"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, contains themes and ideas on sin, love, harmony and the "one life,"" that Coleridge suggests. The use of symbolism of the albatross and the act of killing it, displays man's harmful and clever actions. The intention to change the mindset of man is difficult because human beings are often stubborn and unmovable. Yet, with the spectrum of tools Coleridge utilizes to provoke emotional responses from the reader, we can see a clearer picture of how we've changed and the constant need we have to connect with nature.
At length did cross an Albatross,.
Thorough the fog it came;.
As if it had been a Christian soul,.
We hailed it in God's name.
It ate the food it ne'er had eat,.
And round and round it flew.
The ice did split with a thunder-fit;.
The helmsman steered us through!.
And a good south wind sprung up behind;.
The Albatross did follow,.
And every day, for food or play,.
Came to the mariner's hollo!.
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,.
It perched for vespers nine;.
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,.
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'.
'God save thee, ancient Mariner!.
From the fiends, that plague thee thus! ".
Why look'st thou so?' "With my cross-bow.
I shot the ALBATROSS. (lines 63-82).
Significance of the Bird Albatross in "The Rime of Ancient Mariner," the most important symbol in the poem is The Albatross. When it first arrived over the ship in the South Pole the Albatross represents Christ as a savior sent to guide them to the safety of the northern seas. 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. .
The poem then progresses and the mariner slays the bird with no motive just as man crucified Christ. As Christ was man's one chance at salvation and Heaven the albatross was the crew's one chance at deliverance from a cold and eventual death in the Antarctic.
