By a study a variety of texts, it is evident that the concept of the human condition manifests itself in different ways throughout each of them. In particular, the notion of the inefficiency of mankind, and superficiality of the modern lifestyle is an idea common to T.S. Elliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock", Mendes' "American Beauty" and Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees." These three texts explore the notions of superficiality and inefficiency by considering human relationships as a defining feature, and examining the contrast between reality and illusion, in order to project a rather bleak, pessimistic viewpoint of the human condition.

T.S. Elliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" characterises the main persona, J. Alfred Prufrock, attempting futilely to search for some...