Blog Post #1 - J. Alfred Prufrock and the Narrator

Prufrock and the Narrator

T.S Eliot's 1920 poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and the 1999 David Fincher film “Fight Club” could not be more different artistically as well as the overall message they convey. One showing a sense of angst of a young man at a party, while the other strives for rebellion in the most chaotic way. However, both narrators seem fair to compare. In this case J. Alfred Prufrock and The Narrator contain similarities through their alter egos and their ultimate decisions which  help to convey a wider message of change in both works of fiction.

The narrators talk to themselves for a large majority of both stories, this conveys the fragile stage that they are in. For J. Alfred Prufrock his voice in his head, or his alter ego, focuses in on his fears. Eliot writes:

Time to turn back and descend the stair,

With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—

(They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”)

My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,

My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin —

(They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”)(39-44)

Prufrock’s inner monologue is one of malice toward his own self. He continually talks himself out of decisions at the party. He demonstrates this behavior through simple maneuvers such as turning around and going back downstairs to leave the party. Though that even becomes an issue as his voice tells him that everyone will see his thinning hair. He does this again in the quote mocking his thin arms and legs. This is a large portion of the conflict in this story, similar to certain scenes in Fight Club. The Narrator, in Fight Club, has an alter ego in the form of Tyler Durden, who is even played by a different actor. His conflict comes from Tyler creating an underground society to cause chaos and large-scale mayhem in the local city. Both characters are not in control of their alter egos and this helps to create a conflict in both stories, one being that the main character cannot make decisions for himself without overthinking it, and the other not being able to control his large scale actions. While these are on different scales, at the core of each character is a lack of control.

Another aspect that the narrators share are their eventual conclusions which both lead to a catharsis as well as a beautiful view for either character. By the end of the film, the Narrator literally and figuratively rids himself of Tyler by shooting himself. He then takes hold of his love and looks out toward the city as it is destroyed. He says “You met me at a very strange time in my life,” as the credits roll. This is the Narrator coming to terms with a lot of the angst and confusion he felt throughout the majority of the film. Tyler symbolizes the chaotic youth in the Narrator’s life and once he excludes Tyler, he can finally grow as a character. This compares finely with the end of the poem. “I grow old ... I grow old ...I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled. Shall I part my hair behind?” (121-122).  Here Prufrock has come to many conclusions and does not care too much about his appearance. Instead of thinking about his thinning hair, he thinks how he should part it. He is also no longer consider about his thin legs as he rolls his trousers. As he grows old he does not care as much and becomes content as he looks out at the waves at the beach.. Similarly to the end of Fight Club, where the protagonist also sees a beautiful view. Both have the capability to rid themselves of their unpleasant alter egos and are able to grow because of it. They no longer worry and are able to let go and conclude their character arcs.

Overall, Fight Club and The Love Song to J. Alfred Prufrock have a lot to say about change over the course of both stories. They do this by their use of alter egos, and in doing so show their motivation through an overly analytical critic that is a part of the main character. By the end, both realize that they are better off not worrying so much and rid themselves of their second self. This cathartic finality to both helps to show the growth in people as they grow older, as the alter egos symbolize youthful angst. This leaves the reader satisfied with the choices the protagonists make.

Word Count : 772