What Is Prufrock A Grail
Collin Stevens
Prof. Farmer
ENG 200
28 April 2016
The Quest and Prufrock The Holy Grail is the central device in Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval, the Story of the Grail. T.S. Eliot takes this medieval romance and modernizes aspects of it in his poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”. The poem exhibits the features of a grail quest, albeit in an inverted form. Eliot uses Prufrock as a kind of Perceval; Prufrock is a character in search of a grail of sorts, but Prufrock’s grail takes the form of a woman. However, unlike Perceval, Prufrock is a more or less powerless hero, one who is unable to achieve the grail, and as such functions simultaneously as both a Perceval and a Fisher King. By doing this, Eliot creates a character who represents …show more content…
The hero is not grand or epic, nor is the quest itself. Rather, the stakes are somewhat menial and the characters are in some ways pathetic. However, this nature reflects the truth of a quest in modern times. It is over before it can even begin. Modern life has made people powerless and hyper self-aware, especially in Prufrock’s case. Eliot writes “For I have known them all already, known them all; / Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, / I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;” (Eliot, 49-51). Prufrock, in other words, is a stuck character, whose life is so bland that he can measure it based on teatime. Prufrock is no epic hero, he is a dull man filled with self-doubt and a generally pessimistic disposition towards the outcomes of events. He laments opportunities for experiences that he has missed; yet he does nothing to change this way of life because he doubts himself. He is a thoroughly modern individual (especially post WWI), wrought with weakness and powerlessness. Society has made him almost neurotically and afraid. Again, he feels as though he has no right to “disturb the universe”, or to be someone greater than himself. Eliot writes “I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker, / And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, And in short, I was afraid” (Eliot,
Prof. Farmer
ENG 200
28 April 2016
The Quest and Prufrock The Holy Grail is the central device in Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval, the Story of the Grail. T.S. Eliot takes this medieval romance and modernizes aspects of it in his poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”. The poem exhibits the features of a grail quest, albeit in an inverted form. Eliot uses Prufrock as a kind of Perceval; Prufrock is a character in search of a grail of sorts, but Prufrock’s grail takes the form of a woman. However, unlike Perceval, Prufrock is a more or less powerless hero, one who is unable to achieve the grail, and as such functions simultaneously as both a Perceval and a Fisher King. By doing this, Eliot creates a character who represents …show more content…
The hero is not grand or epic, nor is the quest itself. Rather, the stakes are somewhat menial and the characters are in some ways pathetic. However, this nature reflects the truth of a quest in modern times. It is over before it can even begin. Modern life has made people powerless and hyper self-aware, especially in Prufrock’s case. Eliot writes “For I have known them all already, known them all; / Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, / I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;” (Eliot, 49-51). Prufrock, in other words, is a stuck character, whose life is so bland that he can measure it based on teatime. Prufrock is no epic hero, he is a dull man filled with self-doubt and a generally pessimistic disposition towards the outcomes of events. He laments opportunities for experiences that he has missed; yet he does nothing to change this way of life because he doubts himself. He is a thoroughly modern individual (especially post WWI), wrought with weakness and powerlessness. Society has made him almost neurotically and afraid. Again, he feels as though he has no right to “disturb the universe”, or to be someone greater than himself. Eliot writes “I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker, / And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, And in short, I was afraid” (Eliot,