Rime of the Ancient Mariner Essay - Adam Chane
The Rime Ancient Mariner is a captivating poem that perfectly describes the unknown and all mysteries that come upon the ancient mariner. This book is great for anyone who wants a tough read but also is interested in romanticism. The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is an interesting and mysterious poem that includes many intersections and turning points, like the mariner killing an albatross and having an encounter with a mysterious skeleton boat. This poem describes the mariner’s many experiences and adventures through the pursuit of having a better appreciation for life and freedom. The appreciation comes from his sea voyage. In his voyage, he has many real life encounters that help him acknowledge a meaning for life. Throughout the mariner’s encounters, he grows to adopt a better appreciation for life and freedom.
At the start of his voyage the ancient mariner gives little thought to any potential obstacles and consequences. Sailing around the world, the ancient mariner and his crew come upon the land of ice and snow. The ancient mariner sees a weird looking bird. He decided to shoot that bird. It was a very gray, slow day. The ancient mariner’s crew wrapped the albatross around the mariner’s neck in an act to try to make him feel guilty about killing the albatross.“‘Why look’st thou so?’ ‘With my crossbow I shot the Albatross.’“ In the experience of having the dead albatross wrapped around his neck, the mariner began to understand the consequences of his actions. The mariner’s act of killing the albatross was a display of his lack of consciousness towards anything that got in his way.
While having his first encounter with spirits, the mariner experiences a mysterious world in the land of ice and snow, and he comes to a better appreciation for life and nature. Continuing on his voyage, the ancient mariner and his crew comes upon a very mysterious looking boat, moving without any wind or waves. The mariner yells, “A sail! a sail!”, to notify his shipmates of the approaching ship. At first the whole crew is very happy but then they start to think how the ship is approaching without any wind. The skeleton of a boat passes in between them and the sun. The mariner perceives the passengers on the boat to be suffering but not yet dead: Life-in-Death.. “Alas thought I, and my heart beat loud. How fast she nears and nears!” P11. The experience of having an encounter with an unknown gave the mariner a chance to have a reaction which he has not had much of so far in his life. As the mariner continues his journey, his consciousness for his surroundings and the elements increase. His appreciation for life and first hand encounters are richer now that he has experienced it. The mariner has a great understanding and treasuring for life and freedom after his long voyage.
After being possessed by spirits, having a mysterious encounter with Death and Life-in-Death, the ancient mariner finally sees land. He is so excited. The ancient mariner realizes that it is the exact same dock that his boat departed from. “O dream of joy? Is this indeed/ The lighthouse top I see? Is this the hill? Is this the kirk?/ Is this my own country?” After a long voyage of experiencing the unknown, having mysterious encounters with spirits and life in death, the ancient mariner now tells people of the lessons he has learned. His change is now to love everything that God has made and to pray everyday.
The mariner’s albatross made him reflect on the burdens of life that he brought on himself and promised to do good for the rest of his days.
