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?
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