Final answer:
Literary critiques of 'Futility (ennui)' in 'The Journey of the Magi' might explore the existential questioning of the Magi, reflecting on whether their journey was worth the sacrifices. New Criticism provides a basis to interpret the poem's themes and formal elements, examining the spiritual ennui expressed by the Magi.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of literary critiques of 'Futility (ennui)' in 'The Journey of the Magi' (1927) might focus on the existential questioning and sense of discontent expressed by the Magi upon completion of their journey. Critics often explore the theme of whether the Magi’s sacrifices and hardships were justified by their encounter with the divine Christ child. This form of critique aligns with New Criticism, which emphasizes the interpretation of literary texts through the examination of their formal elements and the experience they provide, rather than on external factors or authorial intent. Critics may scrutinize the Magi's final, unsettling question in the poem: "were we led all that way for / Birth or Death?" to reflect on the nature of their journey as not just physical, but spiritual, and the ennui and questioning of purpose that arises thereafter.
Comparatively, other narrative styles, like those of Charles Dickens or Tarjei Vesaas, may demand different levels of engagement from the reader to construct meaning from the text, illustrating divergent approaches in literature. By contrast, T.S. Eliot's poem leaves much open to interpretation, using vivid imagery and the characters' experience to stir introspection. The Magi’s dissatisfaction or futility about what they find and what they've left behind encapsulates the fragmented modern psyche, a common subject of criticism in Modern literature.