The spooky voyage
Leo Braham
Many people are unwilling to grow until they are forced to do so. In The Rime of the Ancient mariner, an epic poem written by Samual Taylor Coleridge, we meet a mariner who embarks on a journey that is perilous, both physically and mentally. Over his long journey, he is forced to confront his mistakes and the actions that come with them. The mariner, along his long and trying voyage, he learns a valuable lesson. The mariner is faced with the consequences of his actions, consequences that plague him until he finally learns from his mistake.
At the start of his voyage, the mariner does not think about the impact of his actions. The mariner befriends a large bird that is hanging out on the ship. The Albatross was a sign of good luck to the mariner and his shipmates. When suddenly, the mariner decides to shoot the Albatross. The mariner says, “With my crossbow/ I shot the Albatross/...”(p.7). In that moment, the mariner is making an abrupt decision. Leading up to him shooting the bird, the Albatross is seen as a sign of good luck. Abruptly eliminating a sign of good luck makes it seem like he doesn’t consider the weight of his actions. Eventually, the mariner begins to deal with the weight of his actions by experiencing their consequences.
As the ship sails, the mariner experiences the consequences of his actions. After shooting the Albatross, his shipmates hang the Albatross around the neck of the mariner. This signals he is getting punished for killing a sign of good luck. The mariner says, “Instead of the cross, the Albatross/ About my neck was hung/...”(p.9). Imagine carrying around a 16lb bird all day. Not to mention how bad it must smell. After experiencing this punishment, as well as a few others, the mariner finally begins changing his ways.
The mariner finally internalizes the impact of his recklessness. His recklessness in the past has led to his, and many others suffering. And now, he is finally able to accept that and change. It is close to the end of the poem, and the mariner’s story arc is finishing. After encountering different spirits such as death, as well as seeing all his shipmates die the mariner makes peace with G-d and seeks repentance. The mariner says, “For the dear G-d who loveth us/ He made and loveth all/...”(p.23). This quote shows that the mariner is truly embracing G-d. This signals two things: One, by embracing religion, he is trying to find repentance. This means he is facing his mistake. Two, he is learning to live with his mistake. And him living with his mistakes signals he has finally understood that his actions have consequences.
After a long ordeal, the mariner makes peace with his decisions and becomes a better person for it. The mariner decides to embrace god, and finally makes peace with his actions and the consequences that follow, showing his personal growth. Although the mariner acts in a reckless way in the beginning, he eventually becomes a better person and learns from his mistakes. This poem teaches us that we can grow from our failures, and become better people for it.
