Question

Read the excerpt from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."

And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—
[They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”]
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—
[They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”]
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

Which lines indicate that the speaker is concerned about what others think of him?
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—
[They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”]
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”

Answer 1

The lines that show his concern about others’ opinions are:

- "My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,"
- "My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin—"
- "With a bald spot in the middle of my hair—"
- "[They will say: 'How his hair is growing thin!']" (and the similar bracketed line about his arms and legs)

These lines emphasize his attention to dress and his anticipation of other people’s critical comments, showing his self‑consciousness.