"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Discussion Question

10/13/2022

(Iron Maiden video above for atmosphere)
Prompt: Thoughtfully answer one of the following questions using examples from both Coleridge and connections to the real world.

Are there worse things in life than death?

Is a leader fully responsible for those they lead?

Is it acceptable and ethical for Christian morals to be a part of literary works?

In our culture does punishment typically fit the crime?

Do people suffer consequences for their crimes in today's society?

When someone imprisons another are they also imprisoned?

Can a person's guilt affect their sanity? Should it?

Primary Blog Expections: 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 PM tonight!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Tuesday, October 18!

Idelisa Bonnelly

10/17/2022 11:46:27 am

There is something worse than death, and that is to die in life itself. To lose all hope and purpose, to believe that life is truly meaningless and to then succumb to the nawing void within you. To suffer a fate worse than death is to give up on all the wonders in life itself and be unable to experience it in all of its wondrous glory. To snuff out the warmth before the light itself. To die two deaths is a fate worse than one.

Mary Ainsworth

10/18/2022 06:04:23 pm

I would argue that to lose all hope and purpose, whether as a result of a near death experience or not, is a fate that is more painful than death but only with the addition that one remains alive Yes, letting go of the wonders in life when death comes is hard - it is the very reason why death itself is hard - but it is not worse than death itself. At least in death you get an end to the suffering that comes with such an experience, however, if one were to lose themselves in a near death experience and not even get the peace that death may bring, then they are to remain an empty shell for some time. Remaining alive in a state of suffering is a fate worse than death itself.

ANNE MARY PERCEVAL

10/18/2022 07:50:38 pm

Death is not, in my opinion, the worst thing that can happen to a person. Many things may be far worse. Although death may mark the end of our physical life, it also might mark the conclusion of our spiritual path. Because without the knowledge of an end, what is life? Death releases us from the circle of misery and frees us from the physical and emotional agony we unavoidably endure. It is perceived as a release from life, and for many people, it represents the worst possible outcome.

Marie curie

10/18/2022 09:15:14 pm

While I do acknowledge that suffering through life can be perceived as worse than death in some instances, I disagree that it is not the worst to happen. To still be alive is to live another day with another chance for something good and meaningful to happen. Even if the odds are slim, being alive is another opportunity to find joy in the things around you. To say suffering while alive is worse than death is ignorant and insensitive to those who have died and lack the chance to live again. Losing intangible ideas such as hope and purpose imply that they can be found again, whether it be within oneself or in something around them. While there is a rare case where the suffering seems to not come to an end, at least give it the opportunity to.

Rosalie S. Morton

10/19/2022 07:28:36 am

Interesting, I didn't think of it this way but it totally makes sense. To not rejoice in one's existence and recognize that they are alive and have the choice to find purpose in their life can in fact be worse than death. Death would at least allow someone to escape from what they perceive as this meaningless world, but to suffer in it without any purpose can be worst.

Jane Elanor Datcher

10/19/2022 11:10:43 pm

I think death is in a way the absolute worst thing that can happen to you. As a person, you are completely gone, wiped away from the earth, it can be swift or it can be torturous. From a christian standpoint, as you’ve truly lived your life for God, you should be expecting to go to heaven, and not be as unhappy awaiting death, but others who die don’t get a chance to come back and live better, change how they acted or affected others, or look at everything and everyone around them once more, etc. Once you're gone you're gone.

Julia Lermontova

10/20/2022 11:35:37 am

I definitely agree with you. I also think there is something worse than death. I think if you don't have any hope then whats the point of living ? Hope is a feeling of trust ;a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. If you don't have any desires or wants, are you really living?

Rosalie Slaughter Morton

10/17/2022 03:43:41 pm

There are absolutely worse things in life than death. Death itself is not a bad thing, what may be horrible, are the ways in which people die. Death is an inevitable part of life that every living thing experiences or will experience. Everyone knows it's a natural occurrence which is why there are celebrations and traditional customs in different cultures that celebrate the lives of those who have passed. There are countless amounts of things that are worse than death that go on in today's world and have in the past: school shootings, sex crimes, war-crimes, child abuse, slavery, genocide, cannibalism, terrorism, and many more devastating things that go on around the world that no one should ever experience. Would you rather want someone to go through one of these tragedies, or die a natural death and be assured they'll be at peace.

