Rime Of The Ancient Mariner Essay

In his New Yorker article “Vengeance Is Ours,” Jared Diamond makes the claim that revenge is a universal feeling and that state governments alienate us from satisfactory feelings derived from revenge. Through two narratives Diamond exhibits the satisfaction derived from revenge, as well as the dismay when revenge is not achieved. He first examines the story of Daniel Wemp who, after the murder of his uncle at the hands of a man named Isum, goes on a quest to avenge him and feels the euphoria of revenge. It took Daniel three years, twenty nine other murders, and three hundred pig sacrifices to achieve this, but when he finally heard that Isum was dead he felt “as if I am developing wings” and as if he was “about to fly off”(7). To do contrast

Some customs of retribution and punishment when viewed in an unbiased light take on new characters, almost respectful forms of civil obedience and respect. Take the case of Whyman and Hadigaddy, two men from all accounts clashing over familial and romantic notions, not unlike two gentleman may seek to settle with a duel with pistols.

Although injustice is a common theme throughout the works of C.K. William’s “The Nail,” Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles,” and Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” there are many different forms in which injustice is expelled. For example, the injustice in Poe’s “The Cask” is dissimilar from the injustice found in Glaspell’s “Trifles,” and William’s “The Nail” in the sense that “The Cask” talks about injustice in the form of one man murdering another without a clear, justly motive. Glaspell’s “Trifles” talks about injustice through saving the wife whom was the perceived murderer of her husband, because some women withheld key evidence that they found, which would have led to the wife being rightly convicted. And lastly, the injustice found in William’s “The Nail” is unlike the other stories mentioned, in the context that William’s eludes to the point that injustices are tackled from within one’s sense of reason, and outward injustice is simply a result of inward turmoil. Therefore, one can only conclude that injustice cannot be categorized to simply a terrible act not being rightly judged – nor can it be marginalized. It surpasses the borders of actions which can be judged by law, and can be found just as often in the silence of a thought.

Many people have contemplated revenge, but what happens to the few that proceed with their plan? Their lives and the lives of those around them change. This is exhibited in “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne when Roger Chillingworth takes revenge upon both Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale for their sins. Chillingworth’s revenge affects both of their laws. Hawthorne explores the idea that revenge changes many of the people who it touches, including the person who is trying to commit revenge, the victim, and the accomplice in different ways.

The Mariner’s lifelong penance is to relay his story and message throughout the lands to the various individuals he holds a calling towards. The Mariner can only relieve his frequents bouts of extreme agony and guilt from his past by narrating his story and lesson to others, bidding them not to make the same mistake he did. Initially, the listener is reluctant to hear the Mariner’s tale, eager to get to the wedding that is about to begin. However, the listener is somehow drawn to the Mariner and yields to his tale. He becomes enchanted, and by the tale’s end, the listener is left, shocked, speechless, and in awe. He gains a new perspective of the world, and the poem ends with the words, “He [the listener] went like one that hath been stunned / And is of sense forlorn; / A sadder and a wiser man, / He rose the morrow morn.”

In the 1798 and the 1817 text of the, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, There are certain changes. Changes that effect the poem and the way that the reader sees the poem. Some of these changes include reading devices called glosses. There are many reasons for the glosses to be put into the poem. One of the reasons is to help the reader interpret lines in the poem that can be confusing. These glosses are a brief interpretation of the stanza, so that the reader will understand it the way that Coleridge intended them to. An example of this is:

Samuel Johnson once said, “Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenge; crimes are avenged. This quote parallels the events and actions occurring in Edgar Allen Poe's “The Cask of Amontillado”. In Edgar Allen Poe’s story “The Cask of Amontillado,” in this story, the narrator, Montresor, is plotting revenge against Fortunato for some perceived insult. The narrator, Montresor, is reliable and can be trusted to describe the story accurately because he gives readers the setting of the story and censors his feelings towards Fortunado.

