at the beginning of the poem no definite emotions are projected. only the attitudes and apprehensions of the difficulties and cold within and without are expressed
before he reaches his destination, each perception of scenery becomes a glowing symbol. eliot's imagism rises to the forefront. the hostilities of cities, unfriendliness of towns, lack of shelters, non-cooperation b/w men and beast make the cold difficult and the journey a despair
the intimate experiences reveal basic realities crying out for communication. they further serve as emotional focus for the understanding of life. eliot's problem was to find emotional correlations to experiences. he therefore undertakes this blind journey for the restoration of his losing faith. one cannot even suffer. This is the curious feeling of death of life (last stanza )
eliot is in deep conflict probably because of his turn towards calothicism
he begins his journey deciding to travel all night. the morning then brings them to the temperate valley. a difference in landsapes is indicated. there is vegeation and running water.
darkness was the symbolic guide. the dawn has to come and it does. this shows eliot's clever use of symbols
the running water signifies temporal and the timeless. the watermill beating the darkness continues the image of extinction and renewal. the water and the mill are vital throbbing forces that deny the voices that tell him that the journey was a folly. new life will be generated. the dead ghosts of history come to life. the magi see "three trees on the low sky" and "an old horse........." the white horse which galloped away is a syymbol of christ - the saviour
the three trees symbolize the three crosses on which christ and the other 2 sinners were crucified. the time has come for complete soul searching. even at this stage of the journey the doubt remains. the verse ends on an anti climatic note. they have found the place but there is no rejoicing
this delibertae...