Essay Comparing Frankenstein And The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

The Consequences of Interfering with Life’s Natural Order

In both Frankenstein, a novel by Mary Shelley, and the poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the main characters try and play the role of God. This is seen in Frankenstein when the main character, Victor Frankenstein, creates a monster when he re-instills life into a corpse, as well as in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” when the Mariner shoots the albatross that has been flying alongside them at sea. Shelley and Coleridge use gothic elements in these works to convey how these attempts at controlling the supernatural only lead to chaotic situations full of tragedy, and cause the characters overwhelming feelings of shame and guilt. Thus both the book and poem demonstrate a common theme that interfering with the natural order of life leads to tragedy and consequently isolation.

The death of William marks the start of all tragedies yet to come, and is only the beginning of the torture the monster ensues on Frankenstein, as the monster then proceeds to murder Elizabeth and Frankenstein’s father. Overcome with grief and guilt, Frankenstein swears to “pursue the demon who caused this misery, until he or I shall perish in mortal conflict” (Shelley 193). Ironically, the demon he speaks of is the very thing he had originally considered his life’s work. Tragedy following an attempt to disrupt the natural order of life appears in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” as well, after the Mariner kills the albatross, who represents God. Because of this action, “Instead of the cross, the Albatross/Upon [his] neck was hung” (Coleridge 141-142). The Albatross prevents the Mariner from praying, leaving him cast away at