8. Provide an argument for retribution and one against (citing the essayist for each side from the text).

Chapter 13 is an important chapter in this book in general; it emphasizes the theme of retribution and makes readers to reflect on the role of retribution that plays in their life. As a matter of

As the ghost ship nears, a spell is cast upon the ship and all of the mariner's young crew fall dead. The mariner is able to see the souls of his crew leave their bodies and it is at this point which he begins to feel remorse and guilt. "and every soul, it passed me by, like the wiz of my cross-bow!" (Coleridge 222). the mariner now knows that it was his actions that caused this and must take accountability for what he has done. Coleridge's use of the word "bow" in this quote is very important. It shows that now he does feel remorse for killing the bird because he feels it was as if his own bow killed those men. As the mariner begins to accept all f this information, he begins to realize that this is not his home. This is the home of nature and because he is a guest on these waters, he should appreciate it. "the many men, so beautiful! And they all dead and lie: and a thousand slimy things lived on; and so did I." (Coleridge 236). Now that the mariner has taken responsibility for his actions, he looks to God for forgiveness. Through prayer, he tries to ask for forgiveness but knows that in order to reach it, he must first repent. "I looked to heaven, and tried to pray; but or ever a prayer had gusht, a wicked whisper came, and made my heart dry as dust." (Coleridge 244).

It is only when the Mariner began to bless all living things and saw beyond his own self that the Albatross fell off. He then felt a connection with nature and God, for Heaven sent down rain that refreshed the ancient Mariner and angelic spirits led him onward. He needed to change and become penitent before he could be rid of the guilt. In repenting, he was given a penance of life: whenever his heart burns within him, he must tell his tale to those who are meant to hear it.

Not only does the universe forewarn its children with the call to adventure however, but it also sends a supernatural aid to guide the hero towards ascension and as specified by Campbell every human will be a hero when they accept the call to adventure. Likewise for every hero, there can be seen a mentor who was once a hero but now has become archaic and ready to pass on wisdom. Indeed the inclusion of a need for a teacher in human growth reflects the eternal Cyclical nature of the universe as explained by symbols such as Kalachakra of Buddhism or the Ouroboros of Ancient Egypt. In truth humanity has been subject to the principles of reincarnation since time immemorial with its growth dependent on knowledge being reborn every time a “mentor” passes on wisdom to a “hero”.

Four varying viewpoints exist concerning what or who the mariner represents, the first being the superficial idea that he is simply the wise old man who imparts wisdom to the younger generations (Williams 1116). Going beyond the literal connotation, the most common and supported argument it that the mariner represents the Christian sinner. The diction chosen by Coleridge often alludes to Christianity, examples include “Christian soul”, ”God’s name”, “[i]nstead of the cross…about my neck was hung”, and “Dear Lord in Heaven” (Coleridge 1616-1632). Howard Creed believes that the mariner is symbolically a poet, due to the fact that he learns “the great truth about the world they live in” and then attempts to communicate it to others through the art of a story (221). The final possibility is that the mariner represents a mother. Repeated connection to conventionally female things like the sea, motherhood, spontaneity/irrationality, and nature begins to support this conclusion. The role of instructing the young, in this case the wedding guest whom “listens like a three years’ child” is also traditionally female, further developing the argument (Coleridge 1616). Overall, the poem is an exemplar at employing Coleridge’s idea of symbol to use the ordinary to show the transcendent, especially Christianity, yielding that the second option is the preeminent choice.

27-28). Taking this voyage is what aids the Marinere in learning this structure of crime, punishment, and redemption. Through his experience, the Marinere gains the appreciation he holds for all beings, “He prayeth well who loveth well/ Both man and bird and beast” (VII. 645-646).

The next symbolic theme in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is that of retribution. In lines 143-146 Coleridge illustrates a time of draught for the sailors on the voyage. Without any water to drink they are suffering. This symbolizes the spiritual draught that humans face in Christianity. Without the love for Christ humans are thirsting for spiritual enlightenment and forgiveness--without which they suffer.