Expression of Hope in Coleridge
The Expression of Hope Samuel Coleridges poems, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Kubla Khan" are similar in the sense that both works express an end result of hope that derives itself from the antithesis of despair. Both qualities, hope and despair, are found prominently throughout and are the central themes, although the paradoxes both create can hardly be denied. ... Simultaneously, Coleridge shows the reader how his imagery provides visions for optimism in their own lives. "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a perfect example of ambiguity that Coleridge gives readers to debate. The fact that the poem starts at a wedding, the epitome of a "happy ending", should clue the reader in that hope can almost always be born out of tragedy. ... Also, Coleridge shows the captivating power that the Mariner can have on his audience with the verse, "The Mariner hath his will". ... In doing this, Coleridge presents the Mariner as a believable figure to comprehend because he employs the techniques tangible enough for the common man to grasp. ... The fact that Coleridge has devoted an entire stanza to just the presence of the Mariner would seem to suggest that people had no choice but to pay attention to his story. By showing the attentiveness of his audience, even though the Mariner tells a sad tale, hope for others listening to the narrative is not yet lost. ... With this practice comes hope for a better future. Hope can not occur obviously without its antonym despair. ... But simultaneously, the negative feelings that the crew on the ship have at the thoughtless act of the Mariner begin to fuel the motivation for hope throughout the rest of the poem. Without the Mariners senseless killing, it can be argued that hope could not grow and exist because the Mariner may just have depended on the albatross to see them through, and this would have ultimately not led them down the road of ruin. ... Hope would seem to be lost from the Mariner as his crews souls "whizz" by him, but Coleridge seems to then portray the Mariner as the lone martyr having to walk the earth. ... However, his purpose for hope in others might be one than one person can take. The Mariners responsibility of the crews hope for salvation after death is not a burden that any one person would take on voluntarily. ... Coleridge may be saying that life is the most precious gift, even if it must be spent entirely in repentance and misery. The sacrifices the Mariner must now make for the rest of his existence will not go in vain but rather will be a beacon of hope for others that even as journeys become dark, you can still work through them. Coleridge shows this new imagery of hope in Part 4 of the poem through the new agony that the Mariner faces as a result of being on his own. In Part 5 and beyond, Coleridge discloses to the reader that the Mariners redemption depends on him constantly trying to come to grips with his experiences. ... In that, the Mariner may hope to relieve the burden on his own conscience of the dead albatross and subsequent deaths of his crew.