'Journey Of The Magi' by T.S. Eliot
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The Faber Book of Modern Verse'A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.'
And the camels galled, sore-footed,refractory,
Lying down in the melting snow.
There were times we regretted
The summer palaces on slopes, theterraces,
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.Then the camel men cursing andgrumbling
And running away, and wanting theirliquor and women,And the night-fires going out, and thelack of shelters,And the cities hostile and the townsunfriendly
And the villages dirty and charging highprices:
A hard time we had of it.
At the end we preferred to travel allnight,
Sleeping in snatches,
With the voices singing in our ears,saying
That this was all folly.Then at dawn we came down to atemperate valley,
Wet, below the snow line, smelling ofvegetation;
With a running stream and a water-millbeating the darkness,
And three trees on the low sky,
And an old white horse galloped inaway in the meadow.
Then we came to a tavern withvine-leaves over the lintel,
Six hands at an open door dicing forpieces of silver,
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.
But there was no imformation, and sowe continued
And arrived at evening, not a momenttoo soon
Finding the place; it was (you may say)satisfactory.All this was a long time ago, Iremember,
And I would do it again, but set down
This set down
This:were we led all that way for
Birth or Death?There was a Birth,certainly,We had evidence and no doubt.I hadseen birth and death,
But had thought they were different;this Birth wasHard and bitter agony for us, likeDeath, our death.
We returned to our places, theseKingdoms,But no longer at ease here, in the olddispensation,
With an alien people clutching theirgods.
I should be glad of another death.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Journey of the Magi by T.S. Eliot: A Journey of Spiritual Awakening
“A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year, For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter.”
These are the opening lines of one of T.S. Eliot’s most celebrated poems, ‘Journey of the Magi’. The poem is a dramatic monologue in which one of the magi, who went to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Christ, recounts his journey and how it changed him. The poem is widely considered as Eliot’s masterpiece and has been the subject of numerous interpretations over the years.
In this literary criticism, we will delve into the poem and explore its various themes, motifs, and symbols. We will also look at the historical context in which the poem was written and how it reflects Eliot’s own spiritual journey.
T.S. Eliot and the Journey of the Magi
T.S. Eliot was one of the most influential poets of the 20th century. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1888, Eliot moved to England in 1914 and became a British citizen in 1927. Eliot’s poetry is famous for its complex themes, fragmented structure, and allusive language. His works often explore the themes of disillusionment, spiritual crisis, and the search for meaning in a modern world.
The Journey of the Magi was written in 1927, three years after Eliot’s conversion to Anglicanism. The poem can be seen as a reflection of Eliot’s own spiritual journey and his struggle to find a meaningful connection with a divine being.
A Journey of Spiritual Awakening
The poem is narrated by one of the magi who is recounting his journey to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Christ. The poem is divided into three stanzas and each stanza represents a different stage of the magi’s journey.
In the first stanza, the magi describes the difficult journey they had to undertake to reach their destination. The weather was harsh, the roads were treacherous, and the magi were constantly plagued by doubts and fears. However, despite all the difficulties, the magi persevered and continued on their journey.
“All this was a long time ago, I remember, And I would do it again, but set down This set down This: were we led all that way for Birth or Death?”
In the second stanza, the magi describes their arrival in Bethlehem and their encounter with the baby Jesus. The magi is struck by the humility and simplicity of the scene, which is in stark contrast to the opulence and grandeur of his own life. The magi describes how he felt out of place and how he struggled to find meaning in what he saw.
“I had seen birth and death, But had thought they were different; this Birth was Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.”
In the third and final stanza, the magi describes his return journey and how it changed him. The magi realizes that his journey has been a spiritual one and that he has been transformed by what he has seen. The magi is filled with a sense of despair and longing as he realizes that he can never go back to his old way of life.
“We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, With an alien people clutching their gods. I should be glad of another death.”
Themes and Motifs
The Journey of the Magi is a complex poem that deals with a number of themes and motifs. Some of the major themes in the poem include:
The Journey as a Metaphor for Life
The journey of the magi can be seen as a metaphor for life. The magi’s journey is full of difficulties and challenges, but he perseveres because he believes that there is something worth pursuing at the end of it. The magi’s journey can be seen as a metaphor for the human condition, where we are all on a journey towards some kind of goal or destination.
The Nature of Faith
The poem explores the nature of faith and the struggle to find meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and uncertain. The magi is filled with doubts and uncertainties, but he continues on his journey because he believes that there is something worth pursuing. The poem suggests that faith is not easy, but it is necessary in order to find meaning in life.
Transformation and Change
The magi’s journey represents a process of transformation and change. The magi is transformed by what he has seen and he realizes that he can never go back to his old way of life. The poem suggests that change is inevitable and that we must be willing to embrace it in order to grow and develop as individuals.
The Paradox of Birth and Death
The poem explores the paradox of birth and death and suggests that they are not as different as we might think. The magi describes how the birth of Jesus was like a death for him and how it brought him face to face with his own mortality. The poem suggests that birth and death are two sides of the same coin and that they are both necessary for the cycle of life to continue.
