Themes 

Isolation and Loneliness: Prufrock lives in a world filled with people, yet feels completely alone. He is unable to form genuine emotional or social connections. His shyness and fear of rejection separate him from others. The repeated image of women talking and the silent streets reflect his mental isolation. Eliot shows that modern life creates individuals who live inside their own minds, afraid to speak or act. Prufrock’s loneliness becomes a symbol of the spiritual emptiness of the modern age.

Indecision and Inaction: Throughout the poem, Prufrock keeps delaying his decisions. He repeats, “There will be time,” but never acts. His constant self-questioning (“Do I dare?”) shows his fear of failure and judgment. Eliot presents Prufrock as a man who overthinks until all chances of action are lost. This paralysis represents the modern human condition, where people think deeply but fail to live freely. His life, “measured out with coffee spoons,” shows how indecision turns life into a meaningless routine.

Passage of Time and Fear of Aging: Prufrock is haunted by the passage of time and the fear of aging. He notices his bald spot and thin limbs, symbols of decline. He fears that his best moments have passed and that he will grow old without purpose. The repeated word “time” reflects his obsession with delay and regret. Eliot shows how the modern man is trapped between youth and old age, never living in the present. Prufrock’s aging becomes a metaphor for a decaying society that has lost passion and confidence.