"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot
"The Hollow Men" is a poem written by T.S. Eliot, first published in 1925. This poem explores themes of spiritual emptiness, disillusionment, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in a chaotic and fragmented world.
Through its vivid imagery, fragmented structure, and
allusions to various cultural and literary references, "The Hollow
Men" presents a bleak and haunting portrayal of the human condition.
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot-The poem begins with the famous line, "Mistah Kurtz – he
dead," which is an allusion to Joseph Conrad's novel "Heart of
Darkness." This reference sets the tone for the rest of the poem,
suggesting that the speaker, like Kurtz, is spiritually dead and lost in a
world devoid of meaning. The title itself, "The Hollow Men," further
emphasizes this theme of spiritual emptiness.
Also Read-
- "The Tyger" By William Blake
- "Sonnet 18" By William Shakespeare
- "She Walks In Beauty" By Lord Byron
- "The Lady Of Shalott" By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The first section of the poem describes a group of men, the
hollow men, who are described as "shape without form, shade without
color." They are lifeless beings, lacking substance and purpose. The
speaker describes their eyes as "sunlight on a broken column,"
indicating that they lack the ability to see clearly or comprehend the world
around them. The men are also compared to scarecrows, filled with straw and
unable to move or take action.
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot-The second section of the poem delves deeper into the
spiritual void experienced by the hollow men. They are trapped in a desolate
and barren landscape, symbolizing their isolation and disconnection from the
natural world. The speaker describes them as being in a "dead land,"
where "the eyes are sunken in the sockets" and "death's dream
kingdom" reigns. This imagery conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair.
The hollow men long for escape from their condition but are
unable to find it. They engage in empty rituals and meaningless gestures,
hoping to find some sense of purpose. They whisper words that have lost their
meaning, as they have become disconnected from the power of language. The poem
references the Lord's Prayer, but the hollow men can only utter fragments of
it, indicating their inability to connect with a higher spiritual realm.
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot-The third section of the poem introduces a female figure, the
"shadow" or "mistress" who represents an unattainable and
distant ideal. The hollow men desire her, but she remains elusive and beyond
their reach. She is described as being "fading, fading" and as a
"dead tree," further emphasizing the theme of decay and loss.
The final section of the poem concludes with a series of
powerful and evocative images. The speaker states that the hollow men are
"stuffed," "broken," and "filled with straw."
They are likened to "dried voices" and "rats' feet over broken
glass." These images create a sense of fragmentation, decay, and chaos.
The poem ends with the repeated line, "This is the way the world
ends," suggesting that the spiritual emptiness and disillusionment
experienced by the hollow men reflect the impending destruction of the world
itself.
Also Read-
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot-In summary, "The Hollow Men" is a complex and
deeply symbolic poem that explores the themes of spiritual emptiness,
disillusionment, and the struggle to find meaning in a fragmented and chaotic
world. Through its vivid imagery, fragmented structure, and allusions to
various cultural and literary references, the poem presents a haunting
portrayal of the human condition and leaves the reader with a sense of
hopelessness and impending doom.
"The Hollow
Men" Poem
I
We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar
Shape without form, shade without colour,
Paralysed force, gesture without motion;
Those who have crossed
With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom
Remember us-if at all-not as lost
Violent souls, but only
As the hollow men
The stuffed men.
II
Eyes I dare not meet in dreams
In death's dream kingdom
These do not appear:
There, the eyes are
Sunlight on a broken column
There, is a tree swinging
And voices are
In the wind's singing
More distant and more solemn
Than a fading star.
Let me be no nearer
In death's dream kingdom
Let me also wear
Such deliberate disguises
Rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves
In a field
Behaving as the wind behaves
No nearer-
Not that final meeting
In the twilight kingdom
III
This is the dead land
This is cactus land
Here the stone images
Are raised, here they receive
The supplication of a dead man's hand
Under the twinkle of a fading star.
Is it like this
In death's other kingdom
Waking alone
At the hour when we are
Trembling with tenderness
Lips that would kiss
Form prayers to broken stone.
IV
The eyes are not here
There are no eyes here
In this valley of dying stars
In this hollow valley
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms
In this last of meeting places
We grope together
And avoid speech
Gathered on this beach of the tumid river
Sightless, unless
The eyes reappear
As the perpetual star
Multifoliate rose
Of death's twilight kingdom
The hope only
Of empty men.
V
Here we go round the prickly pear
Prickly pear prickly pear
Here we go round the prickly pear
At five o'clock in the morning.
Between the idea
And the reality
Between the motion
And the act
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom
Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the Shadow
Life is very long
Between the desire
And the spasm
Between the potency
And the existence
Between the essence
And the descent
Falls the Shadow
For Thine is the Kingdom
For Thine is
Life is
For Thine is the
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
Conclusion
T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that delves into the depths of spiritual emptiness and the struggles faced by individuals in a world devoid of meaning.
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot-Through its
vivid imagery, fragmented structure, and allusions to literary and cultural
references, the poem paints a bleak picture of the human condition, capturing a
sense of despair, isolation, and disillusionment.
The hollow men are portrayed as lifeless and lacking substance,
trapped in a desolate and barren landscape that reflects their disconnectedness
from the natural world. They engage in empty rituals and utter words that have
lost their meaning, searching for purpose but finding only emptiness. Their
longing for an unattainable ideal and their inability to connect with a higher
spiritual realm further emphasize their sense of loss and decay.
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot-Through its haunting imagery and evocative language,
"The Hollow Men" leaves the reader with a profound sense of
hopelessness and impending doom. The repeated line, "This is the way the
world ends," serves as a chilling reminder that the spiritual emptiness
experienced by the hollow men mirrors the impending destruction of the world
itself.
"The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot-Overall, "The Hollow Men" serves as a poignant exploration of the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in a fragmented and chaotic world. It raises profound questions about the nature of existence, the emptiness of modern society, and the consequences of spiritual decay.
Eliot's masterful use of imagery and allusion makes this poem a timeless and
haunting piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers, urging us
to reflect on our own search for meaning in an uncertain world.
FAQ.
Q:
Who is the author of "The Hollow Men"?
A: "The Hollow Men" was written by T.S. Eliot.
Q:
When was "The Hollow Men" first published?
A: "The Hollow Men" was first published in 1925.
Q:
What are the main themes of "The Hollow Men"?
A: The main themes of "The Hollow Men" include
spiritual emptiness, disillusionment, the search for meaning, the decay of
society, and the impending doom.
Q:
What literary references are made in "The Hollow Men"?
A: "The Hollow Men" includes references to Joseph Conrad's novel "Heart of Darkness," as well as allusions to various cultural and religious references, such as the Lord's Prayer.
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