Symbols and Symbolism in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner :: Rime

Images in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner   A nearby perusing of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner will uncover that the Ancient Mariner-who is without a moment's delay himself, Coleridge and all humankind having trespassed, both causes discipline and looks for reclamation; or, at the end of the day, turns out to be restlessly mindful of his connection to the God of Law (as represented by the Sun), and in his sub-cognizance genuinely begs the pardoning of the God of Love (spoke to by the Moon-image).   ... For Professor Lowes, while he has unveiled a Coleridge of astonishing scholarly handle ... holds back on the fringe of simply inventive experience. In his long investigation of The Ancient Mariner, he appears to miss the basic allegory.... at the point when everything is stated, his unsparable book is substance to be an audit of Coleridge's scholarly and inventive connection to his accessible sources in books, in discussions and in his life history, not (save money now and again as providing an easygoing contention) to express leave behind part in the wonderful aim all in all ....   ... There is no place here or somewhere else in the book [The Road to Xanadu] a trace of the history behind the Mariner's sparkling eye, a proposal of the artist's striking exchange of the sparkle in the dead sailors' eyes (Death) to those of the Mariner (Life-in-Death). The writer presents the Mariner unexpectedly and tediously as one with a sparkling eye. A comparative accentuation is given to the appellation splendid peered toward (as in the penultimate refrain of Part VII); and when the frightful inquiry, Why look'st thou so?, is asked, our contemplations return to that vile sparkle. Presently think about this refrain in Part III:   One after one, by the star-hounded Moon, Unreasonably snappy for moan or murmur, Each turned his face with an appalling ache, Also, reviled me with his eye, what's more, these verses likewise from Part IV: The virus sweat dissolved from their appendages, Nor decay nor smell did they: The look with which they looked on me Had never died. A vagrant's revile would haul to hellfire A soul from a lofty position; In any case, ohl more frightful than that Is a revile in a dead man's eye! Seven days, seven evenings, I saw that revile, But then I was unable to pass on; also, these again from Part VI: All stood together on the deck, For a charnel-prison fitter: All fixed on me their stony eyes, That in the Moon glittered.