Prufrock and Winesberg- Oh so similar!

Throughout "The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock," are many similarities to the novel Winesberg, Ohio. First let us start by discussing the theme of this poem that our group came up with; our so what: "through experience, it is reveled that life isn't necessarily all wonderful- it's complicated and sometimes ugly resulting in disillusionment." The meaning of disillusionment is a feeling of disappointment when someone realizes that they could have done more, achieved higher, or are missing out on something through a duration of their life; nonetheless, this definition was the basis of Winesberg Ohio, emphasizing that one should take precautions in life in order to decrease the chance of regret. A similar view is seen through Prufrock; especially in last section when he states "We have lingered n the chambers of the sea/ By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown/Till human voices wake us, and we drown." This excerpt emphasizes frustration and none the less the regret he feels for not preserving his youth, hence this feeling of disillusionment. Speaking of youth... this is yet another similarly we see. "Though I have seen my head [grown slightly bald] brought in upon a platter/ I am no prophet-  and here's no great matter." This quote eludes to the motif of aging- the loss of childhood. This aging, or youthfulness plays a big role in both the poem and the novel as it is a symbol for death. Through both, Prufrock and the old man mourn for death as they find it to be a place of serenity and peace. In fact, first they start of with the feelings of sleep and how it makes one so peaceful (line 75 of Prufrock) and later states that he is "Lazarus". Sleep is a state of stagnation, but temporary...because in the story, Lazarus was dead until Jesus brought him back to life. So in essence, this sense of death, is mostly a state of REM sleep- dreaming, perhaps a lucid dream. Note the dreams can not be controlled- hence his feelings for death. Also dreams provide one with a sense of silence- a time for introspection away from society. In both Prufrock and Winesberg we sense this feeling of isolation and withdrawal from society in order to conjure the reality- they want to face reality through dreams, to make it seem better, more lively (all leading back to the symbol of youth). 

Now we are going to scroll out of the meaning and analysis of the text, and take a look at the bigger picture...organization! One would never think that organization of a text can display so much information about the general theme or motif of a novel...but it clearly can. In both Whinesberg, Ohio and Prufrock, the text fragmented. In Winesberg, it is different stories that peace together, while in Prufrock it is different experience. This fragmentation of the texts, provides a different image throughout the novel. Nonetheless, the fragmentation aids in meaning of life- emphasizing that there are so many part to the universe that one can not piece together the complete meaning of life. In both texts we see the difficulty of piecing together a meaning of life, of what reality is.