Examples Of Hubris In The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

The Albatross, the Human Condition, and Man’s Relationship to Nature In the Western literary canon, the recurring theme of hubris and the subsequent fall from grace is prevalent. The fusion of arrogance, ignorance, and fascination characterizes this common human trait, often serving as a cautionary tale against disrupting the natural order. From the moment Eve accepts the allure of the forbidden fruit and God banishes her from Eden and Icarus’ yearning for greater heights lands him in the ocean, it appears that this feature is deeply ingrained in the human condition. In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1789 poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the presence of an albatross, traditionally seen as a harbinger of good fortune, blesses the Mariner’s ship. However, the Mariner inexplicably shoots the bird down, setting into motion a sequence of hapless circumstances. By tracing Eve’s fall from grace in

After being held by King Minos on Crete, Icarus’ father, Daedalus, creates wings for the two of them to use to escape. Daedalus warns Icarus to “fly a middle course,” cautioning against flying too low or too high (Humphries lines 23-25). Daedalus had provided the means to do this, though as Icarus demonstrates, the pursuit of progress does not always yield the intended outcome. Ignoring his father’s advice, Icarus flies higher and higher “to the vast heaven” until his wings melt and he plummets down to Earth (line 50). The potential he seeks mirrors that of Eve and the journey of humanity. Icarus resists the order of the world in the pursuit of progress and independence, driven by the allure of the Sun. However, his natural curiosity leads to his downfall. Metaphorically, he and humanity have been programmed to act in this fashion, defying order, authority, and reason in the pursuit of knowledge and freedom, as is also demonstrated in the Mariner’s