Fleeting Time and Endless Yearning: A Study of T.S. Eliot's  Ash Wednesday

This research aims at exploring the theme of time and existential agony in Thomas Stearns Eliot’s (1888-1965) Ash Wednesday (1930). It highlights how Ash Wednesday marks Eliot's deep examination of both time and mortality, uncovering the deep aspects of his existential reflections. Through placing this poem within a broader literary and spiritual perspective, this research illustrates Eliot’s "chromophobia" fears and meditations on progress in age, loss, and spiritual ascent; not only does it mirror his personal struggles but also engage with philosophical questions about existence and the mortal condition. Therefore, this study contributes to understanding Eliot's poetic career and highlighting how it deals with time that informs his pursuit for meaning and improvement in a fragmented world.