Creating the Power of Nature in Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Essay Example

? Creating the Power of Nature in Rime of the Ancient Mariner Introduction The ability to communicate a specific message and to express given ideals is one that is the main objective of poets and the concepts which are created in the stories told. In the poem ,The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Coleridge, there are specific expressions that are used to have an overall theme portrayed to the reader. The theme is based on the understanding of going against the will of beliefs and of nature and the outcomes which this creates. Coolridge focuses on the horror and the suffering that comes from fear, specifically by violating nature, sometimes interpreted as religious beliefs. The use of personification, repetition and the structure of the poem with narrative work together to convey a specific message about the main theme while allowing one to have a deeper understanding to the meaning of the poem and the relationship it carries to the cultural aspects of violating nature that were a part of the time frame and personal philosophies of Coleridge. This paper will examine the different concepts of the ancient mariner and the techniques used in a specific excerpt to convey the overall meaning of the poem. Foundations of the Ancient Mariner The ancient mariner was quickly noted as a famous myth from the portrayal of the mariner that Coleridge created. The mariner was one which was described as a god of natural elements and was specifically a part of the sea and world of the ocean which many were a part of. The concept related to the changes in the 19th century that moved against the industrial revolutions and technology that was a part of society. The voice behind this was based on losing the natural elements and the myths which were a part of this. The approach which Coleridge took was one which established the concept of moving against the natural and creating man – made machines that were disrespectful to nature. The ideologies which surrounded this then intertwined with the mariner and the perspective which he took in terms of the mariner and the relationship to the natural elements that were being disrespected. This concept combined with the interpretations in society which related to the movement against not only nature but also in terms of the religious orientation and beliefs which were beginning to change during the 19th century (McGann, 35). This overall theme is one which is seen with the different areas of narration that are a part of the ancient mariner and the depiction which Coleridge gives. The main ideology becomes one of violating nature and the horror which this creates when one moves against hte larger elements that are surrounding one, such as the mariner. The concept of going against nature is stated when there is a shift to the horror that is a part of the poem and the movement into a different scenario outside of the pleasant trip which is being taken by the sailors. This begins with the narrative, “And I had done a hellish thing, / And it would work 'em woe: / For all averred, I had killed the bird / That made the breeze to blow” (Coleridge, lines 91 – 94). The concept of killing the bird is one which describes the movement against the natural and trying to overcome the elements that are given and gifted to men. This description then creates the main theme of the poem and shows how moving against the natural and killing the bird which has helped with voyages is one which leads to the fear and horror created. The foundational importance of the ancient mariner is not only based on the overall theme that is developed through each of the sections to create a deeper understanding of the power of nature. There is also an objective to create a sense of fear and horror in some spaces of the poem, while others show the opposite meaning, of happiness and bliss. In the excerpt used, Coleridge creates a sense of fear. This is done to create an emotional response from the reader so there is an understanding of the theme that is in place and how this builds a different understanding of going against the natural. By creating an emotional response to the information given, there is the ability to build a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the poem while creating a direct link to the narrative. Coleridge uses words such as sad, plagued, fathomed and other concepts to show the ideologies of going against nature. By doing this, there is a direct link to the emotional meaning of the main theme while creating a foundation that is romantic in nature and which fits with the writing of the poem during the given time frame. Narration in Coleridge To further the ideology of horror and to show how this moves against the natural element, is Coleridge's use of narration throughout the poem. The concept of narration is one which is led by the ideology of spectral persecution through the voice that is created. The narration is in first person and depicts the viewpoint of the main individual that kills the bird then creates the story that is established with the recognition of how one moves against the natural. The concept of spectral persecution is established with the understanding of the quest which the narrator sets into place when going to sea. This is followed by the perceptions of the natural and how this is used in society to create the right responses. The concept is furthered with the ideologies of the “I” that is presented to create the right approach. However, Coleridge uses the