Olga Guramishvili-Nikoladze

10/19/2022 11:34:43 am

I believe that it may not be death itself that we fear, but the means that will lead us to that inevitable end. I also believe that people may fear the unknown that lies on the other side of death. Does one fear death because they do not know how it will come to them, or what might come after? Death should be a peaceful thing, the one thing in existence that can be relied on entirely (aside from birth of course). The reason death is feared is due to the pain that lies before it and the mystery that lies after, overshadowing an otherwise reassuring reality.

Marietta Hannon Rousseau

10/19/2022 06:30:36 pm

I completely agree with you. In our society, the way in which people die is far scarier than the act of dying itself. Another example that comes to mind is dying due to lack of access to adequate healthcare; the fact that people are forced to die premature deaths due to a lack of a basic human right is terrifying. Death is beautiful and natural, however, to have no choice but to die is horrific and political.

Emily Stowe

10/17/2022 04:05:10 pm

In life the final ending is death. People say that your own death will be the worst thing to happen to you and it will be the final thing that will ever happen to you. I would beg to differ. In your life it will always end in death but death is the freedom you get from the harness of life. Life is the harness that maintains you grounded in this world. If that harness is ever taken away you must keep going through the journey of life begrudgingly even though you should have finished the story 4 seasons ago. Similar to the story those who are forced to live the longest are forced to see those who they love dearest die before them. The captain in the ballad was forced to be immortal and tell the tale for time to come. He will be unable to make long lasting connections since he will be immortal and see anyone he connects with die when their time comes.

Agnes Mary Clerke

10/17/2022 06:15:27 pm

Can a person's guilt affect their sanity? Should it?

This is something that is explored within different authors and genres. Within this work, it is a possibility that the mariner has so much guilt after dooming his crew to death, that he started to hallucinate and try to reason with his own mind. He creates images of his crew's spirits, manifestations of death and life-in-death. This seems to be his way of showing his guilt and reasoning with himself. His sanity could be failing or being corrupted due to his overall guilt. However, his story might not be reliable.
This is also wrote about within The Telltale Heart. The man kills the old man with the vulture eye. The man then starts to hear a heart beating. Even with witnesses who can't hear it, the man starts to go insane, resulting in his confession to the police. Guilt affecting sanity will most likely help identify the guilt faster.

Jane Kilby Welsh

10/18/2022 07:05:08 pm

I agree. Many literary works are centered around the theme of guilt and its affect on the human psyche, as seen in both The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and The Telltale Heart. Whether it is shown by hallucinations or by a narrator's overall inner conflict, guilt is capable of driving people to insanity. Though, there poses the question of why guilt has such an impact on the mind. Is because of the fear of potential consequences? Or a moral obligation to undo one's wrongs? The concept of guilt, being as abstract as it is, can't be simplified to one emotion or response. Knowing this, I wouldn't say that guilt has to or should affect one's sanity, for guilt will have its own consequences regardless.

Caroline Eichler

10/17/2022 07:02:47 pm

Is a leader fully responsible for those they lead?

Not necessarily, leaders can control what people do, but they can't control people's motives. The captain of this ship gave orders to the sailors that are geared towards ship duties and making sure everything is neat and organized. The killing of the Albatross was completely out of the captain's controls. Nobody could've seen it coming, and nobody could've stopped it. Even if the captain warned the sailors to not do something, sailors may ignore it and do it anyways. In real life, it's the same thing.

For example, the administration asks teachers to stop people from wearing headphones. Teachers have been told to act as leaders and make the rule about headphones apparent. Students can wear headphones if they want to even if teachers warned them repeatedly. That's not the teacher's fault, but it's the student's own choice.

So, leaders can be given all the burden when someone doesn't listen to orders, but that doesn't mean they're entirely responsible. The person who decides to not follow the orders or break customs is at fault.

Jane elanor Datcher

10/19/2022 10:54:42 pm

I definitely agree with you. As I was writing my response I was thinking the exact same thing. Although leaders can be very impactful on others, people also have free will and don’t have to do/follow everything they are impacted to do. Besides being a good leader, I think in this aspect being a purposely bad leader who knows they have an impact and play an important role on others can lead people astray. There was no reason for the sailor to shoot the bird that could have served as a good omen rather than a bad, and this ended up hurting and burdening not only the sailor but the crew.

Marie Curie

10/17/2022 09:39:07 pm

Is a leader fully responsible for those they lead?

While most believe a leader is granted (or burdened) with the responsibility of their constituents' actions and behaviors, this is not a viable belief. A leader may persuade or influence one's beliefs, while setting an example for the community they take charge in, but individual thought and action are always present.

