“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge The poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a truly imaginative work utilizing the familiar yet timeless themes of good fortune, the power of Mother Nature, and adventurous voyages over the sea. The Mariner relates the bone-chilling tale of his adventure to a guest at a wedding in his native country. Although the guest succumbs to the Mariner’s tale, he is eager to get to the wedding, which is about to start. Coleridge chose this occasion for the poem as a form of irony, by providing a stark contrast between the two atmospheres and situations in his poem. The moods of weddings are usually joyful and jubilant, emphasizing love and the union between
Love for God only exists if humans love the life around them. This lesson regarding nature can be related to the message and plot within Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, because the main characters within both novels reveal a blatant disregard for nature and the harmony of life. In Coleridge’s poem, the Mariner disrespects nature and God’s Creation by killing the albatross upon whim – a beautiful bird that grants the crew and ship good luck. Similarly, Dr. Frankenstein disregards nature by creating his own human life. He attempts to assume God’s power of Creation in an unnatural, almost perverse form, by creating another life for his own curiosity and satisfactions, without any consideration for the consequences. Both characters also suffer from “curses” of sorts. The Mariner’s crew drops dead, and the Mariner is forced to spend days surrounded by his dead crew stranded upon the ship in the middle of nowhere. Similarly, Dr. Frankenstein’s monster escapes and “haunts” Frankenstein causing disaster throughout his home town, such as the murder of his little brother. In conclusion, both works express the significance of appreciating the beauty of nature and all God’s