Prufrock throughout the poem seems to constantly refer to these small social gatherings which he supposedly hates as he feels paralyzed by the constant pressure of social interaction. It also potentially shows that he is constantly in the environment to achieve his goals but finds it impossible to take action due to his crippling social anxiety. He also makes it seem like the "toast and tea" moment is a large event, perhaps showing his anxiety as he attaches such importance to a relatively small event.