“THE JOURNEY OF MAGI” BY ELIOT

ABOUT THE POET

Thomas Steams Eliot was born in St Louis Missouri in 1888. He

attended Harvard Merton college oxford, and the sabonne setting in
England in 1915 and becoming a British Subject in 1927 we was once
a section master and later joined the foreign department of Lioyds
Bank. In 1922, he founded the literary review called “criterior”, soon
after he was made a director of Faber and Faber, the publishers’
talks like Shakespeare he has been a successful business man as well
as a poet. He was awarded the order of merit in 1948 and he also
received the noble prize for literature while most of the leading
British and American universities have conferred honorary degrees
on him. He wrote this poem in 1927.

SUMMARY ANALYSIS

THE POEM “’The Journey of Magi” is a recreation of a bible

story. It is based on the biblical visit of the three wise men (Magi)
from the east in search of the new born child, Jesus Christ.

The poem therefore describes the experiences which the three

wise me (the Magi) encountered in the victorious search for the new
born king Jesus. The story however retold by one of the three wise
women who underlook the journey. The opening stage highlight on
the initial heart shape which the magi experienced due to the line
departure which then set the mood of the poem.

A Journey Taking Place In A Cold Weather And At “The Worst Time

Of The Year” Is One Which Certainly Foretells Danger Adder To
Their Problems, The Poet Said The Root Was Deep And The
Weather Was Sharp. This was a winter time, also “the very dead of
winters” there was snow everywhere and as a result of this, the
travellers camel proved stubborn and uncontrollable “lying down in
the melting snow”.

At an inn the traveller decided to pass a night, but sequel to the

high prices, filth and hostile (unfriendly) attitude of those in and
around, they decided to “travel all night”. Nevertheless, because the
travellers were tired and needed some sleep, they slept in snatches
as the moved on then outdone the travellers came to a temperate
valley full of vegetation and life. There, they saw a tavenn whose
entrance was decorated with vine leaves, they was three men dicing
four pieces of silver and kicking the empty wine-skin with their feet.
The wise men could not get the desired information about the place
they were the child Jesus was born and they went their way.
However, they were not discouraged they endured toil they reached
their destination, “---and so we continued and arrived at evening, not
moment too soon (finding the place) it was (you may say)
satisfactory”. All these happened “a long time ago” the narrator
continues. He says he would undertake a similar journey again, if
given the opportunity. At this point, he begins to nurse regret over
the hazardous journey. He questioned was it birth or death that
lived him and his colleges to that unnecessary risk. He contend that
he has seen both birth and death but that particular birth had been
different, producing the effects of death, however the magi were
concerned that they had seen the “Messiah” whose sight uplifted
their hope and faith.

Finally, the narrator stated that at the end of their journey, the
group returned home only to discover that thing were no longer what
they were at the beginning. Eventually things have fallen apart and
centre cannot hold apparently because of the infiltration of foreign
influences, yet, he says that in the midst of all these, would be “glad
of another death” he will do it again inspite of the harsh conditions
of the road road and weather.

STRUCTURE
The poem has three stanzas.

STANZA ONE: The Journey the suffering and uncertainties.

In the first stanza of the poem, the persona, who happened to one
of the wise men, described the journey to Bethlehem. The journey
began at the height of the cold season of winter. The worse time of
the year it is was a very long and difficult journey, even the camels
they journed with felt the painful effects of the wintery weather.

There were other source of discomfort for the magi during the
journey.

-temperature to stray and follow earthly pleasures.

-Lack of fire to keep them warm.

-Lack of shelter.

-Unfriendly towns and cities.

-Dirty villages with unhygienic conditions.

-Unbearably high price and cost of living.

-A lingering doubt in in their mind that was all going to be a fruitless

venture.

STANZA TWO: Arrival at the destination finding the place after

travelling at night, the magi cam to more friendly environment this
was at the dawn. The persona describes the pleasant natural
environment at this stage of their journey.

-The welcoming smell of vegetation in a temperate valley

-Running stream and water.

-A tavern with wine leaves.

However, they had still not got any information about the where
about of the infant Christ Jesus. They had to keep going till evening
when they finally found the place they were looking for.
STANZA THREE; acknowledgement of spiritual birth.

Now brings us back to the present moment. As he reflects the whole

experience, He tells us all doubts in their mind about debate was now
cleared. But the best was at the same time of death of their old
selves and identity. It was like dying to be born again and having
returned to their old place they were “no longer of ease” they felt
alienated and uncomfortable among their own people and therefore
would gladly embrace another death.

THEMES

The theme of spiritual rebirth and renewal

The poem explores the process of the inner struggle and physical
challenges that one has to go through in order to achieve spiritual
rebirth.

For the persona there can be no renewal and strengthening of ones

feet without going through this painful process but like everything
worthwhile, the end justifies the means.

The theme of change

Change only happens when an old gives way to the new. On this
transformation had it takes place without struggling and pain. This
applies in all factors of man's existence. For the narrator, the
spiritual transformation he and the others have experienced is
worth the effort.

The theme of the effects of historical

Events on society journey of the magi goes beyond the level of

individual. apart from being an exploration of the individuals spiritual
journey in search of renewal of faith, it also addresses the profound
effects of historical events on whole society and culture one such
effect is the change in the identity of a people anytime an events of
great importance occurs. This debate of the Christ child most only
changed the lives of these wise men it also resulted in irrevocable
change in the cultures and religions of society across the world.