For example, coaches of sports teams will consistently remind their athletes to maintain a good diet, stretch, start lifting weights, etc. Coaches will even provide their team with videos, instructors, dieticians, nutritionists, and personal trainers in order to help achieve their desires for the team. And while these are very influential people, the athletes still have autonomy to make their own decisions regarding their health and practice dedication.

Leaders can influence decisions based upon their actions and words; however, cannot be held solely and completely responsible.

Jane Kilby Welsh

10/18/2022 07:21:56 pm

I agree. Though, I do think that leaders will still ultimately be held
responsible for the actions and behaviors of their followers. The consequences for not following a leader's guide will still fall on the individual, but as a group, the actions of every member will reflect on the group as a whole, especially the leader. Ultimately, a leader will not be able to control every person's actions, but the fate of the group will still be in their hands. Along with influencing and guiding, I also believe that a leader has some form of responsibility in ensuring that their people listen to them.

Emily Stowe

10/18/2022 10:32:46 pm

A leader is someone who the entire group would follow to their graves. A leader is someone who personally takes on the responsibility of the people in their group or the people they lead over. While yes a leader can influence the people's actions and words they are also responsible for the outcome of the events they lead through and the fates of those they lead through said events. If a person is put in charge of a group that can be potentially going through a dangerous or deadly event such as firemen the leader would be one who is held responsible for anyone who might have died in event. This also counts for other leaders such in sports if a team leader makes a bad call or they fumble the ball they are also held responsible for their teams loss. In my personal opinion a leader whether or not they wanted it if they step up to the position of a leader they are responsible for the people they lead.

Nadezhda Ziber-Shumova

10/20/2022 03:24:14 pm

I agree. Leaders are there to only guide the people they are responsible for, but they are not responsible for the actions that affect the "sinner" themselves; only the actions that affect the entirety of the unit in which the leader leads. However, some argue that this means they are not good leaders if they cannot control the behaviours of their subordinates. Anyone of us could capture the respect and attention of people, but a true leader would keep it, though I think it would be unfair to judge the captain of the mariner's ship because unfortunately, he too, died; not by his choice nor a result of his leadership, but of the mariner's recklessness that was not even done in the fruition of anything.

Jane Kilby Welsh

10/17/2022 11:26:31 pm

Can a person's guilt affect their sanity? Should it?

Christian morals, though they may not be universally accepted nor practiced amongst the people, are culturally significant to the development of man, especially to that of literature. To deem the use of Christian morals in literary works as unethical would be to dismiss the critical thought associated with the discussion of ethics and religion. Though many Christian morals do not reflect my own beliefs, I can still acknowledge its significance in the realm of literature—it evokes the discussion of not only morality, but the role of man in society. As Christianity is strongly integrated into Western history, the discussion of Christian morals is necessary in understanding the cultural, social, and political background of many literary works. For example, classics like Hamlet, Crime and Punishment, and Fahrenheit 451 all allude to the Bible, and although the reader may not necessarily need an understanding of Christian morals to consume the text, having one would greatly expand their understanding and interpretation. Similarly, the Christian allegory described in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” further develops the poem’s themes of guilt and reflection of the spiritual world. Although it is not ethically sound to force a reader to adopt Christian morals for themselves, it is ethical to include them in literary works, for many culturally significant works would not be as complex as they are if they did not consider the themes, debates, and ideas of religion.

Marie Curie

10/18/2022 09:30:55 pm

I agree that while Christianity is not universally accepted, it is still the foundation of many aspects of history and literature that cannot be withdrawn easily.

Many people have the valid interpretation of the religion as one that is harmful and full of hate. However, it cannot be ignored that it has also provided civilization and mankind with a set of morals such as "Thou shalt not kill" and "Thou shalt not steal". Christianity offered an explanation in a time where science was not readily available to explain the wonders of the world & comfort to those that need it. Although it is a religion, it comes with cultural significance that adds depth to a work.

Izabela Textorisova

10/18/2022 12:39:07 am

Can a person's guilt affect their sanity? Should it?

A person's guilt can affect their sanity. The mariner dealing with killing his crew because of a mistake with a bird was a lot for him to take on. Being the only person alive even after you're the one that made the mistake is excruciating to deal with. The mariner had so much guilt that he had to make amends with being the only person on the boat. Constantly seeing "spirits" within his crew must have helped to keep him going, but was a clear sign of sanity slipping away from him.
People dealing with large amounts of guilt tend to have that guilt manifest into something else which can be dangerous. This guilt to people can be psychological torture in a way especially if they don't forgive themselves.
It's also important to note that the mariner was also carrying the physical weight of the arbotross around his neck as a punishment. He continued even after the death of his crew. This physical pressure added with his mental could not have helped him.
People bearing physical things accompanied with their guilt, affects them negatively and causes them to be even less contained with the guilt. No one wants a badge to show off the mistake they made with the aftermath so close by.

