J. Alfred Prufrock is a Creep

The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock is far removed from any Shakespearean sonnet that we've read in class. In fact, the first stanza points the reader to a setting quite opposite from any standard love song. The "half-deserted streets", and "one-night cheap hotels" indicates to the reader that J. Alfred Prufrock's love song isn't one they'd like to receive. The poem is an extended monologue told from J. Alfred Prufrock as he observes a woman he's interested in chat about Michelangelo among company. The narrator battles with himself as he tries to work up the courage to talk to the woman. However, he knows that he doesn't have a chance as he overhears them talk about his bald spot and thinness. Prufrock envisions scenarios where she rejects him, and bickers with himself about his age and balding head. When reading this poem I was reminded of the Radiohead song "Creep", in it's similar scenario and narrator. The song lyrics are as follows.

[Verse 1]

When you were here before

Couldn't look you in the eye

You're just like an angel

Your skin makes me cry

 [Verse 2]

You float like a feather

In a beautiful world

I wish I was special

You're so very special

 [Chorus]

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo

What the hell am I doing here?

I don't belong here.

 [Verse 3]

I don't care if it hurts

I wanna have control

I wanna a perfect body

I wanna a perfect soul

 [Verse 4]

I want you to notice

When I'm not around

You're so very special

I wish I was special

 [Chorus]

 [Bridge]

She's running out again,

She's running out

She's run run run run

 [Verse 5]

Whatever makes you happy

Whatever you want

You're so very special

I wish I was special

[Chorus]

Creep is told from a man who follows a woman that doesn't share the same interest in him that he does. The narrator also behaves in a similar way to Prufrock, he is very self conscious about his physical appearance. He also visualizes scenarios where the girl rejects him, and in the end, never achieves what he desires. Both creep and The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock display the anxieties of the character through showing their thoughts in a stream of consciousness. Although Creep isnt from the modernist era, one could say Creep is a song that J. Alfred Prufrock might have sang.