Final answer:
A middle example of 'Futility (ennui)' in 'The Hollow Men' is described in the lines that highlight the 'terrible tragedy' and 'soul-starvation' experienced by the men in the poem.
Step-by-step explanation:
A middle example of 'Futility (ennui)' in 'The Hollow Men' (1925) can be found in the following lines of the poem: If you could go into this mill where Deborah lay, and drag out from the hearts of these men the terrible tragedy of their lives, taking it as a symptom of the disease of their class, no ghost Horror would terrify you more. A reality of soul-starvation, of living death, that meets you every day under the besotted faces on the street, I can paint nothing of this, only give you the outside outlines of a night, a crisis in the life of one man: whatever muddy depth of soul-history lies beneath you can read according to the eyes God has given you. In these lines, the poem highlights the futility and sense of ennui by describing the 'terrible tragedy' and 'soul-starvation' experienced by the men in the poem. It suggests that their lives are filled with a deep emptiness and despair, leading to a sense of futility in their existence. In the middle of "The Hollow Men," T.S. Eliot continues to explore the theme of "futility (ennui)" through various vivid and symbolic images. One notable example is in the third section of the poem, where Eliot presents a series of scenes that depict emptiness and despair. The lines "Eyes I dare not meet in dreams / In death's dream kingdom / These do not appear:" suggest a sense of futility and ennui in facing the realities of life and death. The eyes that the speaker "dare not meet in dreams" imply a reluctance to confront the harsh truths or meaningful connections. The reference to "death's dream kingdom" adds a layer of desolation, suggesting a realm where even in death, true fulfillment or understanding remains elusive. This contributes to the overall theme of existential emptiness and the futile search for meaning that pervades "The Hollow Men."