Question

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

Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

Which best describes the meaning of these lines?
The speaker is content with his accomplishments and his place in the world.
The speaker fears that no one around him will notice if he disappears.
The speaker believes he cannot change his environment in a positive way.
The speaker is worried that his very existence is a burden on others.

Answer 1

The third option. The rhetorical question "Do I dare / Disturb the universe?" and "decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse" show Prufrock's hesitation and sense that any action will be futile or quickly undone — he doubts he can make a meaningful, positive change.