Symbols and Imagery
The poem is full of symbols and imagery that help to convey its complex themes and ideas. Some of the most significant symbols and images in the poem include:
The Star
The star that the magi follow is a symbol of hope and guidance. The star leads the magi to their destination and helps them to navigate through the darkness. The star can be seen as a symbol of the divine, guiding us through the difficulties and challenges of life.
The Three Kings
The three kings represent the three stages of the magi’s journey – the journey itself, the arrival at Bethlehem, and the return journey. The three kings can also be seen as a symbol of the Christian trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Desert
The desert represents the harsh and unforgiving nature of the journey. The desert is full of dangers and challenges, but it is also a place of transformation and change. The desert can be seen as a symbol of the human condition, where we must navigate through difficult and challenging times in order to grow and develop as individuals.
The Birth and Death Imagery
The birth and death imagery in the poem is used to explore the paradoxical nature of life. The birth of Jesus is described as a death for the magi, highlighting the idea that birth and death are two sides of the same coin. The birth and death imagery is also used to explore the idea of transformation and change.
Conclusion
The Journey of the Magi is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores some of the most complex themes in literature. The poem is a journey of spiritual awakening, where the magi is transformed by what he has seen and experienced. The poem reflects Eliot’s own spiritual journey and his struggle to find meaning in a modern world.
The use of symbols and imagery in the poem adds depth and complexity to its themes, making it a rich and rewarding text to analyze. The Journey of the Magi is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today, and will likely do so for many years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Journey of the Magi by T.S. Eliot is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that tells the story of the journey of the Magi to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Jesus Christ. The poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry and is a reflection of the author's own spiritual journey.
The poem is written in the first person, with the Magi narrating their journey. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which represents a different stage of the Magi's journey. The first part of the poem describes the physical journey of the Magi, as they travel through the desert to Bethlehem. The second part of the poem describes the spiritual journey of the Magi, as they struggle with their doubts and fears. The third part of the poem describes the Magi's arrival in Bethlehem and their encounter with the baby Jesus.
The first part of the poem is filled with vivid imagery that captures the harshness of the desert landscape. The Magi describe the journey as "a cold coming we had of it, / Just the worst time of the year / For a journey, and such a long journey" (lines 1-3). The use of the word "cold" emphasizes the harshness of the desert climate, while the phrase "worst time of the year" suggests that the journey is difficult and dangerous. The use of the word "long" emphasizes the distance that the Magi must travel to reach their destination.
The second part of the poem is more introspective, as the Magi reflect on their doubts and fears. The Magi describe their doubts in lines 37-40: "Were we led all that way for Birth or Death? / There was a Birth, certainly, / We had evidence and no doubt. / I had seen birth and death." The Magi are uncertain about the purpose of their journey, and they question whether it was worth the effort. The use of the word "evidence" suggests that the Magi are looking for proof of the significance of their journey.
The third part of the poem is the climax of the Magi's journey, as they finally arrive in Bethlehem and encounter the baby Jesus. The Magi describe the scene in lines 61-64: "With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness, / And three trees on the low sky, / And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow. / Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel." The use of the word "darkness" suggests that the Magi have arrived at night, while the image of the "three trees on the low sky" suggests that they have arrived at a significant moment in time. The image of the "old white horse galloped away in the meadow" suggests that the Magi have arrived in a peaceful and idyllic setting.
The encounter with the baby Jesus is described in lines 65-70: "A cold coming we had of it, / Just the worst time of the year / For a journey, and such a long journey: / The ways deep and the weather sharp, / The very dead of winter." The use of the phrase "the very dead of winter" emphasizes the harshness of the environment, while the repetition of the phrase "a cold coming we had of it" emphasizes the difficulty of the journey. The Magi describe the baby Jesus as "a hard birth" (line 71), which suggests that his birth was difficult and painful. The Magi also describe the baby Jesus as "a new beginning" (line 72), which suggests that his birth represents a new era in human history.
The poem is a reflection of T.S. Eliot's own spiritual journey. Eliot was a convert to Christianity, and the poem reflects his own struggles with doubt and faith. The poem is also a reflection of the modernist movement in literature, which emphasized the individual's struggle to find meaning in a chaotic and uncertain world.
In conclusion, The Poetry Journey of the Magi by T.S. Eliot is a classic poem that tells the story of the Magi's journey to Bethlehem to witness the birth of Jesus Christ. The poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry and is a reflection of the author's own spiritual journey. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which represents a different stage of the Magi's journey. The first part of the poem describes the physical journey of the Magi, the second part describes their spiritual journey, and the third part describes their encounter with the baby Jesus. The poem is filled with vivid imagery that captures the harshness of the desert landscape and the beauty of the scene in Bethlehem. The poem is a reflection of the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic and uncertain world, and it remains a timeless masterpiece of modernist poetry.
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