Mary Ainsworth

10/18/2022 08:08:30 pm

I enjoyed how you connected both physical and mental guilt together. Speaking physiologically, the stress that comes from guilt can cause physical discomfort such as a loss or gain of appetite, sleep, or weight. These physical effects only cause more of a downfall for the individual experiencing the guilt. Interestingly, a cycle can begin where an individual's guilt can manifest in physical ways and these physical ways create new aspects of guilt such as a gain or loss in weight or a neglection of personal hygiene. Due to this, and relating to your insightful take on the question, when speaking of guilt it is impossible not the mention the physical components as both physical and mental aspects are extremely intertwined.

Mary Ainsworth

10/18/2022 03:06:15 am

Can a person's guilt affect their sanity? Should it?

A person's guilt does indeed affect one's sanity. It is seen in the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" that the Mariner is deeply affected by killing the albatross and causing the death of his crewmates, so much so that he feels the need to relay his story as a way to purge himself of the guilt that he feels within him. Guilt is a powerful force, it is one that becomes intertwined with one's soul and urges their downfall while also letting up just enough to make an individual feel like they are in control. This constant battle with enough time can eat away at the very contents of someone until the individual that was once known is gone. This instance reminds me of Dimmesdale from the novel, The Scarlet Letter. Dimmesdale throughout the book is seen to slowly deteriorate and become sickly as this is a physical manifestation of his guilt in committing adultery; this guilt ultimately led to his death on the scaffold in the middle of the town.
I do believe that guilt should affect one's sanity. If it did not then humankind would be made from heartless creatures lacking compassion and empathy. If guilt goes so far as to rip someone from who they were, then there is pity in that sentiment and many wishes that it hadn't happened, but at the same time, one's doom is brought upon themselves. Unless of course, circumstances permit otherwise, such as those where one is forced to commit actions that entice guilt; these actions should not weigh on the mind as they are not the individual's fault.

Sofya Kovalevskaya

10/18/2022 10:07:15 am

Is a leader fully responsible for those they lead?

Although a leader is consuming a great responsibility in terms of their own character and charisma, decisions those that follow them make are ultimately in the individual's hand. Leaders have influence, as that is their main purpose. The way in which they carry themselves plays a significant role in perception, but they are not fully responsible for all followers. Each person has their own mind, own persona, own ability to make choices, so although the choices can be aided by those they admire, they cannot put blame on another person, when they truly did not force anything. In this poem, although the Mariner can be considered the leader, he is not fully responsible for those on his ship. His decisions do have a substantial impact on his people, but they are not the end-all be-all.

Caroline Eichler

10/18/2022 09:16:06 pm

I definitely agree with this because everyone knows that you can say that you can't do something, but others will do it anyways. It's like how laws are in place, but that doesn't stop people from breaking it. So would that be the government's fault? Overall, not necessarily.
Sometimes the person who did something they weren't supposed to, do so out of justice which we can see happen a lot in history.

Which makes me wonder: if the person under someone else's lead broke a rule out of justice, would that make the leader guilty for being injustice therefore responsible? I feel like the answer can change depending on context.

Agnes Mary Clerke

10/18/2022 11:03:29 pm

I agree that the leader is not the end-all-be-all but I think within this situation, the Marnier had control over his crew's fate inadvertently. His decision to kill the albatross ultimately caused the deaths of his crew. Likewise, if there is a group of people who are in the car, the driver is in control of those people. Not physically controlling them but in some way controlling their fate. Therefore, a leader can help encourage and sometimes take charge of their followers' lives even if they are against the leader.

Marietta Hannon Rousseau

10/18/2022 10:11:10 am

In our culture does punishment typically fit the crime?

It has been clear, especially in the years following the major BLM protests and the increased visibility of racial inequities in the "justice" system, that rarely does the punishment fit the crime in our culture. People of color are punished harshly or murdered for non-violent, minor crimes whilst mass murderers are let off with a slap-on-the-wrist. Furthermore, the sentences that people receive for non-violent crimes are far too harsh considering the nature of the crime.