Theme of suffering

The Journey of the Magi” Begins an end with suffering on the magi
suffer a whole lot during the journey the bad weather and even
worse people the psychological suffering of the dying culture of the
magi in addition to the physical and mental anguish we know about
Jesus would experiences as he grew up to become Christ. So what
do we do to make of this? We think Eliot’s reminding us that a whole
lot about spirituality and religion.

POETIC DEVICES

Where tick devices are formed of literary devices. Used in poetry.

Poems are created out of poetic composites of structural,
grammatical, rhythmic, metrical verbal and visual elements. The
essential tools that a poet uses to create rhythm enhance the
plane’s meaning or intensify a mood or feeling.

-Language/diction: The choice of words of the poet is quite simple

except the syntax which is a bit complex. Readers are familiar with
most of the words used in the poem both some weights needs
explanation from the dictionary and so students will be needing that
in order to understand these words. Examples of such words are
called, sherbet, refractory.

The poem is written in the form of pros and verses. This narrative
prosaic Descriptive musical. The first five lines enclosed in inverted
commas review the direct experience that influenced the entire
narrative process. One of the three wise men (Magi) In the Bible is
here recalling a past experience. Here, normal elements of nature
seems to perform religious roles. The diction therefore convert all
accounts to a semi religious ritual.
-mood/tone: The state of mind in which the poet expresses his
thoughts on this point is that of agony, disappointment, despair,
disgust, do at their faith and hope Are restored back, This
expressed in their statements when the Maggie say they would be
happy to embark on the journey once again. In summary, one can
simply conclude that their tone is that of disappointment and
courage.

-Alliteration: This is the reputation of some consonant sounds on

the same line of poetry. In this case some of the example can be
cited here:

A “winding ways" (line 4)

B “There.......times (line 8)

C “Then the ........ (Line 11)

Others include; “sleeping in Snatches" “ where we led", Cold

Corning", “camel men nursing”.

-Repetition: in this poem, the word “the" is repeated in the second

and forth lines. The word “journey” is repeated in the third line.
Others include: “time", “Birth", “death”, there is no doubt that
repetition lays emphasis and gives music to the poem.

-Pun: This is another musical device used in the poem. For the sake
of definition, pun is a play on words. In line 37 of the poem there is a
play on the word “births” the capitalise “birth” is the birth of Jesus
Christ while the birth in lowercase is the universal birth of all people
worldwide.

-Personification: This simply means attributing life to lifeless

objects or in animated things which has abstract qualities. Elements
that were personified in the poem are:

“Night-fires going out"

The cities were hostile, the towns unfriendly the expression can be
explained below. Night fire cannot go out because they are not
animals or humans which have lives to move about.

Secondly cities and towns are not living things so they have no
emotion to express act of hostility or unfriendliness.

-Synecdoche: This is an act of taking part of a whole or a wolf or a

part Examples are seen in the poem are “And feet kicking the empty
wine skin” there “feet" Represents “people” that is the drunkards
are the tavern.

“Six hands" Represents the three men at the door of the Tavern
“dicing” four pieces of silver.

-Simile: Simile is an imaginative comparison between two things or

objects that are in general not alike but in a particular aspect and
similar. Simile uses “like” or “as" Introducing word Examples of
simile as used in the poem are: “Hard on bitter agony for us like
death our death" (line 38 – 39)

-Irony: Irony is the opposite of what one meant to say. The irony
used in the poem are:

“I should be glad for another death"

Nicole that despite the serious suffering of Magi united to ever

think of embarking on another similar journey again.

-Allusion: This simply means a reference to a place, thing objects or

events. The allusion the poem is seen in the expression.

“Three trees on the low sky”

This is a typical biblical allusion it refers to the crucifixion of Jesus

Christ in between a robber and a murderer. Recall, three persons
were crucified Jesus Christ with two criminals.

-Litotes: This is an understatement for the purpose of emphasis. A

good example of little in the poem is seen in line 30 where the poet
says “not a moment too soon” which indicates that the journey took a
very long period.

-Rhetorical question: This questions asks without expecting a reply

or answer. The case of this poem rhetorical question is found in the
expression “this where we led all that way for birth or death?”

SYMBOLS

In literature symbolism is the practise of representing things by

symbols or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character.
Is symbol is an object, action or idea that stands for something
other than itself, often of a more abstract nature. Symbolism
creates quality aspects that make literature like poetry and novels
more meaningful.

When you talk of symbols in poetry, journey of the magi is one of

the poetries that centres most on symbols.

The poet T. S Eliot’s Ploys brilliantly the effective use of symbols

and imagery to vividly bring forth his message in the poem discuss
below.

-The three trees; the three trees Symbolise the blessed Trinity.
God the father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ who
is born is the second person of the Trinity. The three trees were
due which joined the Baptist had warned the Pharisees on Sadducees
who came to his baptism in Matthew 3: 10

- The White Horse: White Horse symbolises purity. In spite of the

immorality that was common in the land. Scape covered by the
travellers, there was still you redeeming features. The White Horse
is also in symbol of Christ triumphant entry into Jerusalem which
was fulfilled many years later entry into Jerusalem which was
fulfilled many years later.

-The running stream: This is symbolic of Christ’s baptism in river

Jordan.
 - Pieces of silver: This symbolises 30 pieces of silver which was
the price but which Judas betrayed Jesus Christ.

- Wine-skins: we read in the Bible the story of the wine-skin in

which no one puts new wine.

- The dicing: This year represents the casting of the lots for the
coming of Jesus by the Jews after his crucifixion by them this is
seen in Luke 23:24.

-The journey of the Magi: even the poem title is centred on

symbol of a soul in search of salvation.