How eliot uses the form of monologue in journey of the magi to protect the inner conflict?
Answers
In the Journey of the Magi, Eliot is involved in a personal monologue in making a decision to satisfy his inner self. In the poem, Eliot shows guilt due to the sinful life of alcohol and women and then expresses satisfaction in a different tone through confession which is the natural way of humans. This way, he is able to protect the inner conflict.
'Journey of the Magi' is a poem written by the T S Eliot, which is in the form of a dramatic monologue.
Characteristics of Dramatic Monologue:
a) The poem is a narrative, which is a monologue by the speaker who is not the poet himself.
b) There is a presence of a listener whose identity is revealed subtly only in the course of the speaker's monologue.
c) The reader comes to know of of the personality, the intention of the speaker and the subject matter in the course of the narrative.
d) Self-revelation is the most important purpose of a dramatic monologue.
'Journey of the Magi' as a Dramatic Monologue:
a) The speaker in the poem is one of the Magi (the three kings or magi who went to see baby Jesus in Bethlehem). The magus (singular of Magi) reveals his inner conflict in the course of the narration.
b) The audience or the listener here could be the reader himself.
c) The speaker talks about the harshness of the journey that they had undetaken, leaving behind the warmth of the East, the luxurious life and their palaces. He elevates the importance of the journey is highlighted and the birth of Jesus Christ is exalted.
d) Finally we come to know the dilemma that the magus expresses whether the journey is worth it or not. He reveals his unhappiness leaving behind the faith that he believed and adopting a the birth of a new faith (in this case Christianity).