Prufrock's Choice

     Life is all based around a series of choices. They range from important decisions to quick uneventful ones. People often times complicate themselves with whether they should wear red or black shoes, long or short hair, ignoring the important things in life. The truly important decisions. Others make big issues of small ones, fight endlessly with themselves and others over decisions that shouldn't require as much thought. They too, miss on the beauty of life. Two characters are here confronted with both big and small decisions and its their inability to make choices what spirals them into failure. Indecision becomes their worst enemy.

     Prufrock's most important difference with Hamlet is the fact he makes an issue out of all his decisions. His final thought is always to wait. Wait for the room to clear, for the "yellow smoke that slides along the street" to pass, and for his life to slip away into time. He's frustrated at points by his inaction but as the years go by he avoids change. Just sitting around in the same place wondering when will he be able to ask the girl out, maybe its this other girl, maybe this time its going to happen, but ultimately it never happens. He grows bold and his optimism fades. He says "And indeed there will be time to wonder 'Do I dare? Do I dare?'", unfortunately that time no longer sits there wating for him to act. The time is gone and so is his life. Betrayed by his own inaction he has now grown old.

      On the other hand there's Hamlet, who sits on the most important decision of his life. For him its not even a decision, the decision was taken long before. He's chosen his path. To avenge his father, killing his uncle and taking back what it his by birth. The throne of Denmark. But whats the hurry says Hamlet. Is he or is he not ready to execute his plan. This inaction, rather than indecision troubles him throughout the play. How can so much happen around him, so much death and violence and how is it possible for him to still doubt his actions? Just as Prufrock, time moves fast but Hamlets life isn't slipping away. Better yet not in the same sense, because ultimately his life expires as he's poisined by Leartes's sword. His inaction granted him death, nothing more and nothing less.

      Time is futile and life is short. More often than not, its too short. Sitting around pondering on "What if?" makes your life dull and useless. You have to enjoy life, taking advantage of all the possibilities it presents. Avoid the Hamlets and the Prufrocks. Take her out to dinner, do your homework, wake up to go to school etc. Don't let yourself be tricked into inaction. Ultimately, you decide.