At some point in every mortal's existence, there will be a time when their soul will be between two states of being, waiting to be judged. Without the fearlessness and faith to move on to the afterlife, they will spend eternity stuck in purgatory. When TS Eliot wrote “The Hollow Men,” he used symbolism, imagery, and repetition to share his vision of the lack of courage and faith that afflicts every human being. “The Hollow Men” by TS Eliot is a dramatic monologue, free verse. poem composed of five parts which could be considered as five distinct poems. His use of “allegorically abstract texts nevertheless achieves a remarkable unity of effect in terms of voice, mood, and imagery” (Morace 948). Before the poem begins, there are two epigraphs; “Mistah Kurtz – he’s dead. / A penny for the old man” (lines 1-2). Eliot alludes to these two epigraphs because their themes are developed throughout his poem. “The first epigraph is from Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” a story…that examines the emptiness and horror of lack of faith, spiritual paralysis, and despair” (Bloom 61), as do “men hollow” of his poem. The second epigraph “refers to the celebration of Guy Fawkes Day in Britain” (Bloom 61). It is a day that celebrates Fawkes's unsuccessful rebellion against King James I, with his capture in the cellar of the Parliament building, where the stored gunpowder was supposed to explode and kill King James I and his family. Once captured, he cowardly handed over his co-conspirators and they were all killed. It is “celebrated with bonfires, fireworks, the burning of scarecrows and the solicitation of 'pence for the old man'. Eliot's images of scarecrows, a cave and violent souls recall this tale of a violent plot that...... middle of paper ...... insight to remedy the lack of courage and faith that torments every human being. “The poem succeeds admirably in expressing a feeling not only of disillusionment, but also of personal weakness” (Morace 950). Without the faith and courage to face the final judgment and move on to the afterlife, one will end up in purgatory. Works CitedBloom, Harold. "Thematic Analysis of 'The Hollow Men'." Bloom's main poets: TSEliot (1999): 60-63. Literary reference center. Internet. November 28, 2011. Eliot, TS “The Hollow Men.” Famous Poets and Poems - Read and enjoy poetry. August 6, 2006. Web. December 5, 2011. Morace, Robert A. “The Hollow Men.” Master Plots II. Ed. Frank N. Magill. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press, 1992. Vol. 3. 948-50. Print. Urquhart, Troy. “Eliot is THE HOLLOW MEN.” Explanator 59.4 (2001): 199. Literary Reference Center. Internet. December 5. 2011.