Critical Appreciation of Journey of the Magi

 Critical Appreciation Of Journey Of the Magi


                       Journey of the Magi is one of the Ariel poems of T.S Eliot. All the poems of this group embody different aspect of the experience of the rebirth, of the discovery of a new focus of existence. 'The meaning of the new birth is obscure, full of doubt, accompanied by pain, not joy and perplexing in the extreme."  This is particularly true of the poem Journey of the Magi. The poem opens with the account of the journey of the magi to Bethlehem where they would pay their respect to the newborn baby, Christ. The journey was full of hardship and hazards. They experienced difficulties which are narrated here by one of the Magi.

                  The journey stands for a quest for the spiritual land- the death of the old and the birth of the new age. The difficulties are symbolic of the hurdles that lie on the way of the progress of pilgrims. Though the journey ended successfully, the Magi are not quite sure of its beneficial results. They have been detached from the old dispensation but they are not able to get full benefits of what Christ stands for. The spiritual transformation of the magi and their new way of life show the successful result of the spiritual endeavor.
              
                 The theme of the poem is the promise of salvation. The Magi feels that salvation is possible only through death. They are uneasy and look forward to death which may confirm them in new faith. Death will completely cut off them from the old ways of life and they will be reborn as complete and full-blooded Christians. They feel no joy by accepting the new birth. They desire another death so that they can completely be converted to Christianity. The second death will make them completely free from the old dispensation and bring them into a new way of life and thought.. taught by the Saviour. For a complete spiritual state, it is necessary that the journey had made the speaking Magi a half Christian. His rebirth in Christianity is halfway through. The second birth in Christianity is possible only after another death. 
             
                  The birth of Christ has made a great impact on the three wise men. The birth of Christ is quite different from ordinary births, which they have witnessed in the world. The birth of Christ has produced in their minds an inner restlessness as painful as the death. This is the state of a devotee when he has given up his worldly actions and ambitions but has not yet entered the state of spirituality. He is aware of his own self, but not yet been acquainted with his re-birth on the spiritual plane.

                 The birth of Christianity has meant the death of the life of the narrator's kingdom "with an alien people clutching their gods", and the narrator awaiting the release of his own death. Two features deserve special analysis. The intense significance of the journey is contrasted with the understatement of its narrative and the frequent images during the journey, which foretell events in Christ's life.


Reference: An Analysis of English poetry by Dr. Kalyan Pandey

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