The Journey of the Magi by TS Elliot focuses on one of the three Magi who went to Bethlehem shortly after his birth bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The poem has many different hidden meanings, but they are all based around a common theme of faith. A common interpretation of the poem is that Elliot wrote about his experiences in converting to Christianity and placed them within the context and mental framework of one of the Magi. This interpretation seems to fit very well. In the first section, which is three, the magician describes the physical aspects of the "long journey"; the "sharp weather", the "sore-footed, sore-footed camels", "sleeping fitfully". Elliot talks about the difficulties he encountered in his search for faith. He goes on to tell us about the moments when he thought about what he was leaving behind, about his old beliefs: "There were moments when we regretted it, the summer palaces on the slopes, the terraces, and the silk girls carrying the sherbet ." Of course, Elliot's old beliefs had nothing to do with silk girls bringing sherbet, but he is expressing the doubt that crossed his mind. Perhaps he thought that what he would gain at the end of his journey would not be worth the same value as what he left behind, just as the Magi must have thought after leaving their palaces. Then he tells us about the camel men; “Fleeing and lusting after liquor and women,” distracted along the way by things of little spiritual value just as people were and still are distracted from their spiritual path by things of little meaning. He talks about the voices: “They sing in our ears, saying it was all madness.” From the magician's point of view, these could be the voices in his... medium of paper... Birth was for us a hard and bitter agony, like Death, our death. of Christ, of a new set of beliefs forming his mind, and a new vision of what is important in life. they once belonged, only to find that they feel like outsiders while the people they knew continue as before, unaware that an event of such importance has occurred – they don't understand. “I should be happy with another death.” The wizard (Elliot) feels lonely, dejected, perhaps depressed. The death he desires is his own.