Question

Helppp

Read the following excerpt from T. S. Eliot's "The Love Song of 'J. Alfred
Prufrock": -
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, "Do I dare?" and, "Do I dare?"
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!")
Which two themes does this passage most clearly develop?

Answer 1

B. The world focuses too much on outward appearances; one shouldn't try to live up to others' expectations.

Step-by-step explanation:

With the lines “How his hair is growing thin” and “but how his arms and legs are thin” represent what others say of the narrator. This shows how people focus so much on someone’s outward appearance.

Other’s expectations do not define someone, and one should not try to live up to these physical expectations.

Answer 2

B. The world focuses too much on outward appearances; one shouldn't try to live up to others' expectations.

Step-by-step explanation:

T. S. Eliot's poem "The Love Songs of J. Alfred Prufrock" deals with the sadness and aloofness of a person amidst the 'busy' lifestyle of the new technological age. This dramatic monologue also involves the speaker Prufrock's inner thoughts at trying to reveal/ declare his inner feelings to his lady love but is unable to do so for his feeling of inferiority overtakes him.

The given lines show how men judge one another despite the achievements that the man may have. They will always find fault with one thing or another, like when Prufrock states "My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin, My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin" is overshadowed by their observation of how thin his arms and legs are. This shows how the world chose to focus on outward appearances, which the speaker tries to play down and rather focus on not what they say, or try to live up to that expectation. Rather, one must live as one sees fit, ignoring others' expectations of what we should be.