Character analysis of J. Alfred Prufrock's paralysis and regret

¶ … Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot. Specifically it will give a character sketch of J. Alfred Prufrock. The main character of this poem, J. Alfred Prufrock, is a middle-aged, timid man, afraid to confront the women he passes during an evening walk, which indicates he is a lonely, alienated man, too.

Prufrock is middle-aged and balding, as the poem notes, "With a bald spot in the middle of my hair -- / [They will say: 'How his hair is growing thin!'] " (Eliot 40-41). He is thin, (Eliot 42), timid, (he turns back rather than confront the women he sees), and he has had a chance not to be lonely. Eliot notes, "And I have known the arms already, known them all -- / Arms that are braceleted and white and bare / [but in the lamplight, downed with light brown hair!]" (Eliot 62-64). Thus, he has known women, but he admits he has never had the courage to propose to one, "Should I, after tea and cakes and ices, / Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?" (Eliot 79-80). Ultimately, as his dialogue continues, it becomes clear that Prufrock is afraid. He is afraid of growing old, of ending up alone, and of being ridiculous and a fool because he did not to back to the woman he loved and make the relationship right. Eliot writes, "At times, indeed, almost ridiculous -- / Almost, at times, the Fool" (Eliot 118-119). Prufrock then is a sad and lonely character who is sympathetic to the reader because he is so pathetic and hopeless.