THE CRISIS OF MODERN MAN IN T. S. ELIOT’S POETRY: A STUDY OF ALIENATION AND SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS

Abstract

The early twentieth century witnessed a profound cultural and spiritual upheaval that reshaped human consciousness, often described as the crisis of modern man. This paper examines how T. S. Eliot articulates this crisis through his poetry, anticipating themes of alienation, fragmentation, and spiritual emptiness. Focusing on The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, The Waste Land, and The Hollow Men, the study analyses Eliot’s portrayal of psychological disintegration and moral barrenness against the backdrop of a rapidly mechanized, post-war society. Using modernist and cultural theory within a qualitative textual framework, the paper argues that Eliot’s fragmented poetic form mirrors the fractured inner life of modern individuals, while his depictions of urban existence intensify isolation and the erosion of transcendental belief. However, Eliot’s poetry is not merely an expression of despair; through mythic structures and spiritual allusions, it gestures toward moments of renewal. By treating alienation and spiritual void as interconnected aspects of a single existential crisis, the study affirms Eliot’s enduring relevance in a contemporary world marked by technological acceleration, cultural fragmentation, and persistent spiritual uncertainty.