Blog #2 Topic #3

            Millennials, a group of people who are the future of the world, expected to create a better place. Cliché, of course, yet there is truth that the expectations are high for us millennials, put upon ourselves and by our superiors. This pressure leads to the dissatisfaction of our achievements and anxiety, instilling a fear of incompetence and lack of purpose. In the poem by T. S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, we get a glimpse of an anxious man attending a party wanting to talk to a woman. A simple plot extended due to the protagonist’s anxiety and low self-esteem, a common feeling in millennials.

Anxiety causes people to be on edge about their own being, in an age where perception is everything makes it worse. Afraid of ridicule and judgement stating that in some way a millennial feels inadequate, as any of their mistakes is put on display. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, shows us that the protagonist is fearful of “the eyes” in lines 55-59, where he is concerned about them staring at him and making comments about him. Throughout the poem, we can see his anxiety whether it be merely walking into the main room or speaking a certain woman. He is so fearful of his peer’s opinions it is a reason he is deterred to talk to her. Today millennials are so afraid to act and do because of the same reason, they’re worried about other’s opinions.

Not being a significant force in innovation creates ennui in them as they wish more for themselves. In Eliot’s poem lines 73-74, “I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas,” is how he feels trying to muster the courage to talk to a woman. These lines demonstrate the feelings some millennials feel today, when in a similar situation, they feel inadequate or incompetent. Trying to impress or meet high expectations, will make people want to turn into a crab and scuttle away. Millennials have put upon themselves this concept that they must be better than what they are leading to depression.

Millennials are the youth of today who are to lead this world into the bright future, but it shall only be as bright as millennials can make it. The fear of ridicule and unsatisfied with themselves, makes it difficult for them to believe in their abilities. The poem is different in story, but the same feelings are there. The protagonist doesn’t feel he is worthy to speak to a woman and is afraid of every subtle action he could make he remains in a single room. Millennials remain in a single room, as a single misstep would lead to their down fall. If the man just took the first step and had just an ounce of courage, who knows, the woman could have gone out with him. If the new generation would be brave enough to take a step forward, without fear, they could reach their aspirations and become the new innovators.