Journey of the Magi

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot (1913)

If “Journey of the Magi” is about the advent of a new religious faith, this early Modernist poem shows a man who not only has no faith but also lacks a sustaining belief of any kind. Both poems are dramatic monologues, but that is all they have in common. Prufrock is a middle-aged man who is aware that his life is futile and superficial. “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons” (Line 57), he says. He would like to discover meaning and purpose in his life, but he is too indecisive and timid to initiate any fundamental change.

“Ash Wednesday” by T. S. Eliot (1930)

Eliot published the first part of “Ash Wednesday” in December 1927, about the same time as “Journey of the Magi” appeared. Like the latter poem, “Ash Wednesday” is an early product of his conversion to Christianity. For Christians, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is a time to repent, to be aware of mortality and seek salvation from God.

Over the course of this six-part poem, the speaker undertakes a spiritual journey. They start in despair, having lost interest in their former pursuits, but they begin to come to life again upon encountering a mysterious Lady who resembles the Virgin Mary.