Journey of the Magi

Throughout T.S. Elliot’s “Journey of the Magi”, the search for perfection is a process ending only in death. This is portrayed through the magi’s journey to meet baby Jesus. Perfection is sought by the three men as they travel a lengthy journey in harsh conditions.
In the first stanza, the magi speak of the harsh travel conditions and criticize the journey, speaking of the “cold coming” during “the worst time of the year”. They spend little time speaking of their past life which was filled with ease and grandeur (Robert F. Fleissner). “There were times we regretted / the summer palaces on slopes, the terraces, / And the silken girls bringing sherbet.” (T. S. Elliot) Here the magi reflect on their good fortune in life, pondering on better times when traveling in the dea...