"I grow old ... I grow old ... / I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled."
This alludes to the "Parable of the Old Man and the Sea" by the biblical prophet Isaiah. The parable describes an old man who is unable to support himself and has to wear his trousers rolled up to show his poverty.
This allusion serves several purposes:
* It reinforces Prufrock's feeling of inadequacy and aging. He sees himself as old and worn out, unable to fulfill his desires.
* It emphasizes the futility of his efforts. Just like the old man in the parable, Prufrock is struggling to make a living, and his efforts are ultimately meaningless.
* It creates a sense of melancholy and despair. The biblical allusion adds a layer of gravitas to Prufrock's anxieties, making them seem even more profound and hopeless.
This is just one example of the many allusions used in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Eliot masterfully uses allusions to connect the poem to a wide range of cultural and literary references, enriching its themes and giving it a deeper, more complex meaning.