alling him to account for his life; “Then how should I begin / To spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?” The mental image of being “…pinned and wriggling on the wall” suggests that Prufrock is terrified of the time when he will be held accountable. (Although at the earliest reading these lines may not appear to have any profound meaning, in light of the overall context of the poem this interpretation has sufficient validity.) His neurosis makes him the master of his own hell. As unorthodox as these views on Prufrock may be, there are credible sources that substantiate the above theories. Prufrock’s concentration on physical concerns is highlighted in several quotes: “Wanting nothing less than the ability to fully articulate and control an image of himself, Prufrock is afraid of both himself and others. (McNamara, 203), “Prufrock is bothered by the women’s opinion of his appearance…he is merely hoping that by conforming to the standards expected by society he may be able to keep the backbiting women at bay.” (Bagshee, 192) Literary support for Prufrock’s mental state of both anxiety and emotional denial is overwhelming. There is “…the real sense of isolation, of loneliness, that exists under the surface.” (Bagchee, 187) The quotes “It is as if his mind were gradually convulsed with spasms of suffering and then were intermittently rallied with a mythology of self-esteem, only to succumb each time to more rational despair.” (Smith, 220) and “…this sinister, slithering, and self-willed street is an active agent of the anxiety that haunts the protagonist.” (Bagshee, 191) paint the dark picture of a disconsolate man. “The self and the self-image can never coincide… and the result is an interminable anxiety which can only increase.” (Ayers, 212) Robert McNamara describes Prufro...
