The Struggle to Lead an Authentic Life

Prufrock's shy personality and low self-esteem prevent him from being social in his surroundings.  In this poem, Prufrock is attempting to pursue a women, whom he is afraid is not interested in him.  Throughout the entire poem he debates and debates whether or not to tell her how he feels, but intimidation and the fear of rejection stand in the way: "No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be..." (111).  Despite his shy disposition, Prufrock wants to be noticed among society, and especially by the woman he is trying to pursue.  Unfortunately, his indecisiveness and bashfulness impede him: "Do I dare/ Disturb the universe?/ In a minute there is time/ For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse"( 45-49). 

Ginsberg believes that conformity, non-creativity, and traditional American values are driving "the best minds" of his generation mad: "I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,/ dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,/ angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry/ dynamo in the machinery of night..." (1-4).  Ginsberg says that conformity has driven "the best minds" to their deviant behavior.  "The best minds" just want to express themselves in a way that is different from what the society sees as normal: "who were expelled from the academies for crazy& publishing obscene odes on the/ windows of the skull" (11-12).  "The best minds" believed in artistic expression, which was not a well received concept during that time period.  Also, in order to express themselves, "the best minds" "howl" like a wolf at the moon, wanting to be heard.  I believe that Eliot and Ginsberg both have pessimistic views of people who want to live authentic lives.   Eliot displays his pessimism through doubt, and Ginsberg expresses his through anger. 

question: What did Eliot mean by the mermaids in the last lines of his poem?
connection: Eliot's poem reminds me of a typical middle school or high school scene where kids are involved in their own cliques and the so called "nerds" or "outsiders" never have a chance to date the popular girls or the cheerleaders.