Final answer:
In 'The Journey of the Magi' by T.S. Eliot, examples of futility or ennui are found in the Magi's reflection on their challenging journey and in their alienation upon returning to their old lives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of futility or ennui can be seen in T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Journey of the Magi'. This sense of existential weariness is conveyed as the Magi reflect on their journey and its profound implications. Examples in the poem include lines such as "the ways deep and the weather sharp, the very dead of winter" and "were we led all that way for Birth or Death?". These lines exemplify the Magi's struggle with the meaning and purpose of their journey, suggesting a sense of futility in their quest for understanding and foreshadowing the changes that the birth of Christ will bring to their world and belief systems. Another aspect of ennui is the Magi's perception of their old lives as alien upon their return, as captured in the closing lines, "We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, but no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation."