Posted by Jamie on May 26, 19103 at 23:13:40:

In Reply to: Re: imagery, symbolism, or tone in prufrock posted by hussain shah on November 30, 19102 at 10:48:00:

: : i have to write an essay and was thinking of one of the three subject matters: imagery, symbolism, or tone in the poem... Which one is better???

All 3 are interesting while imagery & symbolism can be quite extensive in Prufrock if one delves into the layers of meaning & subleties. For example at the end he observes "we have lingered in the chambers of the sea"

Where "we" could mean Prufrock & his concience or, Prufrock & his fantasy or, Prufrock & the reader. The "sea" could represent his fantasy world of imagery or,his environment or, his being
trapped in inner space. The "chambers" could be his mind or, rooms or, different experiences or his prison. It could also represent deceit as in the very begining Prufrock goes out on a journey "Let us go then you and I" supposedly on a journey with a destination in mind but if Prufrock at the end states he has all along been in fact roaming around his personal chamber, his journey has been going in circles which,is one of the basic points of the poem that Prufrock wants to get out into the world to have a real romantic encounter but in reality, stays in his comfort zone being his world of ual fantasy.
The chamber may also alludes to the world of the blind who perceive colours and images from their imagination which is what Prufrock fantasizes over ie."....as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen." In this context, Prufrock may imply that like the blind he is ultra -sensitive to sounds, touch and smells "is it perfume from her dress that make me so digress ?" and like the blind, craving reality but Prufrock is more secure in his limited world of imagery.

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