Poetry has
multiple qualities that make it stand out as one of the most beautiful ways of
writing out there. And a detail that truly captures readers are the monologues
of the main characters, not only because they speak beautifully, but because
they are the little pieces of the poems or plays where readers can see exactly
what the character is saying. Shakespeare is no exception of this, and one of
his most famous monologues is from his brilliant play, Hamlet. Hamlet goes
through a lot, and it is extremely important for readers to read deep into his
monologues to be able to truly understand what he is thinking. The other
monologue worth discussing is “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S
Eliot. It’s a beautiful poem where Prufrock expresses his feelings and
thoughts. Therefore it is completely worthwhile to compare these two
masterpieces and identify what sets them apart.
The important
thing to look at when comparing Shakespeare with any other literary work is
that most of the monologues of these characters have some purpose behind it. For
example when Hamlet is speaking to himself in the play, he considers things, he
thinks ideas over and over again, and he feels as he speaks. On the other hand,
Prufrock is speaking what he thinks just as the ideas appear in his mind. On the
other hand, Prufrock does something very interesting that Shakespeare doesn’t
which is talk about his surroundings. This main detail is probably the most accurate
one that backs up the idea that the only thing Prufrock is expressing is his
thoughts and the impact his surroundings have on him. Shakespeare does not
express that on Hamlet. Hamlet is so lost within his own thought, that when it
comes to speaking his mind, he doesn’t acknowledge that there is something else
out there aside from his thoughts, feelings and experiences. This aspect
clearly draws the line between the trains of thought of these two deeply
intellectual men.
