A Biographical Analysis of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

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"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, is a somewhat lengthy poem concerning the paranormal activities of a sea mariner and his crew. The work was constructed to be the beginning piece in Lyrical Ballads, a two-volume set written by William Wordsworth and Coleridge. Wordsworth intended to, in his volume, make the ordinary seem extraordinary, while Coleridge aimed to make the extraordinary ordinary. "The Rime" was first published in 178. Despite the current popularity of the piece, it was harshly criticized upon being first published. One of "The Rime's" toughest opponents was Wordsworth himself, who claimed that the poem had "neither characterization nor proper agency nor skill in the handling of imagery" (Fry, 1). Wordsworth even bluntly described the piece as being in the wrong overall meter (Fry, 1). Because of these presumed flaws, "The Rime" was edited into several subsequent editions, being released in 1800, 180, 1805, 1817, and 184.

When a reader examines "the Rime," the piece first appears to be merely that of an archaic ghost story. Throughout the years though, many have analyzed the poem from various angles of interpretation. Some of the methods used to decipher "The Rime" have included reader-response, Marxist, new historicism, psychoanalytic, and even deconstruction analysis. While each of these alternatives provides an individualistic prospective on the poem, they are all somewhat different, and can even be objective at times depending on the reader in question. While "The Rime" may have been constructed to address slavery, the economy, or even morality, it can also be greatly appreciated when looked at in terms of content and the life of its author. The significant events that the Mariner endures through, including death (albatross), isolation, endlessly wandering, and ultimate salvation, can all be seen in the personal life of Coleridge himself.

In the poem, the death of the albatross is an event that can be directly correlated to Coleridge's life, particularly in the death of his father. Samuel was born on October 1, 177, and was the youngest among his ten siblings (Fry, ). At age six, he began attending King's School, where his father happened to be the headmaster (Fry, ). Coleridge's father, Reverend John Coleridge, died three years later (Fry, ). After the death, an undereducated and inadequate gentleman replaced Samuel's father as headmaster (Fry, ). As a result of this, Coleridge was forced to move to London to pursue his education at Christ's Hospital (Fry, ). The death and resulting move was very damaging to Samuel, who was only nine at the time.

The death of the albatross is quite similar from the standpoint that it was the event that gave rise to the Mariner's problems. The Mariner killed the bird in order to support the crew in their time of great hunger and thirst (Coleridge, ). The death of the bird was at first followed by good luck. The fog and frost that had once consumed the seas around the Mariner and his crew is replaced by good weather (Coleridge, 4). This break in treacherous conditions is only temporary, though. Upon arriving in the Pacific, the wind ceases to blow and the ship stops (Coleridge, 4). A horrific drought ensues and ravishes the entire crew (Coleridge, 4). The deaths of the albatross and of Coleridge's father were events that led to unpleasant occurrences for both men. Custom Essays on A Biographical Analysis of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

When the bird of great piety is killed, the Mariner is forced to undergo isolation from what he viewed as being familiar. In the poem, the mariner's slaying of the albatross brings about a terrible drought and eventually a ship, which contains the figures of Death and Life-In-Death (Coleridge, 8-4). The two ghostly figures are playing dice for the lives of the crewmembers (Coleridge, 4). Death wins every life except for that of the Mariner (Coleridge, 4). As a result of this, the Mariner is forced to watch idly as everyone around him dies. To make matters worse, all of the two hundred crewmembers expire with their eyes fixed on the Mariner (Coleridge, 48). The mariner will continue to travel the seas with a dead and eventually living-dead crew.

This occurrence, while not as dramatic, is also evident in Coleridge's life. As a result of his father's death, Samuel is forced to travel to London to attend school. While in London, he was isolated from his remaining family and all that he new to be familiar. Samuel had to basically start fresh and build a whole new life for himself in a totally different environment. This was all forced on a young Coleridge, who was only nine years of age. Both character's isolation causes them to undergo drastic changes in their mentalities and lifestyles.

