The Rime of the Ancient Mariner — Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I read this poem in my 10th class and was fascinated by the amazing words penned by the legendary Samuel T. Coleridge.

One insightful reference from the poem is the following stanza:

“He prayeth best,

who loveth best All things both great and small;

For the dear God who loveth us,

He made and loveth all.”

Throughout the poem, the mariner experiences a profound spiritual transformation, which begins when he kills an albatross, a symbol of nature’s beauty and grace. This act of violence against a creature that represents the beauty and interconnectedness of all living things brings a curse upon the mariner and his crew. The mariner is forced to wander the earth, telling his story as a warning to others, until he learns to appreciate and respect all of God’s creations.

The stanza quoted above highlights the idea that true prayer comes from a deep love and appreciation for all of God’s creations, not just a narrow focus on one’s own interests or needs. The idea that God made and loves all creatures, great and small, reinforces the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of all living things.

The mariner’s journey teaches him to see the beauty in all of God’s creations, even in the most unlikely places. He learns to appreciate the beauty of the water snakes that surround him, despite their frightening appearance, and to bless them as fellow creatures of God. This transformation is key to the mariner’s redemption and the lifting of the curse that has been placed upon him.

In conclusion, the stanza from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” emphasizes the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of all living things and the need to treat all creatures with respect and reverence. It highlights the idea that true prayer comes from a deep love and appreciation for all of God’s creations and reinforces the message of the poem that we must respect and appreciate the beauty of the natural world around us.