point of view the author has provided the readers with an intimate look into the speaker's mind The fragmented structure and stream-of-consciousness technique display the disconnected nature of Prufrock's thoughts Symbolism Symbolism is a literary instrument that uses symbols objects or ideas to show deeper meanings concepts or emotions Eliot utilizes rich symbolism to describe the social alienation and existential anxiety that existed in the early th Century The usage of yellow fog and yellow smoke in the poem symbolizes the decay and degradation of the modern world These images gather a sense of suspicion and breakdown and reflect Prufrock's fear of societal decline and his emotional nullification The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes Urban Separation This poem is a model of the urban poem which speaks about the pretensions of modern urban men and women It mirrors the disconnection and separation of individuals in the rapidly modernizing cities of the early th Century The city streets are portrayed as half-deserted and muttering retreats Prufrock's emotional paralysis and inability to connect with others reflect the disillusioned urban existence of the time Let us go through certain half-deserted streets The muttering retreats Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells Fear and Insecurity Prufrock represents a deep sense of fear and insecurity His self-doubt and hesitation speak to the wider existential anxieties of the modern people Prufrock's reflection and over-analysis of the ordinary reveal the inner struggles of many in the modern world He loves his beloved and loves to be in touch with women but fears making the love proposal Allusions In this poem numerous literary allusions are used from the biblical and Shakespearean stories to indicate the problematic lifestyle of modern people For example I am no Prince Hamlet nor was meant to be This quotation from Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet' shows Prufrock's self-doubt and inadequacy to be a literary hero Influence on Modern Poetry This seminal work by Eliot has influenced modern poetry greatly Its fragmented structure and exploration of the inner mentality became a blueprint for contemporary poets It has created the way for confessional poetry and the stream-of-consciousness style of writers like Virginia Woolf and James Joyce In ending The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock is a masterwork of modernist poetry Its complex structure rich symbolism and profound thematic content make it a unique modern poetry and show a break from traditional th-century poetry Through Prufrock's introspective journey T S Eliot shows the unsettling spirit of the modern age and reveals the universal themes of self-doubt and fear