Understanding nature's beauty
Diya Mittal
Nature is all around but if people look closer they can see how it impacts everyday life. In the epic poem The Rime of The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, an ancient mariner tells the story of his sea voyage where he learns about the consequences of his actions and how important nature is. Through many different experiences the mariner encounters supernatural elements that help him to realize the beauty and importance of nature.
At the start of his story the mariner has no respect for nature and no idea of the consequences of his actions. The mariner and his ship mates are thrown off course and drift into the land of ice and snow. While they are there they spot an albatross. Since it is the only life they have seen for a long time they are excited and befriend it. Then, in a reckless and stupid move, the mariner shoots the albatross. Coleridge writes, “‘God save thee, ancient mariner!/ from the fiends, that plague thee thus!/Why look’st thou so?’/ With my crossbow I shot the albatross”(pg.7). This part of the text shows that the mariner doesn’t have any respect for natural life. Even though his shipmates had befriended the albatross, he took it upon himself to kill it even though it had done nothing to him.
His shipmates figure this out and get angry at him, which is how he starts to recognize that his actions can have an impact As a punishment they put the albatross around his neck. The mariner starts to regret his impulsive decision and think about the result of his actions. After many days they encounter another ship. As they get closer to it they observe that it looks like a skeleton ship and there are only two people on it. On this ship there is a woman called Life-in-Death. She is gambling with death for the mariner's shipmates lives and loses all of them. The only one she wins is the mariner, so while his shipmates all drop dead he is stuck on a boat of dead people thinking about if he brought this upon them. The mariner describes this horrible experience: “Four times fifty living men,/ (And I heard nor sigh nor groan)/ With heavy thump, a lifeless lump,/ They dropped down one by one”(pg.11). After seeing this horrific experience the mariner begins to think that his earlier actions have brought this upon them. He starts to wonder about the consequences and the impact that his decisions could have on the natural world and on his shipmates. While he is questioning his decisions he is also starting to appreciate nature and everything it brings to him.
The mariner is tired of being alone at sea although he is becoming more okay with being in nature and its beauty. The mariner finally realizes the consequences of his actions and the beauty and importance of nature around him. The mariner feels depressed and like he should have died with his crew, in his moment of despair he comes upon sea snakes. He is in awe of the sea snakes and blesses them. The moment he can pray again he is free of the curse and the albatross drops from his neck. “The self-same moment I could pray;/ And from my neck so free/ The albatross fell off, and sank/ Like lead into the sea”(pg.13). In the final part of the text the mariner stops thinking about all his problems and simply admires the beauty of nature around him. When he finally lets go of his disgust and prejudice about the sea, the curse of the albatross is finally broken. He is able to find his way back home and revels in being in civilization again.
Through a sea voyage that tested the mariners courage on many levels, he learns how important nature is and how beautiful nature is. At the beginning of his story the mariner is very reckless and careless toward nature. After his shipmates are cursed he begins to reevaluate his choices. Through all these experiences he appreciates nature more. Nature is a huge part of life and sometimes it takes extreme situations to realize that.
