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Devi's Book 'Vision and Revision' Nods to T.S. Eliot's Prufrock

plausible symbolism · popularity 155 · 1 source thread

The book Kvothe borrows from Devi echoes 'a hundred visions and revisions' from Eliot's 'Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock'.

About: Devi

Also involves: Kvothe, Denna, The Wise Man's Fear

The theory§

This reading identifies 'Vision and Revision,' the book Kvothe borrows from Devi in The Wise Man's Fear, as an allusion to T.S. Eliot's 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,' which contains the line 'And for a hundred visions and revisions, / Before the taking of a toast and tea.' The title is taken as a wink at Rothfuss's perfectionist craft, reinforced by the WMF author's note thanking his partner for her patience amid 'the stress of endless revision.' Rothfuss's background as an English major and lecturer, and his having spoken about Eliot publicly, make the allusion plausible rather than coincidental. The thematic fit deepens the case: Prufrock's titular indecisions and revisions dramatize a man's paralysis at the thought of declaring himself to a woman, mirroring Kvothe's chronic inability to act on his feelings for Denna.

Evidence§

  • in Wise Man’s Fear Kvothe borrows a book called “Vision and Revision” from Devi. I think this may likely be a reference to T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”.
    OP's core claim identifying the book title as an Eliot allusion. — u/tacopeople
  • And for a hundred visions and revisions, Before the taking of a toast and tea.
    The verbatim Eliot line the book title supposedly echoes. — u/tacopeople
  • I’m guessing this might be a cheeky reference to Pat’s writing process in some way since he is something of a perfectionist. The author’s note to Wise Man’s Fear also mentions dealing with “the stress of endless revision”
    Ties allusion to Rothfuss's perfectionist revision process and author's note. — u/tacopeople
  • Obviously it could be a coincidence, but I’m guessing Rothfuss is probably a fan of this poem: he has talked about Eliot on a podcast before apparently
    OP's hedge plus external plausibility: Rothfuss has discussed Eliot. — u/tacopeople
  • He majored in English and was an English lecturer at the university. I imagine he’s aware of Eliot’s Prufrock and it is, indeed, a reference.
    Comment reinforces plausibility via Rothfuss's English background. — u/BunsOfAluminum
  • Prufrock's "visions and revisions" articulate his angst at the thought of declaring himself to a woman he likes. He eventually chickens out. Sound familiar?
    Comment adds thematic fit: Prufrock's paralysis mirrors Kvothe and Denna. — u/taborlyn13
  • Didn’t Par once say something about Devi being invented in one of the later revisions, or am i remembering wrong? It would be a nice little comment on that.
    Comment offers extra resonance: Devi herself a late-revision invention. — u/Polkanissen

Book refs: WMF

Tier reasoning§

tier plausible confirmed: reasonable real-world allusion with supporting author's note

Contributors§

Source threads§