Relating to "The Time of the Ancient Mariner," his punishment for killing the Albatross was to wear the dead bird around his neck and the death of his entire crew. While it was immoral for him to kill the bird (especially after it helped clear the storm), he did not deserve the punishment that he received. The lesson that the punishment taught him was important but the point could have been made in a less violent way. More often than not, punishments are far more extreme than the crimes themselves, and they tend to lead to trauma rather than understanding why the crime was wrong.

Caroline Eichler

10/18/2022 09:21:58 pm

What you have stated about modern crime and the Mariner's crimes are completely true. I feel like the way they made the Mariner have the bird he killed attached to him was a bit too far. Especially because in today's day and age, the Mariner probably wouldn't have suffered much of a consequence. However, in the past times, the punishments for little things that are theorized to have a bad omen can have worse punishments than if you actually were a mass murderer in today's age.
Which kind of scares me because in no time in history was the punishment of crime ever consistent; the punishment for crime isn't even consistent within the same decade. What would happen to crime sentences in the future?

Emily Stowe

10/18/2022 10:57:20 pm

I agree with you that the punishment will never truly fit the crime there are occasions where the crime fits the punishment for a certain type of culture or group of people. For example the Albatross killing would fit the crime within the group of sailors as it would be seen as a worthy punishment for the crime. Another example is in ancient Aztec cultures they had the 3 central laws of their culture: Never steal, never lie, never be lazy. The crimes they had for these laws were respectively: Your hands will be cut off, your tongue will be cut out, and your foot will be crushed. These punishments seem barbaric to us nowadays but to them these laws were fair punishment to maintain their society in order. While in reality the punishment will never fit the crime to us in our society we know the punishment might have fit the crime depending on the people it is around.

Agnes Mary Clerke

10/18/2022 11:32:22 pm

Within this culture, the crimes don't often fit the punishment. I agree a punishment is often ignored too weak or too much. However, I believe the Mariner's punishment was only hanging the albatross and the death of his crew was just a consequence. Not a total punishment. It seems to be more for an explanation and result of his actions. His role as a leader proved he failed his crew and the universe just told him his failures.

Anne Mary Perceval

10/18/2022 10:17:31 am

Is a leader fully responsible for those they lead?

In my opinion, although a leader is responsible for those they lead. they are not fully responsible ; an individual still has a choice when they choose not to be led. A leader is required to provide purpose, direction and motivation to those they lead in order to achieve the organization goals. Just like it wasn’t the captain's fault for the death of the albatross which was unpredictable. However even if the captain gave commands to his team (the sailor) it could have been disregarded by the team. This relates to today’s society because per say at a workplace an individual might not do what’s being asked of them from a manager they will choose what they pleases. For example everyone is asked to do their jobs. which are stocking,cleaning etc, but most people will choose to stand around and talk, choosing to not follow the orders not given.

Rosalie S. Morton

10/19/2022 09:00:33 am

I get what you're trying to explain. Although a leader is supposed to assume full responsibility of those they lead, the ones they lead may not always want to be led. That's where rebellion sets in and strays from the path set by the leader. The followers have choices to either be led by the leader or rebel against them which is correct. However, rebellion comes with consequences for both the followers and the leader. The followers get in trouble for rebelling, whereas the leader has to deal with the "damage" done by those they lead and fix the problem.

SOFYA KOVALEVSKAYA

10/19/2022 10:34:27 am

I agree with your response in terms of full responsibility, and the sense that it is not the leaders. I disagree, however, with your point about the will-full ignorance of the request of a leader, as pointed out in the last few sentences. If the leader is truly impactful, their followers will not ignore their guidance simply out of laziness, but carefully consider what they say and how they can use tools provided to make personal choice.

Olga Guramishvili-Nikoladze

10/19/2022 11:22:20 am

Depending on the circumstance, I believe it is appropriate for Christian morals to be a part of literary works, whether ethical or not. Because these morals exist in the real world, they should be included in the fictional world as well, since core values should remain similar to ones that are possible in real life. On the other hand, if Christian morals were never introduced to the world the story is trying to create, it would be less ideal to include them. No matter what moral system or systems are used, It should be feasible that these morals could occur by being either spread to or made independently in the world of the story.

Elizabeth Acevado

10/19/2022 10:54:02 pm

I agree that what happens in the real world should be implemented into fictional settings like non fiction. This allows us to explore real concepts in a more fictional and creative way. All sorts of religious and ideological belief systems should be represented to be fair, unless they cause harm. There should be no unfair bias towards a specific belief system. Likewise, these should be represented in all types of fiction and Christian morals should be part of literary works. I don't really get what you mean though by "On the other hand, if Christian morals were never introduced to the world the story is trying to create, it would be less ideal to include them."

