The Happy Accidents of the Swing get Swarmed by Albatrosses
Kaelyn Tam
Throughout your life, you encounter many choices, some of which may change the outcome of the moment, and some that will change your life forever. In the captivating poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, there is an Ancient Mariner who tells his seafaring experience and the lessons he learned to a Wedding-guest, based on a sudden impulse. Throughout the poem, the Mariner introduces several morals that he learned through mistakes and their consequences. After encountering many different intersections, he learns to find value in living things.
At the beginning of the poem, the Mariner is blind to the importance of nature. When the Mariner is on the boat with his crew, they see a great albatross that starts trailing them. It turns out the albatross is a blessing which brings their ship fair skies and good weather. The Mariner has a sudden compulsion to shoot the albatross. While his shipmates stare in shock and horror after the death of the albatross, the Mariner says, “‘Why look’st thou so?’ - With my cross-bow/ I shot the albatross.” The Mariner does not think before his actions, which demonstrates his unawareness of the importance of living things. Because the Mariner has killed the Albatross, all of his shipmates including himself must face the consequences for the rest of their voyage.
As the Mariner’s journey continues, he sees many spirits that represent the consequences of disregarding nature and living things. The Mariner is on the ship with his shipmates, and since the albatross’ death, their ship has been stuck in a doldrum, unmoving. Suddenly, they see a ghostly boat approaching with a pale skinned, red lipped woman on board and Death beside her. In the text, Coleridge writes, “Is that a Death? and are there two?/ Is Death that Woman’s mate?/ … The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she,/ Who thicks man’s blood with cold.” It turns out that the ship is Death, and it is approaching the Mariner’s ship. This is one of the several other consequences of killing the albatross that befall on the Mariner’s ship as they sail on. The boat of Death kills all his shipmates, which later become spirits. Eventually, the Mariner learns from coming across all these apparitions as he approaches the shore.
Lastly, as his voyage comes to an end, the Mariner understands how to treat living things well, and is reminded every time he tells his story. As the Mariner concludes, he tells the Wedding-guest that whoever is appreciative of God’s creations will be loved by God, saying, “He prayeth well, who loveth well,/ Both man and bird and beast./ He prayeth best, who loveth best,/ All things both great and small;/ For the dear God who loveth us,/ He made and loveth all.” This shows that the Mariner knows what he did wrong and will always appreciate the things God created. He teaches the Wedding-guest to do the same and to be grateful for life. The Mariner has understood that he must respect nature, and he tells what he learned to others.
In conclusion, the Mariner learns that he must love nature and God because God loves everyone. Although the Mariner started by being reckless and killing the Albatross, throughout the course of his voyage, he was able to take the consequences and become a better person. The Mariner demonstrates to be mindful of your actions and to think about how it might impact others.
