“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is an allegory of crime, punishment, and salvation.—Discuss.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a notable literary work by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Answer
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is an allegory of crime, punishment, and salvation.—Discuss.
Or, describe the allegorical significance of this poem.
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” (1798) is a thought-provoking allegorical poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834). The poem is an excellent allegory of crime, punishment, and salvation/redemption. It tells the story of a mariner’s crime against God’s creature. This crime leads him to suffering. He eventually realizes the importance of respecting all life. Through this allegory, Coleridge shows that crime leads to punishment, but redemption is possible through understanding and repentance.
Crime—The Sin of Killing the Albatross: The allegory begins with the Mariner’s crime, the killing of the Albatross. The innocent Albatross is a bird of good omen. The Albatross is God’s creature. God creates all and loves all. The bird was guiding the ship and bringing them good luck. However, the Mariner kills it for no clear reason—
“With my cross-bow
I shot the ALBATROSS.”
This act represents a crime against God’s creation, and, by extension, a crime against nature. The Mariner himself realizes the gravity of his actions when he says “I had done a hellish thing.” The killing of the Albatross symbolizes human sin. It is a sin of disrespect for the beauty and innocence of nature.
Punishment—Suffering and Isolation: After the Mariner kills the Albatross, he and the crew are immediately punished. The wind stops, and the ship is stuck in the middle of the sea. The Mariner and the crew members suffer from thirst and heat. The poem describes their suffering with the famous lines:
“Water, water, every where,
Nor any drop to drink.” (Part 2)
This punishment is not just physical but also spiritual. The crew hangs the Albatross around the Mariner’s neck. It symbolizes the weight of his guilt. The Mariner says:
“Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung” (Part 2).
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