Rime of Ancient Mariiner

The Rime of the Ancient Marnier
Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” has been widely discussed throughout literary history. In this story, the Mariner and his crew travel around the world and then return to England. Although critics have come up with several different interpretations of this poem, one idea that has remained prevalent throughout these discussions is the apparent religious symbolism present throughout this story. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” contains natural, romantic, and biblical symbolism that works to create an image of pure genius. The religious and natural symbolisms, which coincide with one another, act as the most important elements of this poem. The apocalyptic and natural symbolism dominates the core of this epic tale. Coleridge’s use of symbolism offers a unique and supernatural feel to his work. This tale of an old sailor illustrates a love dilemma while using biblical references.
The biblical symbolism found in this poem mainly reflects the Apocalypse, as it deals with the Mariner's revelation that good will triumph over evil, and his acceptance of all nature as God's creation. The poem's ship is symbolic of the body of man. Just as man experiences everyday setbacks and emotions, the ship must endure everyday issues, as well. The ship carries the Mariner and his crew, just as the body carries the soul. From this analogy, one can correlate that the Mariner and his crew symbolize the spirit of man. Coleridge makes an important point when he stresses the fact that no matter how skillfully man steers a boat, the boat’s fate depends upon the winds and currents. Therefore, according to Coleridge, enjoying life’s greatest things, such as love, is more important than mastering a skill. It is impossible to believe that Coleridge did not consider the mysterious wind that blows upon the Mariner, without any awareness of the wind as a Biblical symbol of the Holy Spirit. In addition, Coleridge could not...