Between Action and Inaction

Despite claiming that he was not meant to be prince Hamlet, J. Alfred Prufrock demonstrates, throughout his so called "love song", that he is, in fact, much worse.

Both characters start out with the same uncertain and dubious state of mind. They both have things they have to do, yet are afraid to do them, just as Prufrock demonstrates when he says "And indeed there will be time to wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?” "(Line 38). Prufrock has to take his relationship with the girl he fancies to the next level, yet he does not have the courage to do so. Meanwhile, Hamlet is presented with proof that his uncle murdered his father and is asked to seek revenge, yet he decides to look for more evidence before deciding to do anything. They are both avoiding the task they have to complete, and are choosing to over-analyze every aspect of their mission instead. They are both cowards.

Although there is a shift in both Hamlet and Prufrock as their stories continue, the difference between them is that Hamlet finally decided to take action, while Prufrock is stuck wallowing in self pity. Hamlet decides to "Suit the action to the word, the word to the action" (Act III Scene II Line 17) and actually start to do something about the precarious situation he finds himself in. Even though he wavers at first, he ends up setting out to do as he originally planned, throwing all thoughts regarding consequences away. On the other hand, Prufrock ends his song contemplating death and the imminent failure of the plan he always thought of but never carried out. Hamlet dies having accomplished his objective, and all Prufrock does is think.

Prufrock denies that he is like Hamlet, but what he does not realize is that his prolonged thoughts on action lead to inaction, which is exactly what he wants to avoid. Indecision makes away with him and leaves him thinking about what could have been.  Hamlet ends up finding himself, while Prufrock only gets lost in his own vast universe.