" Inner Conflict" Blog Assingment # 4

Mauricio Rubio

10/18/09

792

“Inner Conflict”

Analyzing the dark side of human psychology reveals an internal conflict within one’s self: the constant battle of the conscience to achieve equilibrium between good and evil. Both “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, and to a certain extent “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”, analyze this thematic idea in such a vivid manner that it not only provides a deep sense of understanding as to why it originates and the consequences it brigs forth, but it also furthers the idea and shows how each individual- Prufrock and Whitman-- struggles to cope with each situation. The lack of "achievement" is the primary form of "evil" that the narrators here struggle with. Specifically, speakers are sensitive enough to feel guilty for not achieving anything particularly remarkable during their lives or having failed to "serve" society enough. As a result they are more sensitive to their "failures" now that they have (apparently) reached a point in their lives in which imminent death has become a prevalent factor.

Although the thematic ideas of both poems are the same, the way in which each author deals with it, varies. Whitman’s approach to the examination of his internal struggle is revealed towards the end of the poem in section 6, where its dark content and use of gloomy imagery reveals a troubled Whitman eager to expose his struggle with society. Whitman’s optimistic tone changes radically in this section as he sets the tone and alerts the audience of what is imminent: “ It is not upon you alone the dark patches fall, the dark threw its patches on me also…nor is it you alone who know what it is to be evil, I am he who knew what it was to be evil.” However, the tone of Whitman's poem becomes more upbeat (suggested at least by the increasing number of exclamation points used to punctuate the later lines) because Whitman implies that he has "served" humanity by celebrating it in his poems and by creating more hopeful and human-centered readers.

Arguing to himself is how Prufrock introduces the problem directly, revealing his desire to talk to a woman but concerned as to what others might think of him: “And indeed there will be time to wonder, “Do I dare? And, Do I dare? Time to turn back and descend the stairs with a bald spot in the middle of my hair—(they will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”). Here, Prufrock’s apprehension is what keeps him from expressing his feelings and emotions; he is worried about what others may think of him and what opinions they will have of his persona. Interestingly enough, although he is somewhat apprehensive, he knows that he does to have much time; he needs to get out of his self-constructed prison, “I have known them all already, known them all—have known the evenings, mornings, afternoon, I have measure out my life with coffee spoons…So how should I presume?” This shows Prufrock’s constant struggle throughout the poem, a battle between his desires and fears.

Judging between the two narrators, Whitman is the most successful at overcoming his sense of guilt. The early portions of "Brooklyn Ferry" share Prufrock's sense of being trapped in a cycle of apparently endless trivial activities and of being insignificant and flawed when compared to the rest of the universe. However, Whitman’s struggle is more superficial compared to that of Alfred J. Prufrock. Unlike Whitman’s battle, Prufrock never completely escapes his "dark side"-the sense that he has failed humanity and made himself somehow worthless because of his failure to do something recognizably "great" for society. When he says "you and I" in the beginning of the poem is completely ironic. He talks to himself and recognizes that his inner conflicts are so intense that they seem like the thoughts of another person.

Although Prufrock desires more than anything else to talk to the woman at the gathering, he is completely aware of his problem as he comments: “No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meat to be; am an attendant lord, one that will do to swell a progress, start a scene or two…Full of high sentence but a bit obtuse; at times, indeed almost ridiculous—almost, at times, the Fool” Here, he is not only acknowledging his inability to express himself, but he is also appealing to the woman by contrasting himself to Prince Hamlet. Although both Whitman and Prufrock share the same trends, in essence, Prufrock is a much more internalized, guilt-ridden poem. The artist himself recognizes the power of poetry and shows his talent to the reader, yet at the same time he feels a sense of guilt for having such a "useless" talent that isolates the artist from those around him and makes him unable to function well in the real world.