of the consequences it would bring him. The entire play drags on with him deciding that he will do something and fails to make it a reality. Similarly, Alfred Prufrock talks to the audience, exposing his indecision that characterizes his thoughts (and most of the poem). His inability to ask a girl out may seem far less important than Hamlet deciding whether to take a human’s life or not. However, the characteristics that define them do not change. It does not matter the content; the fact that they share a common trait of not being able to act upon the things they claim they will do is what is important and makes them similar.
Another common trait these two complicated characters share is how they end up hating themselves for their indecisiveness. Throughout the play, the Danish prince encounters inspiring people such as the performer who can easily cry and Fortinbras who can easily kill. These people leave an impact on him in that he starts hating himself for not being able to take actions as quickly as them. He thinks so lowly himself that he, at one point, claims himself to be “pigeon-livered and lack gall.” Prufrock’s disregard for his own importance is also demonstrated by his comparison to small creatures such as crabs. “I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas.” As shown through these quotes, they both regret the fact that they don't act on the things they promised they would. They look down on themselves and compare themselves to small, inferior creatures. The fact that they both feel bad about their inability to act, and yet STILL do not act makes them all the more similar.  
Both made their lives worthless and meaningless. Hamlet spent much of his time debating on killing a man or not. Prufrock wasted his entire life making ridiculous decisions such as whether to eat a peach or not. This characteristic of indecisiveness and self-loathing that defines both of these men can only be considered tragic flaws. A man seen as a hero and the other seen as pathetic – are they all that different?