Phobias in Poetry: Coleridge's Ancient Mariner

Abstract

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner was written by Coleridge and is a classic poetry about retribution, punishment, guilt, and curse. Religious beliefs and delusions can arise from neurologic lesions and anomalous experiences, suggesting that at least some religious beliefs can be pathological. Looking at the poem through the psychiatric and psychological domain, the symbolism, the narration and the entire setting of the poem represents Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mariner's reactions are beautifully portrayed from the psychoanalytic point of view and the literary piece shows claustrophobia, stygiophobia, dikephobia, and poinephobia. The mental stress of a person under a crisis situation has remarkably been evoked in this poem. This incredible piece of art expresses how the realization of divine love within oneself has the power to heal pain and suffer.

Keywords: Post traumatic stress disorder; phobias; poetry.

Figure 1

Gustave Dore′s illustrations to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. No saint took pity

Figure 2

Gustave Dore′s illustrations to The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. And yet I could not die