Introduction of the Poem:
The poem entitled The Journey of the Magi belongs to a group of poems known as the Ariel Poems. They were written as contributions to an annual volume of poems published at Christmas time and belong to the period between 1927 and 1929. The journey is based upon the Gospel of St. Matthew. The Magi were guided to the home of Jesus by a new star. In the beginning they sought the help of Herod - the King of Jews. He pretended to help them in order to identify the child. His intention was to kill him because he wanted no rival King. When the wise men worshipped Jesus, they were told not to report their discovery to King Herod. In the present poem the poet tells that the old faith is dead. After the quest for a new faith, it has come to the successful end. Even in its success the wise men feel no joy or peace of mind. The wise men are uneasy and look forward to death which may confirm them in a new faith.
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| The Journey of the Magi | Summary and Critical Appreciation | |
Summary of the Poem:
The Magi heard of Christ's birth, so they decided to pay their regard to the new born Christ. They resolved to go to the birth place of Christ. It was the end of December when they undertook their journey. This was not a proper time for a distant journey because at the end of December, there becomes extreme cold and the people of the East cannot endure this bitter cold. Such a long journey from a hot country to the cold region was a very difficult journey because there might fall great obstacles and hindrances in the way of their journey, but they set about. During their journey, they found the rocks rough and full of deep and wide holes. The cold winds were biting their bodies. In fact, it was the worst part of winter season. The camels could not endure such a tough weather of winter, hence they grew sick. They were tired and sick. The camels were habitual of walking on hot sand of the deserted regions. Their feet were extremely wounded. It appeared as if they were not willing to move ahead. They lay down on the ground full of snow. Sometimes they repented at their foolish idea of undertaking journey in such weather. They thought that if they had not taken such an adventures, they would not have faced such great obstacles and difficulties. Sometimes they thought why they did undertake a pleasant journey to the palaces of entertainment on the hills o in the valleys where they could enjoy all the pleasures which were available there. There were the beautiful girls who dressed in silk and their body also soft and tender. If they had gone there, they would have enjoyed their company and a kind of sweet iced drink which these girls served. The came drivers who were great fond of wine and women, also grumbled the difficulties of the way of the journey. There was no source for the enjoyment. They were not willing to move forward and they wanted to give up their journey in the mid-way. Another difficulty was of the fire which could keep them warm during cold nights, but they had no sources burning the fire. When they were tired, they could get no place to get relax for some time and to remove the tiredness. The places for shelter could not be found at such lonely places, hence they were badly tired. They found ma cities during their journey, but the people of these cities became violent against them. Knowing them strangers and dangerous persons, they attacked them. They (the Magi and the other companions) passed through the villages of rude people who demanded high rates for shelters and foodstuffs. Now they wanted to settle their destination very soon as far as it was possible. They decided to continue their journey without stopping. They took nap turn by turn. Their firm determination and inner urge of the Magi enabled them to continue their journey in spite of all odds. Sometimes their minds were disturbed by the doubt that their journey might prove to be wild goose - chase and all their love's labour may be lost.
Finally at the very dawn, they reached a valley where the climate was very pleasant. They saw good vegetation there. They heard the music of running stream and the sound of water mill. They also saw the old white horse galloping in a meadow. There were also three trees which mentioned the place where Christ was crucified and three crosses were raised. The tavern with vine leaves over the lintel referred to the communion. The six hands dicing for pieces of silver referred to the betrayal of Christ by Judas and the soldiers dicing for robes. They saw the feet of drunken men who were kicking the empty bottles of wine. They did not have an exact knowledge of Christ's birth place, so they did not stay and kept on their journey. Finally they succeeded to achieve their goal. They entered the place where Jesus was born. But the poet has not expressed their joy at finding the infant Jesus. All that he said was satisfactory.
The old Magi remembers the journey which they settled a long time ago. He wants to present some main points of the journey. He asks what the purpose of their journey was. He asks whether they made the journey to witness the destruction (death) of the old civilization or the dawn (birth) of new civilization. But it was a kind of death for them, because it meant a clean breach from their old life and old ideas. It was like the birth of a new life. The wise men were not really prepared for the birth into Christianity. They were emotionally disturbed. They felt separated from their own men who still worship the God of the pre - Christian period. They had felt no joy by accepting the new faith. Therefore, they desired another death so that they might completely be converted to Christianity. The second death would make them completely free from the old beliefs and traditions and bring them into a new way of life.
