Alienation

One of the major themes of the poem develops from the relationship between the speaker and the fear that the Birth of Jesus will alienate him from the position in society he has been accustomed to. The Three Kings, one of whom is the speaker, are usually depicted in Biblical nativity scenes as visiting Jesus on the night of His Birth after a long and arduous journey across the continent. Although their beliefs are not clear, it is often recorded that they would have been similar to astrologers in their time. The Birth of Jesus represents a shift toward the beginning of traditional Christianity and Biblical worship and a turn away from the old ways.

The first two stanzas describe more of the landscape and the features of the journey while the third delves deeper into the emotional struggles of the mage. The journey does provide...