Jane Elanor Datcher

10/19/2022 09:35:58 pm

I think in certain aspects, leaders can be fully responsible for those they lead. Although everyone has free will, the mind can easily be manipulated. In the story of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, The leader kills the beautiful albatross for absolutely no reason, his crew salutes him and for this later has to pay with their lives. If the sailor never killed the Albatross then his crewmates would have never agreed with him. I enjoy that the author correlated this with the Bible and sin and because of this I want to make a connection to the Bible. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus says: “As leaders, you are responsible for those you lead. These people are looking to you for guidance, like little children. We have a responsibility to lead and to lead well. We can't take our leadership lightly.” The sailor had to take full responsibility for his crew mates, and had to bear the burden of their death; ultimately leaders are not only responsible for who they lead but how far they lead them.

Elizabeth Acevado

10/19/2022 10:22:17 pm

I agree that leaders can have the full responsibility of who they lead and I like how you used the example of children in that Bible verse. Obviously children are very impressionable and most of what they learn comes from what they are taught from their environment, so that was a great analogy to use so you could support your point. A leader who has a power dynamic over who they're leading can definitely take advantage of them because they wouldn't know better. A bus driver has the responsibility of bringing all of the passengers to their destinations and picking them up because that's their job so that's what people expect from him. A teacher has the responsibility of teaching the students everything they need to know. They expect that they are teaching the right thing.

Elizabeth Acevado

10/19/2022 09:44:36 pm

Yes, there are absolutely worse things in life than death. Living with the guilt or shame of doing something extremely reprehensible seems much worse than simply just not being alive. Living with that type of shame on a daily basis and constantly being reminded of it would likely be painful- at least when you are just dead you didn't do anything wrong. Additionally, some shameful acts can never be forgiven at all and you can not move on from, but everyone dies so there's nothing wrong with that. For example, how can someone who's committed murder or another heinous act be seen and treated the same as "everyone else." Although it may not be completely comparable, in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," the pain inside the mariner was so great that he had to tell the tale so someone. It would be unbearable for him to live on with it to the point where he couldn't live satisfied. Shame is one of the worst feelings to experience and when you can’t go back to change you’re actions, the thought of it will always haunt you now and then. That's why being alive can sometimes be worse than being dead.

Julia Lermontova

10/20/2022 11:31:33 am

Can a person's guilt affect their sanity? Should it?
A persons guilt can affect their sanity. For example in Ancient Mariner, Mariner kills an albatross and causes death to his crewmates and because of their death he deals with being angry at his fate instead of remorseful for his crime. Gult can majorly affect our sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Guilt also can cause emotional numbness which affect peoples sanity

Nadezhda Ziber-Shumova

10/20/2022 03:07:19 pm

Can a person's guilt affect their sanity? Should it?

For guilt to consume so much of a person, the act which set it in motion must have been of great significance. The mind bears all that it has done, and why it has done the act, but heavy is the burden of an unforgivable betrayal. Yes, guilt can affect one's sanity, though whether it should or should not, is another argument altogether. In real life, guilt does affect sanity. So much so, that it changes a person completely, morphing them into either monsters, angels, or repentant hypocrites. In the "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," the mariner himself feels he is eaten by his guilt, desperate to get that weight off his chest, crazed by the search of a listening ear to share his story. Did he truly deserve that lonely fate? Did the gravity of his actions equal the consequences he has and will continue to suffer? I suppose this is his personal hell on earth; doomed forever by the higher powers to makeup for the lives lost due to his recklessness.

Rebeca Lee Crumpler

11/4/2022 10:56:30 pm

Question- Are there worse things in life than death

I believe that there are worse things than death, although no one knows what's guaranteed to happen if you die, I feel like there are things in life worse than death. In life I feel like alot of people are scared of experiencing death and although I think it's it valid to feel this way one can easily argue that doing everything in your power to try and avoid death is far worse than experiencing death becuase what you're ultimately doing is delaying the inevitable. I don't feel like death is a thing that one should run towards but I don't feel like one should necessarily avoid. Instead they should just live their life becuase if you spend your life worrying about death you're not living life to the fullest which in my eyes is worse than death.

Comments are closed.

AP Literature and Composition Blog

"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (1798) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Discussion Question

Blog Post Rubric

Archives

Categories