technique of trading the “I' for the perspective that is given to the audience, or the “eye' of the story. One is able to see the perspective not only from the viewpoint of the narrator, but also from those looking at the narration and the horror which is created from the main character. This builds a specific sense of unity with the overall theme and with the individual narration that is created throughout the poem (Williams, 1114). The concept of narration moving from individual perspective to the unity of the story takes place specifically by the narrator admitting to his mistake of killing the bird that helped the men. This is furthered with the observations that are created from the narration to show the horror when violating the nature that occurs. This is combined with the narrator changing from the I to the we, specifically to show the sadness and the fear which comes from the mistake of the narrator. This expands the perception to others that are a part of the story while creating an overall perspective that is combined with the needs of those who are a part of the natural and the changes which have occurred. For instance, the narrator states “Down dropped the breeze, the sails dropped down, / 'Twas sad as sad could be; / And we did speak only to break / The silence of the sea!” (Coleridge, lines 107 – 110). The narrator changes from I to we to show the sadness and the silence, as well as how each individual is noticing the change in nature. Making this connection moves from the first person viewpoint of the narrator into the larger picture of how one going against nature affects everyone. Coleridge is then able to expand the overall theme and works that are a part of the violation of nature while defining the eye that is related to the main theme. Use of Personification Another element that Coleridge uses in the excerpt is the personification of the different elements and how this relates to those that are at sea. The personification comes from the natural elements, such as the bird that is able to give the direction to the men at sea. The sun, moon and the other elements of the sea all follow with this. Coleridge establishes each of the natural elements as a living and breathing component of the story while creating a set of personification to allow the natural to be as real as the narrator and others at sea. The mariner becoming an entity that has power over the men, as well as the other establishments of the power of nature, combine with the personification of the story to show the understanding of nature and how it is a part of life that should not be turned against. By Coleridge establishing this viewpoint through the use of personificataion, there is the ability to build a stronger understanding of the viewpoint and the concepts which led to the horror when one turns against nature as a person, as opposed to a thing (Delson, 707). The personification that Coleridge alludes to begins with the heat of the sun and the intertwining effects of nature and how it works together against the men because of the decision that the narrator took in shooting the bird. For instance, Coleridge states “About, about, in reel and rout / The death – fires danced at night; / The water, like a witch's oils, / Burnt green, and blue, and white” (Coleridge, lines 127 – 130). This statement is one that begins with the death fires at night. This alludes to a performnace or ceremony that nature is holding toward the men that is related to death and which shows the doom and fate that each will reach. This is followed by the water, which turns into the witches oils. The personification works with the water becoming the brew that will curse the fate of the men. However, the unsaid of this statement is the witch, or the mariner of nature and the sea that is making the brew. The water then becomes a part of a larger picture that is described with personification, where the unknown element becomes a larger force or person that is creating the moon and the water to become the main force that is changing the fate of each of the men and altering the natural that is associated with this. The personification is then able to build the horror and fear of the men while showing how the decision to go against nature is what created the horror which they are a part of. Elements of Repetition One of the strongest components which Coleridge to tie together the main theme with different ideologies is the use of repetition. The repetitions consist of internal rhyme that is able to connect together the rhythm of the poem with a sense of building the appraisal of what is happening. The emphasis which comes from the rhythm and the use of the same words then creates a stronger effect with what is occurring in the poem and how this is affecting the narrator and those who are a part of the story. This creates a sense of expression that the narrator then links to which creates an understanding of how the nightmare which is a part of the narrative comes alive. The repetition works both with the effects of the poem and also creates a psychological meaning that is based around the poem. The psychological effects tap into the narrator's mindset and the ideologies which he is considering. The repetition becomes the mindset of how nothing is working in the favor, combined with the guilt that the narrator has toward killing the bird that was guiding them. The concept of repetition then becomes important in describing the overall effects of the poem and how this relates to the main theme of fear that comes with the violation of nature (Smith, 42). There are a variety