Worthy of Being Compared

J. Alfred Prufrock was written so that scholarly readers would compare it to Hamlet— the character, not the play.  Elliot not only mentions Hamlet in the poem, he makes several references to the traits that mold the famous prince.  Nevertheless, the emotions that two very different works provide, beyond the portion of the poem that has a direct relation to Hamlet's indecision, are what make Prufrock worthy of consideration for comparison.  Elliot provides the reader with interwoven ideas that can be used to identify the beauty of a text that is written with a specific character in mind.

The driving force behind Hamlet's indecision is very different from Prufrock's.  While Hamlet is asking himself whether to kill a king or not, Prufrock is pondering what to do with the woman that he loves. "My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin." Hamlet is torn between the guilt that comes from not avenging his father, and the guilt that he feels he would be left with if he were to kill Claudius.  On the other hand, Prufrock wonders: “Do I dare?” when the only downside to not daring is the passing of time— or as he puts it, “time to turn back and descend the stair.” The inherent difference between the two protagonists can be found in the foundation of their frustration.  Prufrock doesn’t dare to ‘descend’ but he doesn’t dare to act either. In the hopes that those stairs don’t lure him too far towards cowardice, he persuades himself that what lies beyond them is ultimately worse than what would happen if he were to take action.  Hamlet can’t afford to ponder the alternative aftereffect.  There is no doubt in his mind that while the guilt may trouble him, his loyalty to his father dictates revenge as the only viable culmination to his distress.  Both Prufrock and Hamlet are apprehensive about an inevitable crossroads; but the pitfall that awaits the wrong decision is much deeper and more permanent for Hamlet.

So, why is this comparison even valid? Literary magnificence. The beauty of interdisciplinary relations, parallelisms between a poem and a play, lies in the similar emotions that can be transferred to the reader.  The anxiety and trepidation that J. Alfred Prufrock feels can only be compared with that of Hamlet’s own feeling of uncertainty.  Even if the decisions they must make are different and the plots are set in contrasting atmospheres, the emotions that the characters exude weave the two texts together.  Overall, the two works are contrasting even before the plots become a factor. One is a poem and the other a play.  But does it really make a difference when it comes to literary value?  Of course not, Hamlet and Prufrock both make the reader feel anxious.  After reading one has no choice but to wonder: to dare or not to dare?