Elements of a Psychological Journey
Frankensteins plot moves through interchanging dependencies and tensions between the realm of possibility through science and what should or must be accepted as nature. The intertext of the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner in Frankenstein contains this same kind of plot supported by the idea of unnatural science. When comparing the voyages of psychological discovery taken by Coleridge's The Ancient Mariner and Shellys Frankenstein, it can be observed that there are several similarities between the two stories. By understanding the elements of a psychological journey in these tales, we can see the underlying attempts by the author's to create a world within the mind that each of its characters. There are also several themes that found in the poem which vitalizes the irresolution of the themes found in Frankenstein. This includes themes such as: impulsiveness, supernaturality and love.
The primary theme between the two literary works concern the potential consequences of a single unthinking act. In the poem, when the mariner, with his crossbow, shot the albatross (Coleridge 1), he did it casually and without animosity. Yet this impulsive, destructive act caused his undoing. Later, the mariner gradually comes to realize the enormous consequences of his casual act, even as he struggles to accept responsibility for it. This realization is apparent when the mariner spontaneously recognized the beauty of the sea snakes as they reared in the elfish light (Coleridge 4). Similarly, at the beginning of the novel, Victor chases ambition blindly. Consumed by his work, Victor, for nearly two years, deprived himself of rest and health (Shelly 49). While trying to induce life into an inanimate object, he did not foresee the duties responsibilities that came with the act. Simply said, he was so eager to play God that he did not foresee the duties that came with this role. This single unthinking act of inducing life into an inanimate object only led to self demise. This realization is apparent when he says, the result of my curiosity and lawless devices cause[d] the death of two of my fellow-beings: one a smiling babe, full of innocence and joy; the other far more dreadfully murdered (Shelly 75). Thus, it can be asserted that both protagonists showed impulsiveness which essentially led them to self-destruction.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner can be read as a tale of horror in which a mariner is hounded by disasters and supernatural forces after murdering an albatross. Coleridge clearly tries to make the supernatural elements of the poem appear as integral parts of the natural world. There are several examples throughout the poem where Coleridge provides such examples. At the beginning of the poem, the old mariner is described to use a glittering eye (Coleridge 1) which has hypnotic power, making people listen to him. The mariner is also compelled by a mysterious power to tell one particular story again and again. Coleridge later describes an albatross, a sacred bird in many religion and mythical traditions, to be endowed with supernatural powers. He has also filled the poem with unearthly creatures such as spirits, ghosts, souls, sea-snakes and angels. Last but not least, it is learnt that the ghost-ship is driven by mysterious forces. Coleridges underlying theme in this poem is that all things that inhabit the natural world have an inherent value and beauty, and that it is necessary for humanity to recognize and respect these qualities. Similarly, several aspects make Frankensteins creature unnatural and other attributes render it supernatural. Though consisting of natural parts and intended as a human being (Shelley 31), the so called monster is unearthly in his ugliness (Shelly 153). It was created in an unnatural way by an unnatural method, and can therefore only be unnatural. Its physical power exceeds that of human beings and it is not as prone to harsh weather conditions, which renders it superhuman. The supernatural facet can be put down to circumstances surrounding the creation: a spark of being (Shelly 34) is used to bring the creature to life. Among other things, a spark is a bright or glittering emanation, flash, or gleam of light (OED spark). Accordingly, Frankenstein abused electricity, a natural force, to stimulate the lifeless thing (Shelley 34). By artificially and miraculously bringing his inanimate project to life, Frankenstein leaves the ordinary course of nature and produces something abnormal and supernatural. Thus the theme of supernaturalness, ever-present in both literary pieces is one of the most essential principles that unfold the mystery behind them.
The moral offered at the end of the poem suggests that the ancient mariners character flaw stems from his inability to love and emulate the parenting of a heavenly father. While each to his great Father bends,/Old men, and babes, and loving friendswho loveth best all things great and small (Coleridge 8). It is perhaps for this reason he feels, the look which they lookd on me/an orphans curse would drag to hell (Coleridge 4). Victor likewise puts his domestic life on hold in order to investigate the world and it is this life he seeks to recreate and that then haunts him after he has completed his scientific goals. The crime that returns to Victor is not that he has defied nature in terms of life and death but rather that he has defied nature in terms of the child parent relationship. Likewise in the end, this is the mariners ultimate crime. When the monster seeks to punish Victor for his crimes as a father, Victor is haunted once again by the voice of the Mariner. My heart palpitated in the sickness of fear; and I hurried on with irregular steps not daring to look about me:---Like one who, on a lonely road,/ Doth walk in fear and dread,/And having once turned round, walks on,/And turns no more his head; Because he knows a frightful fiend/ Doth close behind him tread (Shelley 62). Victor is haunted by this way as he has failed as a father much in the same way that the mariner is haunted by the way he has failed to deserve and emulate the fatherly love of God. Thus, both characters inability to love has caused them to experience a great deal of pain.
Frankenstein and the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner are two stories that run parallel to each other. The primary themes found in both literary pieces mirror reflections of each other. In developing his themes in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Coleridge masterfully expresses various concepts through the use of symbols and imagery. Much of the imagery is breathtaking, and the poet's intense descriptions leave a lasting imprint on the reader. Similarly, Shelly presents nature in harmony with the actually unnatural, in some respects even supernatural, creature, whereas it appears to oppose as well as soothe the creator who transgressed the boundaries of natural science. When the two literary pieces are compared, several similar themes were observed including impulsivness of the characters, supernaturalness and love between the characters.
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