Themes of the journey of the Magi

A great deal of the poem focuses on the suffering the Magi experience over the course of their journey to Bethlehem. The group struggles against horrific weather, ill behaved camels and camel men, and hostile townspeople. They suffer many hardships, and yet, they face each one with strength of character.... a physical and emotional strength that allows them to persevere and ultimately attain their goal.

These two passages especially exemplify the theme:

"'A cold coming we had of it,

Just the worst time of the year

For a journey, and such a long journey:

The ways deep and the weather sharp,

The very dead of winter.'"

“And running away, and wanting their liquor and women,

And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,

And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly

And the villages dirty and charging high prices:

A hard time we had of it.”