Critical Appreciation of the Poem:
Introduction:
The poem entitled The Journey of the Magi belongs to a group of poems known as the Ariel Poems. They were written as contribution to an annual volume of poems published at Christmas time, and belong to the period between 1927 and 1929. The poem is based on an incident described in the Gospel of St. Matthew ii. The wise men or the Magi were led to the new born Jesus by a new star, which guided them to the home of Jesus and then disappeared. The wise men reached the infant Jesus and worshipped him. It was then revealed to them that they should not report their discovery to Herod. The Magi were the priestly class among the Babylonians and the ancient Persians.
Thought - Content:
One of the three wise men recounts the experience of their journey to the birth place of Jesus. They took their journey in the worst time of the year i.e., at the end of December. The Magi had to face many obstacles fallen in their way of the journey. Due to being the worst part of the winter season, the paths were uneven and full of holes. The camels had grown sick. The camels’ drivers, who were fond of drinking wine and going to the prostitutes, greatly pined for these things. Under the impact of these extreme desires, they wanted to flee away from there in the mid-way. There was the absence of warm fire at night and the scarcity of suitable place of rest and relaxation. While going to their destination in such a rough weather, they remembered the comforts and pleasures of life. The behaviour of the people living in city was not friendly. They did not show any hospitality for them. The villagers charged high for shelter and foodstuffs. But the firm determination and the inner urge of the Magi enabled them to continue their journey in spite of all odds. Sometimes their minds were disturbed by the doubt that their journey might prove to be wild - goose chase. Finally they reached a temperate valley which had good vegetation. They heard the music of the running stream and the sound of the water mill. They saw the trees which symbolised Calvary where Christ was crucified and three crosses were raised, one for Christ and two for the male factors who were crucified with him. The old white horse symbolising the beginning of progress was galloping in the meadow. The tavern with vine leaves over the lintel referred to the communion. The six hands dicing for pieces of silver referred to the betrayal of Christ by Judas and the soldiers dicing for robes. The Magi learnt nothing about the birth of Jesus but they felt encouraged to proceed further. Their quest ended successfully. The narrator's comment though it might imply fulfilment, was a bold recitation of the ending of a quest not in failure, but in anti - climax and inadequacy.
The Moral of the Poem:
The old faith was dead and the Magi journeyed towards a new faith. The quest was perilous and even the success of the quest carried with it nostalgic yearnings for the old faith. The new faith appealed to them but even that failed to give them calm or happiness. The wise men were uneasy and looked forward to death which might confirm them in a new faith. Perhaps, death they wished for, completely cut them off from the old ways of life and they would be reborn as complete and full - blooded Christians. The old Magi yearned for a second death which might completely release him from old ties and traditions and bring him fully into the new way of life opened to men by the birth of Christ. For a complete spiritual state, it was necessary that the Magi should undergo the experience of another death.
Appropriate Title of the Poem:
The Magi were the three wise men who came from the East to honour the new born Jesus. Magi refers to the priestly class of magicians in ancient Persia. Later on the three wise men were identified as three kings: Balthazar King of Chaldea, Gaspar, Ethiopian King of Garshish and Melchoir the King of Nubia. One of the Magi recounts the difficulties of the travellers during their journey to the inhospitable land. The journey represents a quest for the spiritual land - the death of the old and the birth of a new age. The spiritual transformation of the Magi and their new way of life show the successful result of the spiritual endeavour.
Style and Language:
The poet has used a remarkable use of symbols. The main symbols are traditional. Smelling of vegetation symbolises sign of life - birth and growth. The running stream of water symbolises vital force of driving life, denying the voices that this was all folly. Three trees are symbol of Calvary where Christ was crucified and three crosses refer for Christ and the male factors crucified with him. A white horse refers Christ, the conqueror. The horse's galloping away in the meadow symbolises the dawn of progress. A tavern with vine leaves over the lintel is symbol of communion sharing in common. The poet has also enriched the story with his personal memory as mentioned in his critical essay entitled The Use of Poetry and Use of Criticism. Another peculiarity of the poem is that while in style and phrasing, it bordered on prose. It is free from earthiness of prose. The poem has the greatest dignity and power. The process of conversation is portrayed in the images of the Magi's journey.
