William E. Gladstone once said, "Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race" ("William E. Gladstone Quotes"). Being selfish is human nature it can determine future relationships. Selfishness usually destroys relationships. Because of the Mariner 's selfish action, he learns to appreciate all things created through suffering and supernatural events in Samuel Taylor Coleridge 's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Before diving in here is some background information on an albatross. Already mentioned in the poem, an albatross is a bird (Coleridge 432). According to National Geographic, an albatross is rarely on land and only together with another albatross’s to breed (Society). Their standard diet is mostly squid or schooling fish "but are familiar to mariners because they sometimes follow ships in hopes of dining on handouts or garbage" (Society). Not only is an albatross a seabird but this also explains why Coleridge used an albatross in his poem. …show more content…
The shipmates believed that the Albatross was the cause of their salvation from the ice after it received food. The Albatross flew around the ship several times before the ice broke (Coleridge 432). The Mariner shot the Albatross using his crossbow without a purpose then the drinking water went bad (432-3). According to Abrams ' book, "Natural Supernaturalism," he says, "killing ‘the bird that loved the man ' is an act which expresses the Mariner 's…readiness to cut himself off from the universal community of life and love" (Abrams 273). The Mariner has not felt or appreciated
Before diving in here is some background information on an albatross. Already mentioned in the poem, an albatross is a bird (Coleridge 432). According to National Geographic, an albatross is rarely on land and only together with another albatross’s to breed (Society). Their standard diet is mostly squid or schooling fish "but are familiar to mariners because they sometimes follow ships in hopes of dining on handouts or garbage" (Society). Not only is an albatross a seabird but this also explains why Coleridge used an albatross in his poem. …show more content…
The shipmates believed that the Albatross was the cause of their salvation from the ice after it received food. The Albatross flew around the ship several times before the ice broke (Coleridge 432). The Mariner shot the Albatross using his crossbow without a purpose then the drinking water went bad (432-3). According to Abrams ' book, "Natural Supernaturalism," he says, "killing ‘the bird that loved the man ' is an act which expresses the Mariner 's…readiness to cut himself off from the universal community of life and love" (Abrams 273). The Mariner has not felt or appreciated