of points where the narration goes into the repetition that is required to show the fear and sadness that is a part of the changes which occur with the narrator. The first states “Day after day, day after day, / We stuck, nor breath nor motion” (Coleridge, lines 115-166). In this particular instance, there is a sense of each day not having the movement forward or the assistance which the sailors require. Instead, the repetition shows a tone that relates to the tediousness of the journey and the sadness which comes from the actions which were taken. This is followed by the repetition of “Water, water, every where / And all the boards did shrink; / Water, water, every where, / Nor any drop to drink” (Coleridge, lines 119 – 122). This continues with the tediousness of the journey. However, it moves a step further to combine with the psychological effects that are a part of the journey. The water being everywhere is repeated with the understanding that the men are dehydrated and don't have any options for changing their position with the journey they have taken and the choices made. One is able to relate to the sense of seeing the water and not being able to drink through this repetition and the tone which it carries. This creates a sense of longing and an understanding of the fear and pain that the men are going through with the journey, specifically because of the action which is taken. Simile and Metaphor The concepts which are related to the excerpt in the poem ontinue with the beliefs that are formed with the mariner and the relationships which are taken with men. Simile and metaphor work throughout the excerpt to show the same relationship that is built in showing the violation of nature and in taking the theme of the poem a step further. Many relate to the poem as a religious excerpt that is able to portray the movement against different beliefs and morality. Others portray this as the movement against something that is larger and greater than what is happening. The concept is one which relates to the simile and metaphor that is associated with the concepts of religion and the beliefs which are associated with this. There are metaphors that combine with the nautical and natural, specifically to show the fear that links to the movement against the natural or religious beliefs, all which move to the problems which the men encounter with the mariner (Dilworth, 500). The concepts which are affiliated with metaphor show the direct link to the religious nature of the poem and the concept of something being greater than the men that are at sea. The bird is one symbol of this, specifically which is associated with being led by the divine or something greater. When this is shot down, the symbolism changes into the natural becoming religious and God – like with what occurs. For instance, Coleridge writes “Nor dim nor red, like God's own head, / The glorious sun uprist: / Then all averred, I had killed the bird / That brought the fog to mist” (Coleridge, lines 97 – 98). The sun, being like God's head, is a direct metaphor of the meaning of religion and how this is linked to the nature that is gone against. Combining this with killing the bird then builds on the idea of turning against religious beliefs, morality or other concepts that link directly to the ideas of religion and God. By showing this particular nature, there is a direct link that is shown to the concept of violation of religious beliefs or against the natural, all which show a greater presence then men and which have are linked through the metaphors of what it means to go against the natural or the religious. Conclusion The concepts which are associated with Coleridge's poem, The Rime of the Mariner, show a direct correlation to the natural and the power of the religious. Coleridge uses his personal philosophies based on the power of nature and the unacceptance of the growth of technology and man – made components in the 19th century. This is combined with the several beliefs of those in society who create an understanding of how nature has been turned against and is unable to have the right components in terms of the natural and powerful. Coleridge uses techniques such as narrative, personification, metaphor and repetition to show the main theme and what occurs when one turns against nature. When looking at specific excerpts, one is able to tie in the main theme of the poem with the excerpt. More important, the excerpt is able to bring specific emotions and ideologies to the readers to understand the main theme. In this instance, there is a sense of fear which occurs when one violates the concepts of religion and the natural. Through this excerpt and specialized techniques used, one is then able to create a deeper understanding of the main theme of Coleridge. Works Cited Coleridge, Samuel. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Penguin Books: New York, 2000. Delson, Abe. “The Symbolism of the Sun and the Moon in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Texas Studies in Literature and Language. 15 (4), 1974. Dilworth, Thomas. “Symbolic Spatial Form in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and the Problem of God.” Review of English Studies 58 (236), 2007. McGann, Jerome. “The Meaning of the Ancient Mariner.” Critical Inquiry 8 (1), 1981. Smith, Gayle. “A Reappraisal of the Moral Stanzas in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.'” Studies in Romanticism 3 (1), 1963. Williams, Anne. “An I for an Eye: Spectral Persecution in the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” PMLA 108 (5). Read More