It is not evident to whom the poem is addressed. Some believe that Prufrock is talking to another person, while I believe that he is talking to the reader. In my opinion the author tries to take the reader with him through his mind. In my opinion the various outdoor images (the sky, streets, cheap restaurants and hotels) represent all the places he had visited throughout his life, and the “Let us go then, you and I,” is an invite given to the reader by the author to come and explore the past memories of the author. In stanza 3 Eliot starts to describe this yellow fog that flows outside the house. “The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes… Curled once about the house, and fell asleep.” – the author talks about his past memories, which is the yellow fog that rub their back upon the window-panes of a house, which in this case I’m guessing would be his mind.
Perhaps the most significant argument is the "overwhelming question" that Prufrock is trying to ask. I believe that Prufrock is trying to tell a woman his interest in her. It is shown through the various images of women's arms and clothing and the final few lines in which Prufrock laments that the mermaids will not sing to him.
As the poem uses the technique, it is very difficult to determine what is meant to be interpreted literally and what is symbolic, what is actual and what is subconscious imagery or both. In general, Eliot uses imagery which is indicative of Prufrock's character, representing aging and decay. "sawdust restaurants" and "cheap hotels," the yellow fog” are reminiscent of stillness and decay, while Prufrock's different concerns about his hair and teeth - "Combing the white hair of the waves blown back / When the wind blows the water white and black," illustrate his concern over aging.
Compare your interpretation of the poem with the interpretation below in the notes.
After reading through another person’s interpretation of the poem I can admit that some of the things he mentioned came to me as a surprise, while others were identical with what I have written. The first thing I agreed on was that the poem has no real discernable verse structure, since the poem is an interplay of expressions and memories.
The opening “Let us go then, You and I” according to this interpretation provides a reason for Prufrock to reveal himself while in mine I mentioned that the author is inviting the reader to take a journey through his mind, which is in a way similar to what this interpretation talks about.
