Hamlet vs. Pufrock

Prince Hamlet and J.Alfred Prufrock are very similar but yet very different.  Their similarities are found in their thoughts.  Their differences are established by how they speak and the time difference.

Young Prince Hamlet lives in Denmark during Shakespeare's time and is forced to make a difficult decision.  This decision is whether he should avenge his father's death by killing his uncle or by just letting things remain as they are.  He speaks of both choices with his close friend Horatio and for most of the play, he cannot make a decision. Throughout the play he faces this internal conflict.  Only in the end does he finally take action.  He kills his uncle after setting it off for months.

J. Alfred Prufrock is a man who falls in love with a girl.  He debates whether he should tell her of his dying love or if he should keep it to himself. His life passes by and he dies without taking action.  He is similar to Hamlet in terms of setting things off.  He lives his life without being able to make a decision.  This is the same situation as Hamlet's.  Hamlet never took action because he knew he was correct.  He took action when he knew he was about to die.  Additionally, Hamlet also has a trouble with the love of his life, Ophelia.

Although the base of the problem may be the same, the circumstances are very different.  Hamlet faces a life or death problem. Prufrock faces a love problem that can easily be solved.  Another difference is the way in which they speak. Hamlet is a phenomenal speaker while Prufrock has trouble expressing his feelings.  Prufrock admits it himself in the poem:

"No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;
  Am an attendant lord, one that will do
  To swell a progress, start a scene or two
  Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
  Deferential, glad to be of use,
  Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
  Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
  At times, indeed, almost ridiculous-
  Almost, at times, the Fool."