Journey of the Magi

A detailed Summary of Journey of the Magi

"Journey of the Magi" can be read and perceived on many different levels. The imagery, while when first read is easy to understand, may be researched to find deeper meaning. Since the poem was written in the year of Eliot's own conversion to Christianity, the quest of the Magi for the Christ child can be seen as a parallel to Eliot's own religious quest.

The first five lines of "Journey of the Magi" describe the hardships of their journey (Barbour 190-191). I think these five lines also refer to the difficulty of Eliot's conversion to Christianity. Lines 2-4 express the hardships that have been endured through Eliot's life and the Magi's journey. "Winter" expresses a feeling of death and despair. It shows that the Magi are losing or have lost all hope throughout life. The camels lying down in the melting snow reinforces the enormous dif

Lines 26-28 show that the Magi are still searching for the Child they sought. "Satisfactory" shows that the Magi have completed their journey and they are pleased with the outcome. In addition, E. F. Burgess sees the word "satisfactory" as evidence that "every condition of the prophecy was met, leaving the alienated magus...stranded, suspended between the realization and the consummation of God's plan" (36).

The "Old white horse" represents war and the conqueror in Revelation 6:2 of the Bible. In Revelation 19:6 the white horse appears once again carrying the King of Kings when he appears out of the heavens. Dean also quotes Kaplan and Wall's speculation that the horse is symbolic of the "death of paganism under the onslaught of Christianity," and notes Nancy Hargrove's suggestion that "the horse's 'being old...perhaps represents the old dispensation that will fade

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Magi Line, Journey Magi, Satisfactory Magi, Christianity Lines, Nancy Hargrove's, Michael Dean, James Wohlpart, Magi Eliot, Magi Christ, Kaplan Wall's, journey magi, white horse, five lines, temperate valley, conversion christianity, eliot's own,

Approximate Word count = 594
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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