The Sordid Representation of Humanity In “Hollow Men” by T.

S Eliot

The epigraph referring to the Guy Fawk’s Day and Mista Kurtz is significant in two
respects. The Guy Fawk’s Day marks the burning of the effigy of Guy Fawk, the
mastermind behind the Gunpowder Plot in Britain back in 1860. Second is the reference
made to Mista Kurtz who is the chief character of “Heart of Darkness”, by Joseph
Conrad.

The poet tries to emphasize the point that all men are devoid of all essence and this is
particularly applicable to the modern man. The modern man-more than a human- has
transformed into a machine and therefore all that it does is deprived of human element
and is thoroughly mechanical and frigid. Thus, the modern man is a by product of
industrialization.

The effects of industrialization have turned human beings from one organic whole into
detached individuals. Thus, all sense of human association and connection has brutally
been deadened. People operate individually and have become solitary in most of their
activities. Thus, the void of human interaction has rendered him hollow from inside
despite his improved appearance, appealing ways and debonair disposition. We are being
told that this hollow man can think of nothing beyond appearance and Reality is totally
denied in all spheres of life. Although, the definition of Reality in the mind of the poet
may differ from that of the reader, he warns us that a denial of this Reality will lead
human beings to the depths of irredeemable ruin.

The burning of effigy symbolizes the dwellers of modern age and their existence is just as
hollow and sham as the effigy itself. Similarly, Mista Kurtz is an allegorical figure that
symbolizes the darkness in the heart of these men. These “stuffed”, yet “hollow” people,
own darkness as their inherent characteristic. This shows how out of depth, callous and
selfish lives they lead. Thus it is the most sinister and vile aspect of their personages. The
more they dwell in this valley of darkness, the more acquainted they are with their
innermost ambitions. Nevertheless that is the negation of the concept of Real human
“self” that they have miserably failed to acquire.

The short and long lines being used by the poet show the inherent confusion and disorder
in the minds of these people. They live in a state of turmoil-unable to make any prudent
decisions in life and live meaningfully. Their existence is a complete hole and therefore
as any hollow thing will, they easily collapse in all purposeful endeavors.

“Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!”
These people live indecisively and passive lives, that’s why they are portrayed in varying
sizes of the lines. Uncertainty and lack of faith will lead them suffer in the afterlife. These
people will neither be granted paradise nor hell, but a state of abeyance and inexorable
suspension. Limbo (or Purgatory in the words of Divina Comedia) shall be their aboard
where they will neither rest nor be afflicted physically but their minds will remain a
subject of infinite turmoil.
Eternal disorder due to their faithless lives in this world will mark their treatment in the
life hereafter. They will never find success for they never aimed for it. They aimed, if at
all, to live inconsequential and indolent lives that will eventually lead to the equally
inconsequent limbo. Their sin shall be the inaction and misjudgment of the true purpose
of their lives. Thus the author’s idea of inaction is not just an ordeal in this world but also
eternal damnation in the hereafter.

As prophet Ezekiel said,

“Your image will be broken,” he tries to elucidate the true nature of the Hereafter. He
was actually stressing the need to realize that this world is transitory and there is a more
worthy and long lasting life that awaits us. Hence, there is a need to “act” to attain
success in both the worlds. The people that Eliot refers to are those whose lives are no
better, instead, they try to evade the impending reckoning by disguising themselves in
masks of insensitivity and callousness.

The “valley of dying stars” is a reference made to their lack of brilliance and splendor;
that is only attainable through a connection with the Divine. Thus the importance of
spirituality is indispensable to leading a fuller life. The eternal sense of belonging that
ensues from the connection with the spiritual world, makes life a beautiful journey and a
purposeful ride. Thus instilling in human beings the sensitivity to feel another’s plight
and coexist as living entities instead of morally and spiritually dead beings. This
comment upon the lack of spirituality stems from their heedless supplications to broken
stones. The poet tries to tell us that despite living in modern times, their existence is just
as meaningless as it was in the times of pagans.

Thus, since prehistoric times the rate of progress has been zilch- for the human intellect
that should have progressed, surpassing all idol worship and abandoning all hopes
associated with lifeless “images,” continues to dawdle in the bizarre realm of idolatry.
Hence, human beings have failed in “progressing,” that implies intellectual evolution
instead of the mere material advancement.

Another aspect of the effects of idolatry can be explained in the lack of moral courage
ensuing from it. This attitude leads to cowering before the God, be it physical idols or the
greater idol of materialism that has blindfolded the human race to the higher human needs
of morality, decisiveness, courage and connection with the Divine.
Nevertheless, the poet does not end with a message of despondency. He determines the
only passage to salvation for these “Hollow Men”; the multi-foliate rose that symbolizes
the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ. But still the poet asserts that these people belong to the
“Twilight Kingdom” that signifies the fall of light and the rise of night. Thus, they are
steeped in such deep an ignorance of their “selves” that to salvage them is virtually
unthinkable. The children’s rhyme employed in the end, that is,

“…here we go round the prickly pear”

Is a mockery on the utter state of hopelessness of these hollow dwellers of a hollow

world.

Doubt, indecision and uncertainty mark their persons. This is shown through the use of
fragmented lines.

“For thine is,

Life is
For thine is the”

The lack of purpose in their lives and the ensuing tragic end will thus be resulted from
such a useless living. It will all end one day and come to a screeching halt., and that too,

“not with a bang but with a whimper.”

Materialism has made such a waste of modern man that it did not fall short of instilling
in him vileness and evil to the core. The darkness rises to his heart and overtakes his
entire existence. This leads to the creation of the hollow man that destroys his self and all
the good things resulting there from. Conclusion of his life would likewise be indecisive,
in Limbo. Thus, they will never quite get to know the final verdict passed for them and
this will remain a mystifying subject. While the accounts of all shall be settled, theirs will
hang in the balance for eternity. This way, God will judge their affair most relentlessly
and culminate the infliction on their souls.