The main resemblance between the two characters is their wandering characteristics, and becomes evident during the middle years of Coleridge's life. Samuel was known to frequently travel from location to location in search of inspiration and contempt. After first traveling from Devonshire to London, Coleridge went to Cambridge in search of a college education (Fry, ). The writer left school after only three years though, choosing instead to enlist in the Fifteenth Light Dragoons (Fry, 4). He did so in hopes of evading a large debt to the college, but was later discharged with the help of his brother, Reverend George Coleridge (Fry, 4). Samuel returned to Cambridge, but failed to earn a degree (Fry, 4). The writer next traveled to Oxford and eventually Bristol (Fry, 4). While in Bristol, he met Sara Fricker and was soon married (Fry, 4). With his newfound bride, Coleridge traveled to Clevedon (Fry, 4). Despite now having a wife, Samuel still frequently drifted from location to location. During his drifting in 176, Coleridge began the use of laudanum, which eventually led to his addiction to opium (Fry, 5). In the years to follow, Samuel would repeatedly take lengthy trips with his friends, often leaving his wife and children at home. One of these lengthy trips was a tour of Germany, which Coleridge underwent with William and Dorothy Wordsworth in hopes of gathering inspirational information for his master opus (Fry, 6). Samuel would, as a result of these frequent tours, become estranged from his wife and family. Coleridge chose to continue his trips, and eventually separated from Sara, his longtime wife. After the split, the writer went on to suffer from a chronic opium addiction. The stresses that this habit placed on the author caused many of his friends to distant themselves from Coleridge, including the Wordsworths (Fry, 7). With his wife and the Wordsworths gone, Coleridge was forced to undergo his addiction alone. In hopes of regaining his health, Samuel traveled to and lived with various patrons for the final twenty-seven years of his life (Fry, 7).

In "The Rime," the Mariner lives a very similar wandering lifestyle. Being a ship captain, he was familiar and acceptant of the need to travel from port to port. Throughout "The Rime," the Mariner is constantly traveling. In the beginning of his story, the captain travels south into the Antarctic region (Coleridge, 8). He then, after shooting the Albatross, goes on to travel throughout the Pacific and eventually finds his way back to land. In the end of the piece, the Mariner is compelled to wander throughout the countryside and tell his story to any soul that will listen.

The final aspect of the Mariner's life that resembles that of Coleridge's is evident when the sea captain acquires salvation. As a result of shooting the albatross, the Mariner undergoes a series of horrible misadventures. All of the crewmembers die and the captain is left to face the drought alone. At this point, the Mariner attempts to pray, but is unable to do so (Coleridge, 46). It is only after subconsciously blessing the sea creatures that he is able to pray (Coleridge, 50). The drought ends and it begins to rain (Coleridge, 50). The crew then rises and resumes their onboard duties, before ultimately falling motionless to the deck (Coleridge, 5-6). The ship goes on to finally reach a harbor (Coleridge, 64). Here, the Mariner comes into contact with the pilot, his son, and a hermit (Coleridge, 66-68). The captain's boat capsizes, and the three men pull the Mariner from the whirlpool (Coleridge, 70). Once on the Pilot's ship, the mariner seeks abolition from the hermit (Coleridge, 7). It is only then that the Mariner is saved from the supernatural journey that he had been subjected to.

Coleridge looks for and attains this same sense of salvation in his life. After separating from his wife and becoming estranged from the Wordsworths, Samuel went through a devastating period of time. His opium consumption was at an all time high and his literary productivity was at a low point. Coleridge went through various patrons and households, each one failing to offer the needed level of assistance with his problems (Fry, 7). The writer also often placed himself under medical care in hopes of breaking the painful cycle of addiction. Coleridge finally found salvation and redemption in his final patron. James Gillman, a doctor, was able to give the author a newfound sense of familiarity (Fry, 8). The opium addiction was eased, although not completely solved. At the doctor's home in Highgate, Samuel was able to concentrate on his writing (Fry, 8). Coleridge began to attract many visitors and even hosted informal gatherings, known as "Thursday evenings" (Fry, ). It was also here that Coleridge became reacquainted with many of the influential figures from his past. Wordsworth visited him and the two even toured the Rhine together (Fry, 8). Coleridge was also visited by his daughter Sara, who moved to the area with her husband (and cousin) Henry (Fry, 8). Along with the help of his son-in-law, Coleridge was able to publish several compellations of his work (Fry, 8). A short time later, Coleridge died, but only after some of the most peaceful years of his life.

"The Rime" is a supernaturally based poem, which is full of imaginative symbolism and imagery. Despite its numerous revisions, it is still a defining piece of literature from the Romantic period. While several approaches can be taken to investigate the poem, a biographical analysis provides an insightful look into the life of the author that created the work. In "The Rime," Coleridge has the Mariner facing many of the same obstacles that he faced throughout his life, including death, isolation, constant wandering, and a final search for salvation.

Works Cited

Coleridge, Samuel. "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." Fry 6-75.

Fry, Paul, ed. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Boston and New York Bedford / St. Martin's, 1.

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