THE PRIDE OF THE ANCIENT MARINER
The Pride of the Mariner
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Coleridge is a mysterious, complicated, intriguing tale of a sea voyage recounted by a Mariner to a wedding guest he encounters just as the wedding is about to commence. The unwilling wedding guest is mesmerized by the Mariner and the recitation of the story recalling the storm, fog, drought, ghost ship, spirits, angels, dead bodies, and the Albatross. Coleridge’s tale has the Mariner journeying through pride, suffering, the supernatural, transformation, redemption, and salvation. The Mariner’s pride prompted the rejection of salvation in the form of the Albatross that was sent by God at the Mariner’s request; this rejection prompted a series of events that propelled the Mariner and the ship’s crew into utter desolation.
The character of the Mariner and crew is tested as they find themselves surrounded by walls of ice; the Mariner fails the test by succumbing to his pride. The situation is perilous and the Mariner and crew loose hope as anyone would do under the circumstances. The Mariner and crewed “hailed” (66), prayed, requested, summoned some form of life, some bit of hope from God that they would survive the dismal, bleak circumstances they were facing. This request was granted with the appearance of the Albatross which changed the tide for the Mariner and the crew. The appearance of the Albatross brings good fortune “the ice did split” (69), “a good south wind” (71). Led by his own arrogance the Mariner then chooses to take control of the situation by killing the Albatross. He succumbs to his desire to control his own destiny as well as the destiny of the crew. The crew’s opinion of the Albatrosses role in their salvation was ever changing throughout the poem mirroring how we change our views based on our circumstances, especially when we suffer. The crew reprimanded the Mariner for killing the bird, when the fog cleared they felt the Mariner was justified in his actions. Once they began
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Coleridge is a mysterious, complicated, intriguing tale of a sea voyage recounted by a Mariner to a wedding guest he encounters just as the wedding is about to commence. The unwilling wedding guest is mesmerized by the Mariner and the recitation of the story recalling the storm, fog, drought, ghost ship, spirits, angels, dead bodies, and the Albatross. Coleridge’s tale has the Mariner journeying through pride, suffering, the supernatural, transformation, redemption, and salvation. The Mariner’s pride prompted the rejection of salvation in the form of the Albatross that was sent by God at the Mariner’s request; this rejection prompted a series of events that propelled the Mariner and the ship’s crew into utter desolation.
The character of the Mariner and crew is tested as they find themselves surrounded by walls of ice; the Mariner fails the test by succumbing to his pride. The situation is perilous and the Mariner and crew loose hope as anyone would do under the circumstances. The Mariner and crewed “hailed” (66), prayed, requested, summoned some form of life, some bit of hope from God that they would survive the dismal, bleak circumstances they were facing. This request was granted with the appearance of the Albatross which changed the tide for the Mariner and the crew. The appearance of the Albatross brings good fortune “the ice did split” (69), “a good south wind” (71). Led by his own arrogance the Mariner then chooses to take control of the situation by killing the Albatross. He succumbs to his desire to control his own destiny as well as the destiny of the crew. The crew’s opinion of the Albatrosses role in their salvation was ever changing throughout the poem mirroring how we change our views based on our circumstances, especially when we suffer. The crew reprimanded the Mariner for killing the bird, when the fog cleared they felt the Mariner was justified in his actions. Once they began
Cited: Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Gen. ed. Stephen Greenblatt. 9th ed. Vol. D. New York: Norton, 2012. 443-459. Print.