Love and Unsatisfied Desire

Romantic and sexual longing is portrayed as ultimately futile or tormenting, whether in Prufrock's paralyzed yearning, the failed relationships in Portrait of a Lady, or the 'love unsatisfied' and 'love satisfied' as equal torments in Ash-Wednesday.

Prufrock's longing for romantic connection is thwarted by his fear of rejection and miscommunication, as seen in his imagined dialogue where the woman says 'That is not what I meant at all.'

The lady's longing for emotional intimacy and the speaker's inability to respond create a pervasive sense of unfulfilled desire.

The atmosphere of 'Juliet’s tomb' and the emphasis on things 'left unsaid' suggest a longing for connection that remains unfulfilled.

The woman's longing for connection and the speaker's emotional distance underscore unfulfilled desire.