Theme Of Religion In The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

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In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” religion is prominent and important in the process of the story evolving. These religions elements, specifically Catholicism, work along side the superstitious components of the poem to express both the author’s feelings and also add to the mystery of the plot. By analyzing the Catholic imagery, the blessing of the water snakes, and the superstitious elements of the story, Coleridge’s personal religious preferences emerge, and the religious background of the story is made clear. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” has been talked and written about since it was drafted in 1798. One of the most obvious underlying aspects of the poem is the integration of religious parallels into Coleridge’s work. Because
One of the most obvious parallels is between Christ and the Albatross. This is a topic Alice Chandler expands on in her essay, and she points this parallel out many times throughout the poem. “The word ‘penance,’ for example, occurs three times in the text and gloss; and when the First Voice swears, it is ‘By him who died on the cross.’ When we Remember that the Albatross itself died by the ‘crossbow’ and afterwards replaces the cross on the Mariner’s neck, it is not hard to equate the lines” (Chandler 409). As Chandler points out, this connection is very obvious to the reader. Not only is the Albatross sacrificed as a Christ-like figure, he is also hung around the Mariner’s neck like a crucifix. Besides thinking logically about this connection, it is also printed for the reader in the poem. “Ah! Well a-day! What evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung,” (Coleridge
These religious aspects include the connections to the Book of Revelation, connections to Christ, and also important religious events like the blessing of the water snakes. “Beyond the shadow of the ship I watched their rich attire: Blue, glossy green, and velvet black, They coiled and swam; and every track Was a flash of golden fire” (Coleridge 13). One very interesting feature about blessing the water snakes is that Coleridge chose snakes to bless over any other creature. In the Bible, the serpent is a symbol of the Devil, and throughout history, the snake has been an evil creature. Looking back at the blessing, the Mariner seems to not even think about blessing the snakes. This is very similar to how he killed the Albatross, quick and thoughtless. The act and forgiveness both being thoughtless brings the story back to its chief lesson, the unconditional love of God for all of his creation. It does not matter what the reasoning is behind someone’s asking for forgiveness. All that matters to God is that if a sin is committed, the person that committed the sin asks for

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