Frankenstein And The Ancient Mariner Analysis

Knowledge is information acquired by an individual through experience and education. Knowledge is something to be praised but also to be feared. As an individual’s intentions become tainted during the quest for the thirst for knowledge, the knowledge then acts as a form of self destruction. The theme of destructive knowledge is seen throughout Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, as well as in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by William Coleridge and The Bible. Throughout the novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein grows from a young, innocent boy into a bitter, resentful man. Frankenstein is infatuated with knowledge in his youth, which eventually leads to the construction of his creation. In chapter two Victor illuminates this by saying “My temper was sometimes violent…not toward childish pursuits, but to an eager desire to learn” (Shelley 37). It is this addiction that led to the deterioration of his life. The theme of destructive knowledge as seen throughout all these literary works, have some type of consequence or punishment. For Victor Frankenstein, his punishment is to become a slave to the wretched actions of his creation. …show more content…
The Mariner is cursed by his knowledge because he must travel the world communicating his torturous tale to individuals in society. This is expressed when the mariner says “Since then, at an uncertain hour/That agony returns/And till my ghastly tale is told/ This heart within me burns” (lines 582-85). As for the mariner, his punishment is to endure immense pain for killing the albatross, a creature part of nature. Only when the Mariner is able to reflect and see the beauty in nature no matter how ugly, he is absolved of his sins. But even after being absolved of his sins, guilt still remains, and because of that the Mariner’s sin has power over him, causing him to convey his