When I was given this question I was told it was a trick question.. So what I feel the answer is may be totally obvious and NOT the real answer.. I feel like it's right, but whenever someone tells you something is a trick question you obviously second guess yourself.. So here goes nothing.
I feel the Mariner kills the Albatross because it's more of a symbol for the wind. When we first meet the albatross, it's referred to as a good luck charm to the sailors. But soon after it takes post, the winds stop hitting. Feeling like it's the albatross's fault, the Mariner shoots the albatross. I feel like although an emotional moment for the Mariner, it's not the most significant thing that happened. I think his consequences are much more severe. He drifts from the belief that "all creatures great and small, the lord God created them all" so he suffers the consequences of his animal cruelty.
Any other thoughts? After all, it is a trick question.
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I don't think the mariner had a reason to kill the albotross, (hence the trick question) this is why he is made to suffer and survive, so he can essentially learn his lesson, and if this is the case, isn't interesting that many innocent men were killed just to teach one man a lesson?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brad. The reason for the Mariner to shoot the Albatross was never given. I believe the Mariner was made to endure his absurd hardships at the consequence of his actions because it is just a story. The Mariner told his tale to the wedding guest in hopes that he would become wiser, and to relieve the Mariner's own guilt. The moral being respect and honor all of God's creations. Coleridge wrote this metaphorical poem in hopes that you (the reader) would become wiser. In short, you are the wedding guest.
ReplyDelete-Lydia Thea
I believe there is no reason for the mariner killing the albatross, The mariner goes through all of these bad things just because its apart of the story. In the story there is never a reason for why he kills the albatrossis just that he kills the albatross. Even though after he kills the the albatross all this misfortune happens. Even though it says in the beginning it says that the albatross is a good luck charm but it didnt bring any good luck to the sailors
ReplyDeleteAlthough There is no given reason for the killing of the albatross, It is in the nature of man to kill what they do not understand. Perhaps this is a subtle reason for the killing of the albatross.. However since the Albatross is a symbol of good luck, he brings misfortune down upon himself by killing it. This can also be linked to the idea of Karma.
ReplyDeleteWell that's essentially where I was going, that it didn't seem significant and what happened afterward is what taught the ultimate lesson. I agree that there wasn't a reason.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I don't know if there is any one perfect answer but I think of it as a trick question for precisely the reasons you state: it's not really all that important in a way. It is not the climax of the story but really the beginning, the thing that gets it rolling. And the bird seems important to everyone but then he goes and kills it FOR NO GOOD REASON -- not even a bad reason, no reason at all. He's sort of like a Baconian scientist: sacrifice the bird to see what will happen.
ReplyDeleteWell,
ReplyDeleteI tried to find out the reason of killing Albatros, and looks like Albatros was killed for reason, however; " It is in the nature of man to kill what they do not understand". I am not sure about this, men might eliminate something, which creates a danger, never thought of something like this.
Going back to the question of humans being naturally evil, I believe that the author is trying to convey the idea that humans tend to do "evil" things just because. It was the freewill of the mariner that led to the death of the albatros. Like everyone else for the most part, I think that he had no reason for killing the bird.
ReplyDeleteI also think that it doesn't seem like there was a reason, at least in the line that he does it. It does seem like he is trying to given reason later in the poem however. He says it brings "the fog and mist". I would guess that fog and mist would not be looked upon kindly. They usually signify something bad.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the Mariner kill the Albatross because the bird was making the wind blow.
ReplyDelete"I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Ah wretch! said they, the bird to slay,
That made the breeze to blow!"
i agree with ann, those lines in the poem following him killing the bird make it seem like he had killed for a reason.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree. I think he killed the bird because after he helped the boat through the ice by summoning the wind. The mariner quickly forgot what the bird did for them when the fog came. the bird was no longer needed and was eating all their food so he disposed of him.
ReplyDeleteI also disagree, I don't think he killed the albatross because it made the wind blow and brought fog and mist.
ReplyDelete"Then all averre, I had killed the bird/ That brought the fog and mist./ 'Twas right, they say, such birds to slay,/ That bring the fog and mist.'"
It seems to me that the Mariner did not know until after he killed the albatross, that it was the bird who carried the wind and mist.
-Jenn Turner
i do not think that there was an exact reason for him killing the albatros. i also think it is just the nature of man to kill and its not always understood.
ReplyDelete