The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (lines 185- 189)
“Are those her ribs through which the Sun
Did peer, as through a grate?
And is that Woman all her crew?
Is that a DEATH? and are there two?
Is DEATH that woman’s mate?”
Upon, sighting the ghastly crew that swiftly approached the Mariners ship, he was immediately placed in awe. A ship that was a harbinger of death appeared, and despite the fear the mariner felt he couldn’t help but question what his eyes were seeing. His constant questions invoke an idea of astonishment and wonder. Aspects that Burke finds to be of the utmost importance when faced with insurmountable amounts of fear. For Burke, anything that we fear inspires the idea for curiosity and perhaps even envy.
For the ancient mariner he repeats DEATH twice, but whats more the entire word is capitalized to emphasize the importance of what he is witnessing. The mariner states DEATH as a singular being, but it doesn’t mean there is only one. As stated “Is that A DEATH? and are there two?” the mariner questions what he believes to be the manifestation of death, and with the idea of being more than one suggests that perhaps every man has his own ownership of death. Whichever the case it is clear that the Mariner, although frightful what lay before him, could not help but be in wonder of sights unknown to him. Especially, since he is to be met with his eventual demise.
And in regards to the woman it is clear that she is rather horrific in sight with skin as white leprosy and ribs of which can plainly be seen. Yet, the mariner refuses to look away and instead continues to stand in awe of the creature that stood before him. This is a rather important as there have been other instances of which the mariner chose to look away from awe-inspiring scenes. Such as when he witnessed the now rotting ocean, “I looked upon the rotting sea, and drew my eyes away” (lines 240-241).
in these lines, it is clear that Coleridge in writing the Rime of the Ancient Mariner was fascinated with the idea of the sublime. Especially, in consideration of the supernatural as most things supernatural do invoke fear, but also an intense curiosity to know what lies before them. For Burke this is quite a true sentiment for anything that society may consider to be an object of terror. As in this state of terror we are also in the highest point for astonishment.
