Rime Of The Ancient Mariner Essay

Don’t Do Drugs
(An analysis of 3 Messages from Rime of the Ancient Mariner)

Samuel Colerige was the final poet of the Old Generation poets studied. He was known to be good friends with the famous William Wordsworth, and together they wrote the book known as Lyrical Ballads. A book in which was the most famous collection of poetry in that era. One of Colerige’s most famous poems is the poem called Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a poem about a crazy man telling an insane story. The content of the story makes sense due to the fact that back in the 1800’s there were no illegal drugs. Colerige himself was a drug addict; that addiction is what created the poem Rime during one of his illusive dreams. Knowing that intel, it makes sense to know that there is a reason to the madness behind the poem and why the content is the way it is. Like every other piece of literature, there are messages that could be taken from this poem as well. Rime of the Ancient Mariner contains three specific messages that I have found to be rather unique and subtle, but vital. The first message of Rime of the Ancient Mariner is slightly out of context; but in general, the message is that people shouldn’t
do drugs. The poem itself proves to the reader that drugs corrupt and estrange the mind into believing crazy and insane concepts that couldn’t even be validated by science or common sense. There are many cases within the poem that clearly show the insanity of the writer’s/Mariner’s mind was under the influence, which he was. When Samuel Colerige was alive, there were no such things as illegal drugs; there were even places to go, such as opium dens, where doctors would administer the drug by the masses to “cure” people of their pain. However, in that time people didn’t know that drugs like that were addicting like Mr. Colerige. This poem, though, proves that even when drugs are legal, they should not be used whatsoever. In parts five and six from the poem there are instances where the dead on the ship come back to life, majestic sea creatures stir the sea, and even angels come down to earth to speak of the Mariner’s penance and help him get home. These were not the normal thoughts of the human mind back in those days where there was no such thing as fiction writing. The hint of the insanity of this poem should be enough to tell any person that drugs are bad and should not be used because of what thoughts they place in the human mind. The second message of the poem goes back within the context and simply states that all life is precious. In part one of the poem, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the final stanza ends with the line, “With my crossbow/ I shot the Albatross.” He had shot a creature of God which had ended up causing him the ultimate misfortune of witnessing and suffering death, but never being able to receive it. Later in the poem, without realizing it, he saw the creatures of the sea and “blessed them unaware.” He did not realize he had praised the beautiful creatures, but he finally did once, “The Albatross fell off, and sank/ Like lead into the sea.” That final stanza of part four said that when he showed appreciation for the creatures of God, he was rewarded with good omens and great blessings, which eventually led him back home. This poem proves the lesson or moral of loving all of God’s creatures because when one kills a creature out of sheer selfishness, only bad tidings will ensue. Once the creature’s of God are loved and appreciated, then good virtue will come to the person of good deeds, like the Mariner when he saw the creatures of the sea. The third and final message from Rime of the Ancient Mariner is to never kill a good omen, especially out of greed.
Before modern technology of navigation and steam engines, the sailors relied solely on the wind and water currents to sail across the ocean, which made them very superstitious. “Ah Wretch! said they, the bird to slay,/ That made the breeze to blow!” is a quote in part two of the poem after he had killed the albatross. His crew had believed that the Albatross that he had murdered was their good omen that would bring them salvation, but it had been murdered. “Instead of the cross, the Albatross/ About my neck was hung.” The crew made him wear the massive bird about his neck to punish him, and it punished him dearly. The moral from that endeavor is simply this: Never kill a good
omen. In conclusion, the poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner contains three specific messages that I have found to be rather unique and subtle, but vital. The first message, don't do drugs; the second message, all life is precious; and the third message, never kill a good omen. These three messages are what create the basis of this poem in order to get each point across to the reader. Drugs induce the mind to believe psychotic things such as crazy dreams and eventually lead to the bad luck of killing a good omen. When things go awry such as this poem, it causes a misery to corrupt and control the mind that leads many men into sadness. Or better described as wiser, yet sadder.