Prufrock and Winesburg

The most exhilarating thing about understanding literature is being able to make connections  between texts and the real world. This is no exception when it comes The Love Song of Alfred Prufrock and Winesburg, Ohio. Because they are both modernist texts it is clear to recognize their similarities.There is a similar use of symbolism in both texts. In , there is a constant present of windows. These windows serve multiple, meaningful functions including as a symbol of knowledge, understanding, and  truth. When characters like the old man wish to see out of windows they are searching for clarity and the ability to understand something greater. Similarly, there is mention of windows in Eliot’s poem. Eliot uses parts to represent a whole known as fragmentation. Anderson also uses this in . In Winesburg, Ohio , especially in the story”Hands”  and “Paper Pills” , there is discussion of hands and knuckles. Wing Biddlebaum’s hands serve a larger function in the context of his identity.In Eliot's poem, the speaker recognizes the people around him as eyes. These eyes are a part of the whole human but represent the judgment and watching that he feels people are around him. . Also, throughout the poem certain grounds of people are recognized as  by a part of their figure, women are identified by their fingers. Futhermore, Eliot touches on love in the poem much like in Winesburg, Ohio. It is hard to tell whether Prufrock is actually in love or not. This reminded me of George Williard and Helen White. After George's "sophistication" he expresses that with Helen he can feel his own growth into adulthood. They share a special bond , a romantic one you could say. However, whenever they give into lust they quickly back off from each other. In this way it is not clear whether the two are in love either. The most exciting connection I made between the two texts has to be that both texts explore a distrust or uselessness of words and verbal communication. When Prufrock states, "It is impossible to say just what I mean!" he is exclaiming the inadequacy of words themselves. I saw this same idea in "Paper Pills" in which Dr. Reefy and his wife can tell what each other are feeling by simply looking at each other which stressed to me inner conscious over outer appearance.I think that you can parallel the irony of the titles of the two works as well. This poem is described as a love song yet is not a conventional or typical one in any sense. Much like Winesburg, Ohio which I thought was not so much about the small, rural town itself as the lives of its residents.
My overall take away from the Prufrock poem was that this man is isolated in some shape or form (an idea that comes up frequently in Winesburg, Ohio). The imagery in the beginning of the poem portray a run down city of cheap hotels and dirty streets (this reminded me of Enoch for some reason).