Symbolism in Ancient Mariner
Symbolism in The Rime of the Ancient MarinerSamual Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a lyrical fantasy ballad based on the story of a weathered sailor and his ordeals. The poem begins with the antiquated English mariner capturing the attention of a passer by on his way to a wedding. With this the mariner proceeds to reminisce and tell his spell bound listener of his voyage between the equator and the South Pole, and then back to England. The story follows the mariner and his ship through life and death, heaven and hell, and everything in between.Symbolism is used in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to convey powerful and complex themes that in turn create an Allegory. In this paper allegory as well as symbolism will be defined. Following the definitions will be examples of how they are used and explanations of their meanings in relation to the poem and to life.An allegory is a story with two or more symbolic levels. The events, settings, objects, or characters in an allegory stand for ideas or qualities beyond themselves. In a sense it is a description of one thing under the image of another. On almost the same level, symbolism is a literary device that uses one thing in representation of
The poem then progresses and the mariner senselessly slays the bird just as man crucified Christ. Some critics propose that the story parallels a pathological depression resulting from his lack of social ties and his abnormal need for love. To begin the healing process the mariner must ask for forgiveness and face his punishment just as a soul struggles to rid itself of evil as it is baptized. It also acted as an omen of good fortune, as long as the albatross was flying above the crew was protected and on their way home (Beckson 233). Carried to the bay by spirits (it can also be seen as being taken to the gates of Heaven by angles) the ship representing the human body must sink (die) to release the soul, which in this case is the mariner (voodoochild). With the different perceptions of the true story in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" noted, the collective meaning or moral behind the story should be apparent. The ship has now come to a complete stop due to lack of wind and the crew is at the point of dehydration with the high sun baking their skin. The mariner understands this concept when he sees the slimy sea serpents in the sea and realizes that even these rotten creatures, along with the albatross, are beautiful in the eyes of God. The third and one of the most identifiable symbols in the poem is the albatross. With the poem being looked at as a religious allegory the slaying of the albatross takes on a new form, original sin (Hill 3). Rather, an unseen force draws it and its crew there just as worldly temptation lures lost souls to hell. Later in the poem we again see the albatross used as a symbol. When both approaches are being considered, a single and unified moral presents itself; to respect life and that with which we have no control.
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