Comparison of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) to Love's Philosophy (P.B. Shelley)
Romanticism is the element of classic English literature that is evident in the products of early The French Revolution. It is embedded as the fundamental of an individual that triggers alienation with the power of the spirit that demand change as violent obsession. The poets, philosophers and writers of the age of romanticism can be evaluated by comparing the constituents of emotions, passion and rationality. The same pattern will be used to perform a comparative analysis of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) to Love's Philosophy (P.B. Shelley)
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was the founder of the romantic movement in England and the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is one of his most influential works in this regard. The poem is based on the experience of a sailor that is conjured with the intrusion of a wedding guest. Though Samuel Taylor Coleridge laid the foundation of the concept of romanticism, Percy Bysshe Shelley gave an entire new dimension to the concept with the prophecy of Free Love,that he practiced in real life as well. His political and religious opinions were also of great controversy that led him to expulsions and can be determined from the analysis of his poetic works and activities. His poem “Love Philosophy is an open statement of his thoughts over the aspects of Love, nature and emotions. The poem is based over the depiction of natural scenery stating that passion and love are the traits of nature also and that his love is still needs the expression in the shape of a Kiss from his love.
The element of romanticism is evident in both the poems of the poets. However, the characteristics of romanticism depicting individualities, passion, nature and emotion vary greatly. The depiction of nature and its evolution to an impression is the fundamental element of romanticism that is evident in both poems. However, the description of the experiences with the usage of tone, rhythm and emotions elaborates different characters of romanticism for reference.
The most obvious difference between the two works of literature is that of the concept. The work of Coleridge still depicted respect for the religious beliefs and preaching and was a moderate effort of adding to the religious thoughts, even though the romantic movement could be regarded as a deviation from the earlier institutional campaigning,. His prophecy of love was depicted as an element of communal love amongst human communicated to the Lord through the medium of nature. According to him, the love, respect and passion for nature is just another form of prayer to thank the Lord and show gratitude.
The Love's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley could be regarded as a contrast to the provided frame. In his poem, the element of love was only dedicated to his love. The element of love was all physical aspiring for a kiss by his love. Not only the dimensions of the two types of love varied in between the forms of physical and spiritual but also from the context of religious concept the thoughts present two different dimensions. The theology of Percy Bysshe Shelley is completely alienated from the angle of the religious teachings and could be considered as rebellious thoughts that have the potential to be condemned by the religious institution. While, the prophecy of Love as depicted by Coleridge in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is completely immune to the religious concept. In fact, they could be regarded as the preaching of love for God through the nature which is actually potential enough to be supported by the religious institutions.
Suffering in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is a struggle to fight against sin and redemption. Imagery in the work also revolves around the same concept, so does emotions and depiction of nature. This element of suffering could be regarded as the mood of the poem. While, “The Love’s Philosophy” is primarily the depiction of aspiration of love by wishful display of imagery to allure and desire for a kiss. The element of nature is used as a subjective medium for the display of the thought. Unlike, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner the tone of the poem is light to correspond with the delicacy of theme.
Pertaining to the fact that romanticism is based over the subjectivity of elements that are explored to depict a universal truth, the literary product presents contrasting view of theory. Coleridge prophesy is to establish a relationship of love to God through the element of nature. While, the approach of Shelley is to display his love for humanly adoration through the medium of the nature. Thus, the approach of each literary work and the depiction of the universal truth are the other dimensions that separate the poetries.
Precisely, the elements of the poem from the perspective of romanticism varies greatly. However, the collective feelings depicting the emotions are obvious in the two literary works. The truth of life, the passion of love and appraisal of nature are the themes on which the elements of romanticism are designed to depict the two masterpieces.
